From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG US News and World Report Letter Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 23:47:01 -0400 (EDT) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 10 congregations and religious organizations and 41 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. June 2 , 1997 U. S. News & World Report 2400 N St. N.W. Washington, DC 20037-1196 Dear Editors: Thank you for publishing such an extensive report on the current difficulties facing the Presbyterian Church (USA). We did, however have a few problems with the article. The two Virginia clergy members who were chosen to represent the sides in the debate both have rather extreme views of the church. The overwhelming mass of the clergy fall between those who preach nothing but personal salvation and those who would rather not talk about the Bible, and it is obvious from the closeness of the Amendment B vote that the majority who fall in the middle also have conflicting views over the amendment. The story mentioned in passing that Amendment B was blatantly discriminatory, but there was no explanation as to why. While both gay and straight single Presbyterians must choose between sexual activity and ordination, there is at least the possibility of a sex life in the context of marriage for those who choose a life partner of a different gender, while those who choose someone of the same gender have no option other than celibacy. This further exacerbates the already- existing problem of single homosexuals being presumed to be sexually active, while heterosexuals are assumed to be celibate until marriage. Yet another problem with the amendment is that, while it forbids sexual activity among unmarried people, it fails to define what sexual activity is. This leads to the very real possibility that the very same activities could be defined as sex for same-gender couples but defined as affection for mixed-gender couples. If this sounds ridiculous, consider the different reactions of many people to same- and mixed- gender kissing on television. This is not so much a debate over the nature of God (though differences of opinion in that area definitely inform some people's decisions) so much as it is a debate over the nature and importance of gender. 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.