BY KARISSA MILLER
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution that states life begins at conception and should be protected through all life stages.
Iredell County Commission Chairwoman Melissa Neader said the resolution is the result of input from the board and community and lots of conversations.
A crowd of around 75 people in attendance cheered after the chairwoman finished reading the resolution.
Neader said commissioners crafted their own pro-life resolution because they wanted to have a special provision in there that acknowledges women who face difficult circumstances.
“We cannot neglect unfortunate incidents that can happen to women and them leave them in a situation,” Neader said, explaining that the resolution acknowledges that women who are raped or pregnant due to incest or in life threatening circumstances should have a choice.
Neader said that the public comment period showed that there are churches, nonprofit organizations and other community groups that are there to support the needs of young moms.
“It was an evening to show our dedication to this county from helping veterans to pro-life to the concerns of citizens. We are dedicated to listening, learning, having difficulty conversations and seeking solutions to continue to make Iredell County the best place to live,” she said.
Commissioner Gene Houpe said that the resolution is important for Iredell County.
“We want to take a clear position to say we’re pro-life,” Houpe said.
Commissioner Scottie Brown acknowledged former commissioner Tommy Bowles for bringing attention to the resolution.
The resolution was first brought to the board nine months ago by Cheryl Pletcher, who told the board at the time that she was on an assignment from God.
“I’ve been expecting a miracle,” Pletcher said Tuesday. “Tonight, was the delivery.”
She paraphrased Isaiah 58:12, saying she felt it was appropriate for the occasion.
“This resolution is about rebuilding foundations that our brave founders declared more than 200 years ago — the right to life,” Pletcher said, referencing the Declaration of Independence.
“We want to send a message to our legislators in Raleigh that we value human life from the very beginning to the very end,” she added.
Victoria Miglin, executive director of Pregnancy Resource Center in Statesville, applauded the board for standing for life. Her organization supports women in crisis pregnancy situations.
“It just amazes me that you are so bold to make this declaration,” she said.
Last year the Resource Center served 126 women who thought abortion was their only answer. However, they chose life after seeing their baby in an ultrasound.
Toni Sumner said she was 19 when she had an abortion.
“I believed the lie that I was told that it was a clump of cells. I was 19. But it wasn’t — it was my child,” she told commissioners. “He would be 27 years old right now.”
Sumner said that her sister, who was pregnant at the same time, begged her to have the child.
“I spent every day thinking I was someone who could kill their own child,” Sumner recalled.
As a result, her life became a tailspin of bad choices to cope with the pain. However, she said that she is now “free of her past” and that God has forgiven her.
“This is a big deal what you are doing. I’m in awe that I’m standing in a room full of people who are standing on this side. I have not been here except through my church. So, this is major thing for me to see and experience,” she said.
Sumner is now helping women who are facing similar crises situations like she did when she was 19.
Other speakers thanked the board for passing the resolution and spoke of their nonprofit or churches support of pro-life initiatives.
“Thank you for taking time to consider, to study and to pass this resolution that affects the dignity of life from wound to tomb,” said Pastor David Giles of Abundant Life.
Resolution
WHERAS, the Commissioners believe human life begins at the moment of conception; and
WHERAS, the Commissioners believe the life of the unborn must be protected and preserved, understanding that there may be unfortunate and difficult decisions in circumstances of rape, incest and risk to the health and life of the mother; and
WHERAS, the Commissioners desire to express their deep concern that the life of the unborn, our children, the sick and the elderly of our County and elsewhere, is unique and precious at every stage of development.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Iredell County Board of Commissioners:
1. Declare the full humanity of the preborn child so that innocent human life, including fetal life at every stage of gestation, from conception or fertilization through all stages of development, and must always be valued and protected and that society must protect those who cannot protect themselves; and
2. Declare Iredell County to be a strong advocate for the preborn where the dignity of life of the unborn, our children, our sick and our elderly should be defended and promoted; and
3. Encourage appropriate services and resources to assist pregnant women find proper health care, mothers and fathers who make the decision to parent their child, help mothers and fathers who make an adoption plan, and couples who seek to adopt; and
4. Will use all means within its power to support the sanctity of human life from conception through all stages of development in accordance with the God-given responsibilities as the people’s elected governing body; and
5. Has a desire via this Resolution for life, to be recognized as a refuge that truly welcomes and protects the gift of life from conception or fertilization through all stages of development to adulthood; and
6. Promote the partnership of citizens, churches, and other social organizations to assist and support the fulfillment of God given right to life.
