Subject: IWG Las Vegas, denominational statements letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 00:20:09 -0500 (EST)

December 12, 1998

Las Vegas Sun
Box 4275
Las Vegas, NV  89107

Dear Editors:

Thank you for your excellent article about
homosexuality and Christianity.  We were surprised,
however, that you left out any mention of other
religions, and that in your list of recent official
statements from Christian denominations, you failed
to mention last month's pastoral letter to all of the
congregations in the United Church of Christ (more
than 6,000) from the Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry, president
of the denomination.  

In his letter, entitled, "Now, No Condemnation, The
Rights of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Persons in
Society and their Membership and Ministry in the
Church,"  Dr. Sherry said that, "when so many in our
society would reject and exclude, it is critical that
we of the United Church of Christ bear witness to the
conviction that it is possible to be deeply faithful
to the Bible, profoundly respectful of the historic
faith of the church and of its sacraments, and at the
same time support the full inclusion and
participation of all God's children in the membership
and ministry of the church.  Likewise, there can be
no compromise that all persons in this society must
enjoy equal protection under the law." 

We would all be better off if every religious
organization were as welcoming, supportive, and
strident in supporting basic constitutional rights.

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 16 congregations and
organizations and 60 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.

-- 

Interfaith Working Group                Religious organizations, congregations
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/          reproductive freedom, and the 
voice: 215-235-3050  fax: 232-0829      separation of church and state.