Subject: IWG Inquirer Letter (resent) Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 22:24:14 -0400 (EDT) From: Chris Purdom Apologies to anyone getting this twice, but it seems to have gone into the bitbucket two days ago. The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 2 congregations, 4 religious organizations and 24 clergy from 10 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/ May 16, 1996 The Philadelphia Inquirer PO Box 8263 Phila., PA 19101 Dear Editors: Thank you for your front page coverage of the Bishop Righter hearings. We would like to point out, however, that in addition to the United Church of Christ, the Evangelical Anglican Church in America, the Universal Federation of Metropolitan Community Churches, the Disciples of Christ, and the Unity Fellowship churches all ordain non-celibate non-heterosexuals as a matter of policy, and many other Christian denominations, while they have official policies against such ordinations, perform them anyway with the understanding that the ordained individuals will stay in the closet. Historical evidence suggests that sexual minorities have been a mainstay of the Church since its inception. The only "departure from longstanding Christian traditon," as David O'Reilly so inaccurately put it, is an increased willingness on the part of many denominations to be open and truthful about the great service and ministries non-heterosexual clergy are bringing to the Church and to their congregations. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators