Subject: IWG Amarillo Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 23:09:10 -0400 (EDT)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 congregations and religious
organizations and 46 clergy from 14 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.

August 26, 1997

Amarillo Globe News
PO Box 2091
Amarillo, TX 79166 

Dear Editors:

Thank you for your extensive and balanced August 21
coverage of the Christian debate over sexual
orientation.  We would like to suggest three
corrections:

First, while you mentioned the passage of Amendment B
in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the subsequent
passage of covenants of dissent, you failed to mention
that a revised version of Amendment B, which removes
all references to gender, was passed at this year's
General Assembly and will be put to another vote by the
presbyteries. 

Second, the phrase "alternative lifestyle" is only used
by those who are opposed to the acceptance of
homosexuality.  Those of us who reject the notion that
heterosexuality is inherently superior do not view
minority gender orientations as alternatives, but parts
of normal human experience.  Furthermore, homosexuality
is an orientation, not a lifestyle.  Sexual minorities,
like religious and racial minorities, lead as many
different lifestyles as the majority and are found in
all religious and ethnic groups.
 
Third, you failed to mention that some religious
groups, such as the Unitarian Universalist Association,
the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches, the United Church of Christ,
Reconstructionist Judaism, Reform Judaism, the
Disciples of Christ and the Unity Fellowship churches
have already moved past this debate or are way ahead of
the denominations you mentioned.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

-- 

Interfaith Working Group                Religious organizations, congregations
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/         reproductive freedom, and the 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.