Subject: IWG Southern Baptist Story on ABC
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 23:33:57 -0500 (EST)

February 2, 1999

David Westin
ABC News President
Fax: 212-456-6200

Dear Mr. Westin:

	We were disturbed by your February 1 evening
news coverage of the Southern Baptist Convention's
new Sunday School curriculum in regard to
homosexuality.   There are a number of ways that a
more balanced story could have been accomplished.    
	Since the new curriculum includes theological,
scientific, moral, and ethical aspects, scientists,
theologians or clergy with a different point of view
could have been interviewed.  
	There are also several denominations with very
strong stands in favor of sexual minorities; the
Convention's actions could have been contrasted with
the recent pastoral letter from United Church of
Christ President, the Rev. Paul Sherry titled "Now,
No Condemnation, The Rights of Gay, Lesbian, and
Bisexual Persons in Society and their Membership and
Ministry in the Church."
	There are also many denominations struggling
with policies about sexual minorities; you could have
interviewed participants in the recent United
Methodist same-sex union ceremony in Sacramento co-
officiated by almost one hundred fifty clergy in
defiance of church policy.
	Since Southern Baptists are not completely
unified on this topic, gay, lesbian, or bisexual
Southern Baptists could have been interviewed, or
members of Southern Baptist congregations that have
made pro-gay policy decisions.  
	And finally, someone from PFLAG could have been
interviewed about the effects of such teachings on
children in conservative churches.  
	Any of these small improvements would have made
a huge difference in a story that otherwise simply
repeated the Southern Baptist Convention's language
and worldview without any challenge, and strongly
implied that the only negative reaction to the
curriculum was from individual sexual minorities with
no obvious connection to the denomination or even
organized religion in general. 

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,
[email-masked]                      reproductive freedom, and the 
voice: 215-235-3050  fax: 232-0829      separation of church and state.
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Subject: ABC letter correction
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:38:42 -0500 (EST)

THe ABC letter I sent out yesterday will be mailed to
ABC, Inc. 
77 West 66th Street 
New York, NY 10023

The fax number listed appears to be non-operational.

Sorry for the confusion.

-Chris Purdom, Cocoordinator,

-- 

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