From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Orange County Register Letter Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 16:50:28 -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 Orange County Register 625 N. Grand Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92711 Dear Editors: Contrary to John L. O'Dell's letter, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has not "declined to ordain homosexuals." 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. The intent of those who proposed and actively supported the amendment seems to have been to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, and the amendment obviously satisfies that intent. The debate in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is three-pronged: is there anything inherently sinful about same-gender sexual activity; are sexual sins somehow worse than others; and what is the criteria for ordination, if we are all sinners? The clergy-related policies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) have tended to cast sexual sins in a worse light than other types of sins, including theft and murder. A failure to agree on issues concerning sin led to the close vote. The new amendment will likely be ignored by a small but rapidly growing percentage of the church, and the debate will go on. 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.