Subject: IWG Columbus Indiana Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 16:47:42 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 9 congregations and religious
organizations and 38 clergy from 13 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.

March 29, 1997

Letters to the Editor
The Republic
333 Second Street
Columbus IN 47201

Dear Editors:

We were glad to see that you have decided to educate
your readers about the theological differences between
many of our country's religions, their varying
definitions of sin, and their understanding of the role
of sinners in the church.  Since the Rev. Muncie
mentioned Mark 10:6-8, which is Christ's endorsement of
mixed-gender marriage and an indictment of serial
monogamy, it might be an interesting project to solicit
commentary from clergy about their beliefs concerning
remarriage.

However, we must point out two inaccuracies in
statements that were published on March 26:  

	a) Presbyterians did not recently vote on the
morality or immorality of homosexuality.  They voted on
whether someone is qualified for ordination if they
have sex with someone who is not their partner in a
mixed-gender marriage.  It is likely that a high
percentage of those voting were influenced by their
understanding of sin and sexual orientation; if they
were, then the closeness of the vote reinforces Jim
Bilbrey's contention that many churches question the
sinfulness of homosexuality.  

	b) Rev. Muncie is not correct in saying that
anyone who has reached a conclusion that homosexuality
is not inherently sinful must have read the Bible with
a "preplanned agenda."  The movement within the greater
community of faith to accept sexual minorities is new
enough that most of the Christians involved (gay and
straight) changed their minds after years of reading
the Bible and growing up in churches that preached an
anti-gay message.

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.