Subject: IWG Charlestown IN letters Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 23:40:37 -0400 (EDT) From: Chris Purdom The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 2 congregations, 4 religious organizations and 23 clergy from 9 faiths and denominations. If you are in the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in other areas. Visit the web page at http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ or http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/religion/orgs/iwg/ A similar letter went to the District Superintendent. April 7, 1996 Principal George Marshall Charlestown High School Pirate Place Charlestown, IN 47111 Dear Mr. Marshall: We are greatly disturbed by reports that one of your teachers, Janet Boyer, was reprimanded by you for having an expert counselor talk to students about sexual orientation during a high school health class. Since we understand that your disciplinary actions stemmed from your having received complaints from church members, we want to alert you to the fact that not all church-going people think alike on this issue. We hope that you will weigh carefully whether it is constitutional, or even in anyone's best interest, to impose the will of a single church on all public school students. We pray that this incident is resolved quickly in favor of Ms. Boyer and the students, and does not make Charlestown, Indiana as infamous as Merrimack, New Hampshire or Ecru, Mississippi. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators