From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Fort Worth Letter Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 23:04:16 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 congregations and religious organizations and 39 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. May 20, 1997 Fort Worth Star Telegram PO Box 1870 Fort Worth, TX 76101 Dear Editor: We were somewhat confused by Mark Sadler's May 18 letter in which he referred to "the Christian church" as a monolithic entity with doctrines, declarations, teachings, and theology regarding sexual orientation. There are in fact many different branches of Christianity, all with substantially different opinions on many issues, most of which were formed over disagreements concerning theology and polity that few people even remember now. In recent years there has been a major debate in many denominations over our understanding of sexual orientation, the scriptures which have traditionally been interpreted as addressing sexual issues, and how each denomination should best respond to the larger society's anxiety over this issue. There have been a wide range of responses, including fighting against civil rights for sexual minorities, banning sexual minorities from the church, "converting" everyone to heterosexuality, encouraging chastity, bickering, ignoring the issue, quietly accepting sexual minorities, and championing the oppressed. All of these diverse responses are based on some combination of personal experience, personal prejudice, scriptural interpretation, and our basic understanding of what we believe God calls us to do. 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.