This is some next-level stupid right here.
Great. Let’s not stop there. Maybe we should have a Meaningless Moral Resolution of the Month (MMRM) for all issues weighing heavy on the minds of Iredell County citizens. For the next one, I propose the County adopt a resolution condemning divorce. After all, it breaks up families and relationships and causes economic hardship. And the Bible plainly states that God hates divorce. Then other citizens from other religions and beliefs can submit their own candidates for MMRM. It will surely solve all the real problems the county needs to deal with.
God created them male & female. And God told them to multiply & replenish the earth. Aborting a baby (the latin word fetus is the same word baby) (1) stops a beating heart of which whose blood type can be different from the mother; (2) stops brain activity. Thus the fetus (baby) is a separate individual. Plus the baby’s spirit [conscious awareness] is alive unto God. Aborting a baby has long-term psychological fallout on the consenting mother, biological dad, and grandparents. Thankfully through Jesus’ own blood shed there is complete and total forgiveness & healing. He is more than gracious & willing to forgive. America is full of married men & women wanting to adopt & raise those infants. Wake-up Congress. Thank you Iredell for leaders, not gullible low-information capitulators who would betray themselves & others.
Your fairy tales do not apply to the laws of this country. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. See The First Amendment of the US Constitution. There’s a difference in that document and the one you Fascists always quote.
Explain to me exactly how this resolution actually helps any citizen of this county. Nothing changes, no one will be helped. It furthers no governing purpose. It’s just a statement of an opinion to make some group feel good.
Wow! So glad those hundreds of people in town last week meeting at our civic center did NOT read this!
It’s funny when you know the history of some of these commissioners and you read quotes that say they are “pro life.” Really? Many of us know better. If the resolution was partly to protect old people then why didn’t the article say anything about anything but pseudo pregnancy “help” centers and quotes from a woman on a “mission from God.” You want people to come here but then when they Google us they
see dumb political posturing like we are Florida or something. We know we have no representation in this country and when we go to vote our choices range from barely fanatical republican to mega fanatical republican. They have made it that way on purpose. If we want to progress and grow the GOP stranglehold here must go. Hopefully they will be washed out as the rest of the party continues to self destruct by banding with religious fanatics in bastardizing their own religion. BTW: God provided a recipe for an abortion in the Bible to the priests, which was used frequently, and God also killed a whole bunch of youth for calling a man an old “baldhead” by having a bear maul them. God also gave instructions in war to let no one live and to dash the babies from the women’s bellies with your swords. I’m not sure God is as pro-life as the Iredell County Commissioners. What a joke of a government we have here.
One more example of the “small government” party inserting themselves into constituents’ lives based on their own particular religious convictions. STOP IT. Freedom of religion also provides for freedom from religion.
When the bridges fall with you or your friends and family on them, and the potholes consume your car, and you are shouting at waiting in traffic for hours, remember that your representatives are slacking off, doing nothing but posturing.
End capital punishment.
It’s scary when religious groups try to usurp our country’s basic freedoms, which include freedom of religion. They’re having us imprison women’s bodies by imposing their religious views. We all suffer when fanatics take over our country and force us to follow their beliefs.
God bless all of you for your stand for the TRUTH! For God’s word is TRUTH, and Jesus is the way, the truth and the LIFE! God bless!
I have no idea why commissioners are wasting valuable time putting forth their opinions on something they have no legal power over. And given that we supposedly have separation of church and state, why is there ever any Bible quotation published by a governing body?
I’m so pleased to hear that our leaders “Will use all means within its power to support the sanctity of human life from conception through all stages of development.” I would assume this means that next month on the agenda the County Commissioners will start addressing the senseless violence in our community that has resulted in so many deaths of young people as evidenced by the most recent shootings in Statesville. I’m so proud that they will be addressing this issue.
Agreed, John Koppelmeyer – the children, the sick, and the elderly all should be safe from the epidemic of violence.
Agree!!
I, too, agree with John Koppelmeyer. If the county commissioners are really going to take a stand for life, it’s time to take the appropriate measures to reduce increasing levels of violence in Statesville and protect our children, our students, our residents, our laborers, our sick, and our elderly. Start gun-back programs, provide more child-care, provide more activities for teen-agers. Need more ideas? Don’t be afraid to ask the citizens. The way to solve any problem is to ask those in need what they need. Do not tell them.
Well, in honor of Cheryl Pletcher, Planned Parenthood just got a $20 donation.