From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Arizona Religious support letter Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 01:11:40 -0400 (EDT) April 7, 1999 Arizona Daily Star PO Box 26887 Tucson, AZ 85726 Dear Editors: In response to the question raised by Dave Cullen on April 6 about religious support of gay rights: The number of supportive clergy and congregations is growing steadily and is much higher than one might suppose based on on Mr. Cullen's commentary. The Interfaith Working Group, for instance, represents six organizations, ten congregations and sixty-two clergy from fifteen religious traditions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The Rev. Paul Sherry, President of the United Church of Christ, recently issued a very strong statement entitled, "Now No Condemnation," addressing the role of sexual minorities in the church and society; and the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA) the Episcopal Church, and Reform Judaism have been engaged in internal discussions over policy toward sexual minorities that, while painful, have led a great many clergy to voice their support for equal rights for sexual minorities both in their denominations and in secular society, and will hopefully, in the end, lead to consistent pro-equality policies in those religious bodies as well as equality under the law. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and organizations and 61 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 http://www.libertynet.org/iwg and clergy supporting gay rights, iwg@libertynet.org reproductive freedom, and the voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 232-0829 separation of church and state. Sunday May 16, 1999 5pm. Marching In the Light: IWG Benefit Concert. Old First Reformed Church. 4th and Race, Philadelphia, PA. See the web page.