Dr. John Gordon, a reproductive endocrinologist and man of faith, faced a crisis of conscience that led him to transform his medical practice. For three decades, he helped couples achieve parenthood through in vitro fertilization (IVF), but advancing technology brought troubling ethical dilemmas. As co-director of a fertility clinic in suburban Washington, D.C., Gordon grew uneasy about creating surplus embryos that were often discarded or left in storage indefinitely. The ability to select embryos by sex or screen for mild disabilities like hearing loss further troubled him. He questioned, "It's too morally problematic. I don't know where you draw the line."
A Faith-Driven Transformation
In 2018, his wife Allison, a fellow Christian, urged him to change his approach. She felt their comfortable life was built on "ill-gotten gains" due to the embryo issue. Gordon purchased a practice in Knoxville, Tennessee, renaming it Rejoice Fertility. The clinic operates on faith-based principles: no discarding of viable embryos, no genetic testing, no donation to science, and limits on embryo creation. This shift occurred amid a growing national debate over IVF, with legal decisions like the U.S. Supreme Court's abortion ruling and Alabama's embryo ruling raising questions. While IVF remains popular, conservative Christian groups, including the Southern Baptist Convention, have called for restrictions on embryo destruction.
Rejoice Fertility's Unique Approach
Rejoice draws patients nationwide, with evangelical brochures and a wooden cross in the waiting room. A Bible verse in the recovery area offers comfort. The clinic tailors treatments to patients' ideal family size, using less medication to produce fewer eggs and embryos. This reduces costs but may require additional cycles. Embryologist Sarah Coe Atkinson, who doesn't share all of Gordon's beliefs, supports the mission of helping embryos become lives. She notes, "Sometimes the ugliest embryos make the prettiest babies." The clinic also accepts donated embryos, including one frozen for nearly 31 years that resulted in a birth in 2025.
Patient Stories and Ethical Alignment
Patients like Maggie and Cade Lichfield, Latter-day Saints, appreciate that Rejoice lets God be in control. Domenic and Olivia D'Agostino, who drove nearly two hours, see discarding embryos as akin to abortion. Gordon prays with them before transfers, focusing on God's sovereignty. Emily Martin, an anti-abortion Christian, regrets creating excess embryos at another clinic and wishes she had found Rejoice first. Unused embryos are offered for "embryo adoption," viewed as children rather than property. The clinic's Rejoice Embryo Rescue acts as an "orphanage" for donated embryos.
Bridging Faith and Medicine
Gordon's journey began with a personal crisis when his son was hospitalized. He converted to Christianity, joining a conservative Presbyterian church. Elders support his mission. Despite challenges, including legal disputes with the previous clinic owner and criticism from some Christians who oppose all IVF, Gordon remains committed. He plans to expand his practice. Christian ethicist Matthew Lee Anderson, who opposes IVF, acknowledges Gordon's steps as positive. After a Sunday church service, Gordon returned to the clinic for an embryo transfer. Four weeks later, the patient was pregnant, a testament to his reconciled faith and work.
