From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG San Antonio Greg Dell letter Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 23:38:41 -0400 (EDT) April 3, 1999 San Antonio Express-News Box 2171 San Antonio, TX 78297-2171 Dear Editors: We take exactly the opposite view of the Rev. David Trawick [letter, April 1] with regard to what constitutes responsible religious reporting. It is hardly the job of reporters or headline writers to determine what actions constitute "disobedience to Scripture;" to guess at whether an individual thinks that "he is more enlighted than 2,000 years of church tradition;" or to interpret whether the law of any particular church is "clear." There is little question that the removal of Rev. Greg Dell from his congregation and the United Methodist Church as a whole for ministering to all of the his congregants makes it more difficult for people with differences of opinion on this one issue to coexist within the denomination, as did passing a rule in the first place that forbade the ritual expression of the beliefs of a growing minority. To say that the "pastor's punishment fuels division" was straightforward and factual. 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.