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The Newsletter of the Interfaith Working Group
February 2000
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Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing
The Sexuality Information and
Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)
has released a
statement on
Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing endorsed by 850
clergy members and other religious leaders as of January
20. World Net Daily and CNSNews.com both ran stories
featuring extensive interviews with people disagreeing
with the statement and discounting supporters. The
Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story in the Living Religion
section listing 31 signers from the Philadelphia area,
including IWG supporters
Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, Rev.
Geneva Butz, Rev. Beverly Dale, Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell,
Rabbi Susan Marks, Rev. Rudy Nemser, Rev. Patricia
Pearce, Rabbi Liz Rolle, Rabbi David A. Teutsch, and
Rabbi Arthur Waskow. The Rev. Stephen Snider has also
subsequently signed. The Inquirer story and other
mainstream reports focused on the section of the
statement that calls for "full inclusion of women and
sexual minorities in congregational life, including their
ordination and the blessing of same sex unions." The
statement also calls for "theological reflection that
integrates the wisdom of excluded, often silenced
peoples, and insights about sexuality from medicine,
social science, the arts and humanities;" "sexuality
counseling and education throughout the lifespan from
trained religious leaders;" "support for those who
challenge sexual oppression and who work for justice
within their congregations and denomination;" "lifelong,
age appropriate sexuality education in schools,
seminaries, and community settings;" "a faith-based
commitment to sexual and reproductive rights, including
access to voluntary contraception, abortion, and
HIV/STD prevention and treatment;" and "religious
leadership in movements to end sexual and social
injustice." The statement and an endorsement form are
online at
www.religionproject.org.
SIECUS contact
information: 130 W. 42nd St., Suite 350, NY, NY
10036-7802; phone 212/819-9770; fax: 212/819-9776
email: siecus@siecus.org.
Vermont Supreme Court Causes Consternation
In a long-awaited decision, the Vermont Supreme
Court ruled that the denial of marriage benefits to
same-gender couples is discriminatory, but not the denial of
marriage licenses. Rather than redressing the grievances
of the complainants, they left it to the Vermont
legislature to decide how to end the discrimination. This decision
(which may ultimately result in Vermont being the
first state to legally recognize the marriages of same-gender
couples, but which otherwise had no immediate
effect) touched off yet another wave of comment and
argument in the media, much of which was extremely
muddled. As a result, during December and January we
wrote twenty-eight letters
related to the ruling, far more
than we have ever written on one topic.
Media Reactions to the Vermont Decision
There was a great variety of editorials, columns, and
letters reacting to Vermont's Supreme Court decision.
For the most part, they fell into one or more of these
categories: pro-marriage (for removing
gender discrimination from civil marriage laws);
pro-domestic-partnership (for providing some form of recognition for
same-gender couples); pro-civil-rights (for universal civil rights
--but no specific recommendations given); pro-equality
(for treating mixed-gender and same-gender relationships
as equal); anti-marriage (against universal marriage
--marriage is only for mixed-gender couples);
anti-equal-rights (against same-gender couples being entitled
to the same rights as mixed-gender couples); anti-equality
(mixed-gender relationships are viewed as inherently
superior); anti-gay (stereotyping and scapegoating sexual
minorities); and anti-anti-marriage (against opposition to
equal marriage rights).
The pro-marriage editorials mostly distinguished
between civil and religious marriage, while anti-marriage
editorials did not. Other common problems were writers
relying on the phrase "gay marriage" (even supporters of
equal marriage rights); mentioning religious opposition,
but not religious support; showing no grasp of the
diversity of religious definitions of marriage;
inconsistently discussing recognition of marriages by other states
and the federal government; confusing gender
discrimination and orientation discrimination; saying that
removal of gender would render the civil law meaningless;
asserting that the "problem" is legally complex; and
implying that all mixed-gender civil marriages are
inherently the same.
What's Next in Vermont?
According to the
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and
Defenders, the Vermont House of Representatives' Judiciary
Committee will hear several weeks of testimony, and
want witnesses to discuss how to comply with the ruling,
not whether to comply. The Committee's work is
expected to conclude with a House vote by late February, when
the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin its process.
Religious Reactions to the Vermont Decision
A pastoral letter from Vermont's Roman Catholic
Bishop Kenneth Angell urged people to rally against the
legalization of same-gender marriage.
A January 20 Rutland (VT) Herald piece by Rev.
William Sloane Coffin said in part: "...if for all of us marriage
is a profound symbol, and for some of us a sacred one,
what right have straight people to deny it to gays and lesbians
for whom it is altogether as meaningful?"
By January 22, this statement in favor of equal
marriage rights was signed by 18 clergy from several religious
traditions, including the Rt. Rev. Mary Adelia R. McLeod
(Episcopal bishop of Vermont), and the Rev. Susan
Morrison (United Methodist bishop of Vermont).
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.
