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HISTORY

The National Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice grew out of informal networks of clergy willing to help women find safe abortions during the years abortion was illegal. It was originally known as the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights (RCAR) and was convened in 1973.

1989-90
In July 1989, the Minnesota project of the national Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights was established. The first policy council meeting was held in September and an interfaith worship service was held in November.

1991
In March 1991, RCAR/MN was accepted as an affiliate of the national organization. Our first newsletter, Voice for Choice, was published, and the Coalition to Restore Free Speech was organized in opposition to the "gag rule" in family planning clinics. Thirty five organizations were recruited and a publicity campaign mounted to overturn regulations prohibiting free speech in federally subsidized family planning clinics.

1992
In January 1992, we launched the All Options Clergy Counseling Service with a training session for 43 volunteer clergy willing to counseling women experiencing problem pregnancies. In December 1992 RCAR/MN incorporated as a non-profit.

1993
We provided three training seminars across the state for All Options Clergy Counselors. An interfaith memorial service was held on March 28, for Dr. David Gunn who was murdered in Pensacola, Florida by an anti abortion protester. We hosted our first Faith and Freedom Award dinner in May to honor individuals who have distinguished themselves by their faith-based dedication to reproductive freedom and abortion rights. RCAR/MN was one of five Twin Cities pro-choice organizations to form the Network to Ensure Access which trained volunteers to peacefully protect clinics against Operation Rescue in the summer of 1993.

1994
In February 1994, we changed our name to the Minnesota Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice to reflect our broadened mission. We held an interfaith memorial service for the two people killed in anti-abortion violence in Pensacola, Florida. Publicity materials for the All Options Clergy Counseling Service were updated and reprinted and distributed. In October, we held a dedication and blessing of Building for Women in Duluth.

1995
A blessing of Planned Parenthood's Highland Park Clinic was held in January 1995. In February, an interfaith service was held to honor the lives of two clinic staff persons who were murdered at clinics in Brookline, MA. In October 1995, the Faith and Freedom Awards were presented, with national recipient June Barrett giving the keynote address.

1996
We put up eight pro-choice billboards across the state. We sent fliers on the counseling service to 400 MN OB/GYN physicians. A voter education brochure was published and 6,000 copies distributed informing voters about reproductive choice issues. Pastoral care was provided to clinic staff including visits and treats at times of religious holidays.

1997
We held our first Legislative Day in January 1997. Twenty clergy and lay people participated in a prayerful gathering in the Capitol Rotunda and visited all 201 state legislators. We developed a new program for Supporting Congregations and sent brochures describing it to supportive clergy. In October, the Faith and Freedom Award dinner honored Rev. Carlton Veazey, the newly appointed Executive Director of the national Religious Coalition.

1998
Legislative Day was held to coincide with the 25th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Two inter-faith memorial worship services were held to remember those killed in anti-abortion violence. We worked at the state capitol with Planned Parenthood lobbyists and organized a letter from denomination heads to try to regain funding for family planning clinics in rural Minnesota.

1999

We supplied a religious voice to a group forming a coalition promoting comprehensive sexuality education. The fourth Faith and Freedom Award banquet was held, honoring Senator Roger Moe and Tina Welsch. We continued the All Options Clergy Counseling Service, our tradition of pastoral care for staff of clinics, and our newsletter to supporters and media. Brochures were distributed to the legislature.

2000
We launched an advertising campaign including eleven billboards. We provided organizations and congregation with speakers and workshops, and we participated in coalitions with religious, pro-choice, and sexuality education organizations. Twenty-seven people requested counseling services, and an All Options Counseling Seminar was held for clergy and lay leaders.

2001
Across the state, we posted twenty-seven billboards, which said, “Abortion is a personal decision best left in the hands of a woman and her God.” Seven people were honored at the Faith and Freedom Banquet with Dr. LeRoy Carhart giving the keynote address. We reached almost 600 people through our workshops and speaking engagements.

2002
We began implementation of the culturally and religiously appropriate curriculum Keeping It Real!, which teaches comprehensive sexuality education to teens and their parents. Facilitators were trained to teach the curriculum. Twenty-nine people requested All Options Counseling Services.

2003
The Keeping It Real! program expanded, and six training events were held for facilitators of this curriculum. The sixth Faith and Freedom awards banquet was held honoring Rabbi David Saperstein, Rev. Larry Neilsen, and Senator Ellen Anderson. We helped form Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom, on-campus student groups, and began Seminarians for Choice at United Theological Seminary. Thirty-four people requested All Options Counseling services.

2004
The Keeping It Real! program expanded to include Breaking the Silence courses for parents. We were active in a coalition to organize and send a large group of Minnesotans to Washington, D.C., to participate in the March for Women’s Lives in March. At our annual Legislative Day, clergy and lay volunteers participated in training and visited pro-choice legislators with a gift of candy Lifesavers representing saving women’s lives.

2005

Our newsletter, Voice for Choice, reached more than 1,300 supporters, elected officials, and media contacts. Our seventh Faith and Freedom Banquet honored Congresswoman Betty McCollum, State Senator John Marty, and Rev. Barry Lynn. We received the “Allies for Justice” award from the Headwaters Foundation for Justice.

2006

We launched our new curriculum, Faith and Choices, which allows congregations to have respectful conversations about reproductive choice. We expanded our promotion of faith-based comprehensive sexuality education by promoting the Our Whole Lives curriculum. We offered a training for 47 people to teach the curriculum in their congregations. We led an All Options Clergy Counseling Training and hosted a film and discussion night for young adults at Mount Zion Temple. We also continued to organize college students to speak out for religious freedom, spread the word that religious people are pro-choice, and provided counseling, affirmation, and support to women considering abortion or who have had an abortion.

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