Subject: IWG Deliverance Letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 00:07:23 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 3 congregations, 6 religious
organizations and 37 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.

While we are not in the habit of writing letters to the heads of other
churches, the event in question (in which Rev. Smith confiscated Integrity's
banner and was subsequently interviewed in the Philadelphia Daily News)
seemed like a good opportunity for education.

March 4, 1997

Rev. Benjamin Smith, Sr.
Deliverance Evangelistic Church
2001 W. Lehigh Ave.
Phila., PA 19132

Dear Rev. Smith:

We were greatly saddened when we heard of the incident
involving the Philadelphia chapter of Integrity, which
is a member of our organization.  We understand from
comments attributed to you in the Daily News that you
see Deliverance Church as a gift from God which should
be shared with other Christians, and that you were
surprised by the inclusion of sexual minorities in the
Bishop's service.

We feel that it is important for you to understand
that while there are still relatively few religious
organizations that officially welcome non-
heterosexuals, there is a rapidly growing movement
among people of all faiths to welcome and ordain
sexual minorities, and to reject the notion of
heterosexual supremacy and the practice of sexual
discrimination.  We expect that as more people of
faith come to a deeper understanding of sexuality
issues, the official policies of most religious
organizations will change, and the number of
organizations who would feel welcome in your building
under your current policies will rapidly decrease.

We believe that people of faith are called to provide
an example to the larger society of peaceful
coexistence among groups with different beliefs.

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.