Blood Transfusions
Ethics & PracticeWhether the denomination has a specific position on receiving blood transfusions, based on interpretation of biblical commands about blood.
Key scriptures: Acts 15:28-29, Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:14
Catholic (5)
Eastern Catholic (Byzantine Rite)
Nuanced
No doctrinal prohibition; medical decisions guided by Catholic bioethical principles
Maronite Catholic
Nuanced
No doctrinal prohibition; medical ethics guided by Catholic moral teaching
Old Catholic Church
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical care affirmed; no biblical prohibition
Roman Catholic
Nuanced
No prohibition; medical care is a moral duty grounded in natural law
Saint Thomas Christians (Syro-Malabar Church)
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no prohibition on medical treatment
Orthodox (5)
Assyrian Church of the East
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no theological prohibition on modern medical procedures
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Nuanced
No doctrinal prohibition; medical treatment including transfusions is morally licit
Eastern Orthodox
Nuanced
No doctrinal prohibition; medical care consistent with Christian duty
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Nuanced
No doctrinal prohibition; standard medical care including transfusions is licit
Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite)
Nuanced
No doctrinal prohibition; medical ethics determined by pastoral guidance
Mainline Protestant (8)
Anglican / Episcopalian
Affirms
No restriction; blood transfusions are morally permissible
Calvinist / Reformed
Affirms
No restriction; blood transfusions are morally permissible
Congregationalist (UCC)
Affirms
No restriction; blood transfusions are morally permissible
Lutheran
Affirms
No restriction; blood transfusions are morally permissible
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no doctrinal objection; medical care affirmed
Methodist
Affirms
No restriction; blood transfusions are morally permissible
Presbyterian
Affirms
No restriction; blood transfusions are morally permissible
Reformed Church in America
Affirms
Permitted without restriction; no biblical prohibition; medical treatment acceptable and encouraged
Evangelical (15)
Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention)
Affirms
No prohibition; blood transfusions are morally permissible and life-affirming
Calvary Chapel
Affirms
No prohibition; medical care including transfusions is acceptable
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical care affirmed; conscience respected
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Affirms
Permitted; no religious prohibition; medical care affirmed as ethical
Church of the Nazarene
Affirms
No prohibition; medical care including blood transfusions is morally permissible
Evangelical Covenant Church
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical care affirmed as God's provision
Evangelical Free Church of America
Affirms
No prohibition; life-preserving medical care consistent with human dignity
IFCA International (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical care affirmed; dietary laws abrogated
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no religious prohibition; medical care affirmed
Non-denominational Evangelical
Affirms
No prohibition; blood transfusions are medically permitted and morally acceptable
Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)
Affirms
No prohibition; divine healing affirmed but medical care not forbidden
Presbyterian Church in America
Affirms
Permitted; no biblical prohibition against transfusions; medical treatment allowed freely
Reformed Baptist Churches (1689 London Baptist Confession)
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; dietary laws abrogated; medical care affirmed
The Wesleyan Church
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no scriptural prohibition; medical prudence encouraged
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no doctrinal objection; medical care affirmed
Charismatic (5)
Charismatic Movement
Affirms
No prohibition; healing ministry emphasizes prayer alongside medicine
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical necessity recognized; no doctrinal prohibition
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Affirms
Blood transfusions are permitted; medical treatment is acceptable and encouraged always
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical treatment accepted; divine healing and medicine
Vineyard Churches
Affirms
No prohibition; prayer for healing and medicine are complementary
Anabaptist (5)
Amish (Old Order)
Affirms
No prohibition; Amish accept standard medical care including transfusions
Brethren in Christ Church
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no religious prohibition; individual medical decision affirmed
Church of the Brethren
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no religious prohibition; individual medical judgment affirmed
Hutterite Brethren
Affirms
No prohibition; standard medical care including transfusions is accepted
Mennonite Church
Affirms
No prohibition; medical care accepted without restriction
Adventist & Restorationist (5)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Affirms
No prohibition; medical care is accepted without restriction
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Affirms
Personal conscience determines blood transfusions; no binding prohibition; medical freedom
Churches of Christ
Affirms
No prohibition; standard medical care is accepted
International Churches of Christ
Affirms
No prohibition; standard medical care is accepted
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Affirms
No prohibition; Adventist health system provides standard medical care
Other Protestant (8)
Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum)
Affirms
No prohibition; blood transfusion is medically acceptable.
Plymouth Brethren
Affirms
No prohibition; blood transfusion is medically acceptable.
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Affirms
No prohibition; life-saving medical treatment permitted
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Affirms
Blood transfusions are permissible and pose no spiritual prohibition
The Salvation Army
Affirms
No prohibition; medically necessary blood transfusions permitted
True Jesus Church
Affirms
Blood transfusions are permitted; no prohibition on medical treatment
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical care accepted; healing through prayer and medicine integrated
Waldensian Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese)
Affirms
Blood transfusions are permissible; no doctrinal prohibition
Non-Trinitarian (6)
Biblical Unitarians
Affirms
No prohibition; blood transfusions are not restricted by biblical teaching
Christadelphians
Affirms
No official prohibition; blood transfusions are permitted for medical care
Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
Affirms
No prohibition; blood transfusions are medically acceptable within COGC teaching
Jehovah's Witnesses
Denies
Blood transfusions absolutely prohibited; blood must be 'abstained from' medically
Oneness Pentecostals (UPCI)
Affirms
No prohibition; blood transfusions are medically permitted within UPCI teaching
Unitarian Universalist
Affirms
No prohibition; individual medical decisions are matters of personal conscience
Latter-day Saint (2)
Unique & Independent (7)
Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)
Varies
No formal doctrinal prohibition; some members have conscientious objections to certain medical interventions
Church of Christ, Scientist
Denies
Medicine generally rejected; reliance on prayer; transfusions avoided
General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
Affirms
No restriction; medicine and healing accepted
Iglesia ni Cristo
Affirms
No restriction on blood transfusions; modern medical care accepted
Message Movement (Branhamism)
Nuanced
Varies by congregation; no formal doctrinal prohibition across all Message churches
Messianic Judaism
Affirms
No restriction on blood transfusions; modern medical care fully permitted
New Apostolic Church
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; no prohibition on life-saving medical treatment
African Independent (4)
Cherubim and Seraphim Church
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical care endorsed alongside prayer and healing ministries
Church of Jesus Christ on Earth through the Prophet Simon Kimbangu (EJCSK)
Nuanced
Medical care accepted; healing prayer primary; no formal prohibition
Redeemed Christian Church of God
Affirms
Permitted; no doctrinal prohibition; standard medical care including transfusions licit
Zion Christian Church
Nuanced
Prayer healing primary; medical care also used; no formal prohibition