Subject: IWG Inquirer/Creech/The big debate
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 23:57:53 -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.

March 14, 1998

The Philadelphia Inquirer
PO Box 8263
Phila., PA 19101

Dear Editors:

	The acquital of Rev. Jimmy Creech in a United
Methodist church trial in Kearney, Nebraska on March 13
was a major event in what is currently the biggest and
most contentious debate in American religious life -
our understanding of sexual orientation and treatment
of sexual minorities.  This debate is not likely to
resolve itself any time in the near future.   In the
past year there have been trials, votes, and expulsions
in Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Lutheran,
Mennonite,  and Baptist denominations, and we
anticipate more in the next few years, especially once
the first state offers legal recognition to the
marriages of same-gender couples.  The struggle for
social progress is never as easy as it should be, but
despite ocassional setbacks we believe American
society, and its religious institutions in particular,
is showing definite signs of improvement in achieving
equal treatment for all its citizens.

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.