From: Interfaith Working Group <iwg@philadelphia.libertynet.org>
Subject: IWG Fargo Forum letter
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 00:55:33 -0500 (EST)



The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 3 congregations, 6 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 21, 1997

The Fargo Forum
Box 2020
Fargo, ND  58107

Dear Editors:

In your March 16 editorial, you said that "even
historically liberal church denominations joined a
chorus of voices denouncing unions of men to men and
women to women."  This could be true, but we certainly
can't think of any, and there are plenty of examples of
denominations that support same-sex unions in various
degrees.  The Unitarian Universalist Association has
been very vocal in its support of the legal recognition
of same-gender marriages.  The Hawaii Council of
Churches issued a statement opposing the changing of
the Hawaii Constitution to outlaw same-gender
marriages.  The California Council of Churches, the
Pacific Congress of Quakers, the Central Conference of
American Rabbis, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical
Association, and the Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Community Churches all support same-gender
marriage legalization.  The Presbyterian Church (USA)
is opposed to the denial of equal benefits for same-
gender couples even they oppose religious recognition
of same-gender relationships.  The United Church of
Christ has long supported equal rights for sexual
minorities.   Episcopalians are considering adding an
official blessing of same-gender couples to one of
their prayer books.

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.