From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG US News denominational conflicts letter Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 00:08:17 -0400 (EDT) July 14, 1999 U. S. News 2400 N St. NW Washington, DC 20037-1196 Dear Editors: We appreciated your July 19 article, "An American Reformation," if only because it aptly demonstrated that there is no clear consensus in the religious community on sexual orientation and identity. However, there were some assertions and omissions which we found puzzling. We were confused by the characterization of the United Church of Christ as "badly polarized." The national UCC office has very consistently taken a position in favor of the full inclusion of sexual minorities in the life of church (including ordination) and society. Indeed, if there is any denomination in a position to provide a "common ecumenical banner" for inclusive churches, it is the UCC. While the article was about main line Protestant churches, there was also a strong implication that these debates are not occurring elsewhere. In fact, there is serious disagreement in the Roman Catholic Church, including the recent departure of an entire congregation and their priest in Rochester, and the announcement by the Vatican that the priest and nun who founded New Ways Ministries have been barred for life from ministering to gays and lesbians. In addition, the article did not mention that the Southern Baptist Convention has disfellowshipped several congregations for welcoming sexual minorities into membership, and some congregations have voluntarily left the SBC, contributing in part to a 1% membership drop. Lastly, we felt that the article glossed over the organizational and doctrinal differences of opinion on a plethora of issues besides sexuality that have fragmented American Christianity into thousands of very different denominations. Those differences are not likely to simply disappear, just because people have found new things to disagree about. Historically, new disagreements have resulted in more denominations, not fewer. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and organizations and 67 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. From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: US News letter correction Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 00:53:37 -0400 (EDT) "New Ways Ministry" not "New Ways Ministries" The web page has the corrected version, and the corrected version will be mailed. -- 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.