Discriminatory abortion for disability

In early March CMF provided a submission to a new Parliamentary Group inquiring into abortion on grounds of disability. The normal upper limit on abortion is 24 weeks. However abortion can be performed right up to term if 'there is substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped'. The CMF submission, being drafted as this issue of CMF News goes to press, contends there are problems of definition and, more importantly, of discrimination. See the website for details.

Philippa Taylor, CMF Head of Public Policy

Planting a 'faith flag'

In a London cab on the way to the CMF offices Bob Snyder, deviser of the International Saline course, found himself caught in traffic outside the Houses of Parliament. 'What do you think of the politicians who work here?' he asked his driver. Here was a question few London cabbies can resist and the words tumbled out.

Then he pointed to nearby Westminster Abbey. 'What do you think of the church?'Again the cabbie had plenty to say: in essence, 'No one goes there!' So what did he think about God? 'I'm not religious myself but I believe in God. I believe in football even more.'

This is an example of what Bob Snyder calls 'planting faith flags' and it's one of the core methods of Saline Solution, CMF's programme that helps Christians create opportunities to share their faith. 'How it works is you put down your flag in common ground you create. Then if the person grabs it you can talk more.' No pressure. Many people won't grab the flag, but when they do, you need to be ready and equipped to keep the conversation going.

Bob recalls years ago as a hospital emergency doctor plucking up the courage to plant a flag in one of the most sensitive moments that ever comes the way of a doctor. 'I had felt a conviction from God that I didn't take death seriously enough. So after an unsuccessful resuscitation procedure I went through the usual routine, pronouncing time of death and cause of death. Then I said, “Before we all leave we need to recognise something very important has happened here. Let's bow our heads and be quiet for 15 seconds.”'

He had felt full of trepidation. But when he opened his eyes he found half of the group not merely with damp eyes but openly weeping. It led to several conversations with colleagues over the next few weeks, all of them admitting they were scared to die and wanting to know more about what he was talking about.

The Saline Solution approach steers clear of arguments. 'No one will ever come to Christ because he or she lost an argument with Bob Snyder,' he says. How did things end up with his London cab driver? 'Who knows? I simply gave him a good tip (too many people think Christians are mean) and said, “I hope you will think about God a bit more today!”'

CMF regularly runs Saline Solution courses. Contact CMF if you would like to attend or to host a Saline Solution training event at your church. The team will undertake as many courses as there are invitations.

John Martin, CMF Senior Editor