From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG USA Today Gwen Daye Richardson response Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 22:49:28 -0400 (EDT) June 15, 1998 USA Today 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington,VA 22229 Dear Editors: Gwen Daye Richardson's June 12 comments completely missed the point. Everyone is free to believe and practice whatever they want as long as what they are practicing is otherwise legal. Richardson is performing a service when she points out that she and many other Christians believe in gender equality. However, Richardson, just like those she is criticizing, is claiming that only her interpretation takes the whole of the truth into account, while those with whom she disagrees are being selective. Many people, for instance, would argue that to take the whole of a scripture into account means to concentrate on the overall messages and themes, rather than concentrating on all of the individual passages which appear to speak to a particular subject. This is hardly the same as saying, "it must be OK because Christ never said anything about it," though for some who take the Gospels and the words of Christ as primary, that may be argument enough. And many of those who do concentrate on individual passages would disagree with Richardson's contention that the Bible includes "clear admonitions against gay sexual relations." The Southern Baptist convention is free to argue for gender inequality, as long as they don't use that excuse to infringe on the rights of women through law, and everyone else, like Ms. Richardson, has the right to decide if they want to follow what the SBC says. Similarly, neither the SBC nor Ms. Richardson should be infringing on the rights of sexual minorities, and we hope that they will refrain from disparaging the faiths of those who feel that it is in fact their very faith that mandates that they work to uphold those rights. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 15 congregations and organizations and 58 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 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.