Subject: IWG Rapid City SD letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 23:46:26 -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 17, 1997

Letters Editor
Rapid City Journal
Box 450
Rapid City, SD 57709

In his letter of May 11, John A. Beardsley, III claims
that homosexuality runs contrary to scripture and the
teachings of Christianity.  There are so many different
interpretations of scripture on so many issues that
there is very little that anyone can say concretely
about the teachings of Christianity, and sexual
orientation is without question an area in which there
is very little agreement.  

The time-honored American tradition is to allow for
debate within denominations over biblical
interpretation, and to accept the creation of new sects
and denominations when agreement cannot be reached,
without worrying about who qualifies as a "True
Christian."  It is the job of each citizen, living
under a constitution which guarantees religious
liberty, to respect other's beliefs and affirm each
individual's right to be different.

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.