The declaration

states that "God alone has dominion over human life and over the

process by which it comes into being...," and "...the human

being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of fertilization..."

Condemning

the deliberate destruction of innocent persons as "...unethical,

immoral, evil and sinful..." the statement adds that the "Church

has the duty and the obligation to proclaim to all the earth the sanctity

of human life, the dignity of human life, and respect for human life..."

and adds, "...human life begins at conception."

Furthermore,

the statement adds that "... no government has the right to alter

the law of God..." and that any such law that "... goes contrary

to the law of God concerning human life is immoral."

The bishops

went on record affirming that the destruction of the human embryo, as

an end to a means, such as embryonic stem cell research, and the artificial

creation of human life through cloning are "...unethical, immoral,

intrinsically evil and sinful..."

Epps said that

the declaration is not technically binding on ICCEC congregations, but

added, "the statement is, for practical purposes, considered as such

and, with the forthcoming of a canon on the matter, will be formally and

legally binding on all churches."

According to

Touchstone magazine, the ICCEC is the second largest of the 28

Episcopal/Anglican denominations in the United States.

ICCEC congregations

in the metro Atlanta area include Christ the King CEC, Peachtree City;

St. Matthew's CEC, Hogansville; Prince of Peace CEC, Peachtree City; St.

Andrew's CEC, Covington; Holy Trinity, Smyrna; and Christ the Redeemer

CEC, Canton.

A number of

other congregations also are located in middle and southern Georgia.

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