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No Longer Silent: Clergy for Justice - Raising a Voice Against Christian Intolerance

April 1, 2002

Dr. James Dobson

Focus on the Family

8605 Explorer Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Dear Dr. Dobson,

We are Christian Clergy grounded in the witness of the Bible and convicted of the unconditional love of God for all people. We have come together to raise a voice against the Christian intolerance that promotes condemnation, discrimination, and hatred towards gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons.

Increasingly, homosexuals who are faithful disciples of Jesus Christ are overcoming the stigma fostered by the "ex-gay" movement and are successfully reconciling their spirituality and their sexuality. We share their understanding of homosexuality as a good gift of God. We are moved to stand with them in support of the Gospel message of God's unconditional inclusive love.

Some political and Christian leaders still characterize homosexual persons as inherently more sinful and/or immoral than their heterosexual counterparts. We disagree with these views and feel that interpretations of the Bible made apart from their historical context and used to support such views are fundamentally flawed and inaccurate. We believe that homosexual persons are no more (or less) sinful and are of equal character and personal integrity as any other group of people.

We are appealing to you to meet with us to address our mutual culpability for the continued violence against Gays and Lesbians and the high rate of suicide among homosexuals tormented by the intolerance of family members, the church, and the belief that God hates them. Our task is made more urgent because of those who are literally dying every day because of the Church's stance on this issue. We would like to meet with you or the leaders of your "Love Won Out" seminar prior to the April 6^th event in Phoenix.

We challenge you to not be afraid of hearing the stories of faithful homosexuals and pray that the Holy Spirit moves you to be open to conversation. We look forward to you contacting us. We are,

Yours in Christ's service,

The clergy of nolongersilent.org

Rev. Joe Amico, Southwest Conference, United Church of Christ

Rev. Andre R Boulanger, Roman Catholic

Fr. Scott Brubaker, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church

Rev. Linda Bunyard, West Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Sun City

Rev. John Burciaga, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix

Rev. Dr. George Cushman, Crossroads United Methodist

Rev. Nancy Cushman, Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist

Rev. Barbara Doerrer-Peacock, South Mountain Community Church

Rev. Michael Eaton, Grace United Methodist

Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes, Scottsdale Congregational UCC

Rev. Dr. Paul Eppinger, Arizona Ecumenical Council

Rev. David M. Felten, Via de Cristo United Methodist

Rev. Joy Haupt-Black, Valley of the Sun Community Church

Rev. John Herman, Desert Palm United Church of Christ

Rev. Mae Hicks, (Honorably Retired)

Rev. Tom Jelinek, Desert Southwest Conference, UMC

Rev. Gene Lefebvre, Shadow Rock Congregational UCC

Rev. Dr. Richard E. Lyddon, Tempe First United Methodist Church

Rev. Vernon Meyer, St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

Rev. Dr. Jeff Procter-Murphy, Asbury United Methodist Church

Rev. David Ragan, Shadow Rock Congregational UCC

Fr. Ray Ritari, St. Matthew Catholic Church

Rev. Peggy Lindamood Roberts, Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church

Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, Southwest Conference, United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Tex Sample, Network for the Study of US Lifestyles

Rev. Dr. Donald Sapp, Desert Southwest Conf., United Methodist Church

Rev. Kelli Shepard, Faith Lutheran Church, ELCA

Rev. Richard Staats, ELCA

Rev. Charlotte Strayhorne, Phoenix Light of the Lamb Christian Church

Rev. Anthony Tang, Dayspring United Methodist

Fr. Jim Turner, Church of St. Thomas More

Rev. Steve Wayles, First Congregational United Church of Christ of Phoenix

Rev. Fletch Wideman, United Methodist Rocky Mountain Conference

Rev. Walter F. Wieder, Unitarian Universalist Church, Sun Cities