From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Charleston WV Letter (another one) Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 23:59:23 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 congregations and religious organizations and 45 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 14, 1997 Charleston Gazette 1001 E. Virginia St. Charleston, WV 25301 Dear Editors: The Rev. David Pence is apparently unfamiliar with the cherished American concept of religious liberty, which leads naturally to religious diversity. There is no legal requirement for a particular religion to profess the deity of Jesus Christ or a belief in the Bible as the inspired word of God. Since Rev. Pence singled out Unitarians, we would point out that Unitarianism has been a legally recognized religion for over two-hundred years; First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia was established in 1796. Would Rev. Pence also object to stories about Jewish, Moslem or Buddhist clergy on the same grounds? The United Church of Christ "embraces a theological heritage that affirms the Bible as the authoritative witness to the Word of God," and the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches believes both "in one triune God, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, of one substance and of three persons" and "that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God." Rev. Pence apparently also does not realize that both denominations have openly gay clergy. We fail to see how an article about a single gay Unitarian pastor can be viewed as an insult to any one religion, especially to the diverse group of people, institutions and beliefs that make up "biblical Christianity." As coordinators of the Interfaith Working Group, which is composed of more than four dozen religious organizations and clergy from fourteen faiths and denominations, we are proof that differences in belief need not be viewed as personal affronts or a detriment to civility or cooperation. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators -- Interfaith Working Group Religious organizations, congregations iwg@libertynet.org and clergy supporting gay rights, http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ reproductive freedom, and the 215-235-3050 separation of church and state.