[Song of Songs 8:7]
As religious leaders from a wide range of faith traditions, we
believe that marriage can only be strengthened by extending our
understanding of marriage to include the faithful committed
relationships of same-gender couples. Since marriage involves taking on
responsibilities as well as receiving privileges, we support
same-gender couples who choose to enter into such a commitment.
We believe that human beings are called to live in right relationship
with each other and with God. Therefore legalizing marriage
for same gender couples will build community, support the well-being
of children and families, and promote the common good.
We agree that when two women or two men make a loving
commitment to one another and wish to assume the responsibilities of
marriage, they exemplify a moral good which cannot be represented
by so-called registered partnership. We support the Vermont
legislature's passage of a bill that legalizes same-gender marriage.
Presbyterian Church (USA)
According to the Presbyterian News Service, the
Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly will
hear three of the four sexual orientation cases from the
Synod of the Northeast: the
Hudson River same-sex
union case, the Northern New England Presbytery's
decision not to enforce ordination restrictions, and the
Presbytery of West Jersey's acceptance of Graham Van
Keuren's candidacy.
United Methodist Church
Public hearings for the 67 California-Nevada United
Methodist clergy participants in
Jeanne Barnett's and
Ellie Charleton's January 1999 covenant service will be
Feb. 1-3 at Community United Methodist Church in
Fairfield, CA.
Euclid Ave. UMC in Oak Park, IL
said they will go on paying their apportionment to the
denomination, but due to disagreements with the denomination
over ordination and union ceremonies, they will also give
an equal $10,000 "to the work of the General Conference
Coalition toward eliminating heterosexism in the UMC."
Boy Scouts of America
The US Supreme Court has announced that they will
hear the
Boy Scouts of America
case and determine
whether the Boy Scouts are subject to New Jersey's public
accommodation non-discrimination laws. It is likely that
the case will be heard in April and decided in July.
California
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the
Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has reiterated support
for California's proposition 22 (Limit on Marriages
Initiative) in church meetings. A church statement says:
"On March 7, members of the church in California will
have the unique opportunity to promote a measure that
will help maintain and strengthen the family as a fundamental
unit of society."
The National Religious Leadership Roundtable held A
Call to Action: People of Faith Say No to CA
Proposition 22 at the
Irvine United Church of Christ on January
31. California's Solidarity Sabbath against Proposition 22
is February 11-14. Starting February 15, eighteen
churches in the San Francisco Bay area are sponsoring a four
week educational series at
First Presbyterian Church of
Palo Alto called
Homosexuality and Christian Faith:
New Visions for the New Century.
Signatures are being collected for
a proposition for the
November ballot to legalize recognition of the marriages
of same-gender couples, and another proposed
initiative,
"Defense of Sexual
Responsibility Act 2000," is
designed to prevent "public entities" from using the
phrase "sexual orientation;" Orange County Register and
San Francisco Examiner stories discussed the
Christian
Coalition's use of the "Sexual Responsibility" proposition
to organize in Korean churches; in response, Korean
Americans for Civil Rights has been formed.
Bible Curriculum
People for the American Way (PFAW)
has released an
extensive study on the use of "Bible History" classes in
Florida public schools. Such classes are encouraged by
the
National
Council on Bible Curriculum in Public
Schools. Numerous examples from the course materials
and exams include an accusation that according to Jesus,
the devil is the father of the Jews; a test question about
proper use of the Bible for converting "a Jewish friend;" a
question for students: "What is Jesus Christ's relationship
to God, to creation, and to you?"; and a final exam
question: "Using Scripture reference to support your
thoughts, write a short essay about each of the following
topics: a. God's Plan For The Family b. Living a
Victorious Life In The World Which Is So Dark c. God's
Directions For Righteous Living."
Web Site Update
Go to www.iwgonline.org to check out our website
upgrades, including the
new section for service texts and
bulletins, starting with this year's Martin Luther King Day
service, and a
link to the SIECUS document
(see page 1).
Letterhead Changes
Rev. Karla Fleshman has been added to the
letterhead.
Rabbi Arthur Waskow has returned to Philadelphia;
Rabbi Waskow and the
Shalom Center will be restored to
the letterhead with the next printing. If you are a
clergy-person who supports equal rights for sexual minorities,
reproductive freedom and separation of church and state,
call to have your name added.
New Suburban Philadelphia MCC Congregation?
Rev. Karla Fleshman has been appointed by the
Mid-Atlantic District of the
Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) to conduct a
feasibility study to determine whether there are people who
want to be part of a new, intentionally diverse
congregation in Philadelphia's northern and western suburbs.
Contact Karla at PO Box 1264, Havertown, PA
19083-9998; 610-724-2146; or
klflesh@mindspring.com.
House Chaplain
After a candidate for US House Chaplain said he was
passed over by the House Leadership because he is a
Roman Catholic priest,
Americans United Executive
Director Barry W. Lynn
wrote to House Speaker Dennis
Hastert, saying this "ugly and divisive" religious conflict is
why the chaplaincy should be abolished.
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