The Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity (SACReD) is a left-of-center advocacy organization comprised of pro-abortion religious organizations and individual churches that promotes left-of-center abortion policy.

The alliance is a project of NEO Philanthropy, a New York-based nonprofit that serves as a fiscal clearinghouse for left-of-center causes. NEO Philanthropy serves as a vehicle for center-left foundations to pool resources, hosts donor-advised funds, sponsor various left-leaning projects, and to serve as the fiscal sponsor of several left-of-center organizations in addition to SACReD. Churches and religious organizations that are partners of the group include the California Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Florida Interfaith Coalition for Reproductive Health and Justice, and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. ^{1 2 3}

The group is sponsored by a variety of left-of-center organizations including State Innovation Exchange (SiX), Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Catholics for Choice. ⁴

Background

Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity (SACReD) was formed in 2022 following the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the purported national right to abortion under Roe v. Wade. The group holds the view that part of the reason that Roe was overturned was the lack of a pro-abortion faith-based movement and formed the organization as a collection of pro-abortion religious organizations. The group solicits churches and other religious organizations to become a SACReD congregation that pledges to commit to pro-abortion advocacy, adopt a SACReD curriculum, and adopt principles including that “Reproduction is a sacred responsibility, and prayerful decisions to have children, to not have children, or to end a pregnancy can be equally moral.” ^{5 6}

The group also promotes a variety of left-of-center social positions in addition to abortion, stating that “Many congregations speak proudly and publicly for the critical justice movements of our time: racial justice, LGBTQ+ justice, immigration justice. We declare at our congregation’s doors that Black Lives Matter. That our congregations are welcoming. And that hate has no home here.” ⁷

Affiliated Organizations

Partners of the Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity (SACReD) are All Souls Unitarian Church (of Washington, D.C.), Auburn Seminary, California Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Congregation Beth Israel (of Austin, Texas), Emory University – EnFaith Project, Faith in Women, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, First Unitarian Church (of Dallas, Texas), Florida Interfaith Coalition for Reproductive Health and Justice, Just Texas – Texas Freedom Network, Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, SisterSong, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance. ⁸

Sponsors of the organization’s 2022 gathering event included the Collaborative for Gender and Reproductive Equity, Amy Fikes of the Leland Fikes Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, Catholics for Choice, National Council of Jewish Women, and State Innovation Exchange (SiX). ⁹

Leadership

The Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity (SACReD) is co-led by Latisha James and Angela Tyler Williams. James focuses on organizational development and Tyler-Williams leads movement building for the group. ^{10 11}  

Latisha James previously worked for the Raben Group, a Democratic Party-aligned political consultancy, where she led the Move to End Violence campaign. She also worked for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, The Women’s Collective, and the International Rescue Committee. ¹²

Angela Tyler-Williams was previously a staffer of the Texas Freedom Network, and for various Presbyterian Church-affiliated organizations. ¹³

1. “About.” SACReD. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.sacreddignity.org/about/
2. “SACReD.” Network for Good. Accessed October 1, 2022. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/sacred
3. “Home.” SACReD. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.sacreddignity.org/
4. “Gathering.” SACReD. Accessed October 1, 2023.  https://www.sacreddignity.org/gathering/
5. “SACReD Congregations.” SACReD, Accessed October 17, 2023. https://www.sacreddignity.org/congregation-designation/
6. “Home.” SACReD. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.sacreddignity.org/
7.  ^[1] “SACReD Congregations.” SACReD. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.sacreddignity.org/congregation-designation/
8. “About.” SACReD. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.sacreddignity.org/about/
9. “Gathering.” SACReD. Accessed October 1, 2023.  https://www.sacreddignity.org/gathering/
10. “Angela Tyler-Williams.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-tyler-williams/
11. “Latisha James.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/latishiaavjames/details/experience/
12. “Latisha James.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/latishiaavjames/details/experience/
13.  “Angela Tyler-Williams.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed October 1, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-tyler-williams/