Subject: IWG Star Tribune religion/orientation letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 09:54:17 -0500 (EST)

The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 12 congregations and
organizations and 53 clergy from 15 religious traditions. 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.

December 15, 1997

Star Tribune
425 Portland Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55488

Dear Editors:

Thank you for your December 12 coverage of the
controversy at Redwood Falls Church of Christ
concerning a gay man performing Christmas music, and
for your mention of the United Church of Christ's
official position regarding sexual orientation.  It is
worth noting, however, that even within the United
Church of Christ there are congregations for whom
sexual orientation issues are still controversial, and
there are many congregations in other denominations for
whom they are not.  Religious liberty gives every
religious body the right to believe and practice their
beliefs as they see fit, especially regarding who can
and cannot worship or lead worship   That right
protects both congregations who choose to have sexual
minorities in leadership positions, and those who
choose not to.  We hope and pray, however, that over
time these sad stories of discrimination will become
rarer.

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.