Rev. Elle Dowd amplifies pro-choice women of faith

Member of PPFA Clergy Advocacy Board has been arrested for her social justice work

The Rev. Elle Dowd has gone to jail for her beliefs before as she protested for racial and gender equality. She’s also on a lesser-known part of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America called the Clergy Advocacy Board.

“I think that something that was really interesting for me to learn is that the majority of people of faith actually support keeping Roe v. Wade legal,” Dowd said. “I think that there is a lot to critique about common ground when we're talking about, like cooperating with oppression.”

The Clergy Advisory Board began in 1994. It is comprised of diverse faith leaders from all over the nation. They represent myriad cultural backgrounds, races, theological viewpoints and perspectives, according to PPFA’s website. CAB members serve three-year terms.

PPFA has historically sought to build partnerships with religious organizations like mosques, synagogues and churches in an effort to shore up support within communities they have had more difficulty developing trust within.  

Dowd is an ordained minister at South Loop Campus Ministry in Chicago. Higher-ups at PPFA thought she would be a good fit for the board because of her work in social justice.

Dowd knows that some within organized religion think feminists at large have excluded them from the conversation, but she thinks organizationally that hasn’t happened within Planned Parenthood.

“I wouldn't necessarily criticize the wider repro rights movement for not using the faith voice as much I think (they should),” Dowd said. “A lot of times the repro rights movement has used and amplified the voices of people of faith.”