Date: Sat, 11 Dec 93 17:30:44 EST
From: kevyn@aol.com

VERSION: 12.11.93

Note: This document was put together by Topeka Clergy in response to the
anti-gay preachings of Rev.Fred Phelps.


        A CLERGY DECLARATION
           in response to
THE ENVIRONMENT OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE
          in Topeka, Kansas
          October 11, 1993


We the undersigned clergy and religious leaders of Topeka make the following
declaration:

     We believe God is Love and that we are called to love God and to love
our neighbors as ourselves.

     We believe that all people are God's creation and are blessed by God.

     We detest the enviornment of hatred and violence that is promoted by a
vocal few in Topeka.

     We believe there are ways people can express their religious, cultural
and political differences wiythout resorting to hostile confrontation,
displays of anger or abusive language.

     We are opposed to taking scriptural texts and religious writings out of
context and claiming they are definitive for all people.

     We want our community to know the scriptural interpretations displayed
on our street corners by the purveyors of hate, prejudice and bigotry are
neither universal nor the norm.

We believe God, not individuals, judges people and nations and that we are
called tgo proclaim God's love and minister faithfully to each other in God's
name.


================================
* Signers of Clergy Declaration:
================================
Rev. Donald T. Moses - Grace Episcopal
Rev.Charles Erb - First Congregational
Rev.Dr.Rebecca S. Erb - First Congregational
Father Norbert Lickteig - Christ the King Catholic
Susan Lee - St.Matthew's
Bill Beachy - Exec.Director, Topeka Center for Peace & Justice
Rev.Bill Hemmen, Jr. - Lowman United Methodist
Rev. Don Anderson - East Topeka United Methodist
Rev.Wayne Mason - West Side Baptist
Rev.Dan Friberg - Good Shepherd Lutheran
Rev.James D. McCullough - First Christian
Father Frances Krische - Most Pure Heart of Mary
Rev.Dean Knewston - Otterbein United Methodist
Rev.Don Miller - Central Congregational, UCC
Father William Bruning - Most Pure Heart of Mary
Rev.Gerald Weeks - First Lutheran
Rev.Stephanie Kopsch - First Lutheran
Rev.Susan Candea-Kromm - Our Savior's Lutheran
Rev.Ron Eslinger - United Church of Christ
Rabbi Lawrence Karol - Temple Beth Sholom
Rev.John D. Stoneking - Topeka District Superintendant, United Methodist
Rev.Peter M. Ross-Gotta - Chaplin, Menninger Clinic
Rev.Kathryn Timpany - Central Congregational, UCC
Rev.Don R. Flanner - Tecumseh United Methodist
Rev.James R. Peters - Grace Episcopal
Rev.Dennis G. Johnson - Seaman Congregational, UCC
Betty Nelson - Chair, Topeka Center for Peace & Justice
Rev.Don Lindermann
Rev.Michael Mulvaney - St.Matthew's
Father John Lassiter
Rev.Dan Gardener - Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dorothy G. Berry - Ecumenical Consulting Associates
Rev.Deborah Swank - Grace United Methodist
Rev.John W. Emsli, Jr. - St.Paul's Lutheran
Rev.John H. Rath - Faith Lutheran
Rev.Karl Meisel - Berryton United Methodist
Rev.C.Kent Rogers - Oakland United Methodist
Rev.Ann Richards - Westminster Presbyterian
Rev.Gary Dieter - North Topeka Baptist
Rev.Mark Lee - Grace Episcopal
Canon Jim Peters - Grace Episcopal
Rev.Cynthia Neufeld Smith - Southern Hills Mennonite
Rev.Steve Hughes - Highland Park Methodist
Rev.Ron Holland - First United Methodist
Rev.Don Roberts - Church of the Brethren
Rev.Paul C. Evans - Metropolitan Community Church
Rev.L.Jonathan Loppnow - Metropolitan Community Church
Rev.Michael E. Obenauer - Seabrook UCC
Rev.Paul B. Mitchell - Countryside United Methodist
Rev.Kay S. Scarbrough - Countryside United Methodist
Rev.Jerry Quiring - Susanna Wesley United Methodist
Rev.Douglas W. Phenix - Potwin Presbyterian
Rev.Janet Maxwell Harris - University United Methodist
Chaplain Charles E. Benton - United Methodist Home
Rev.Lee A. Morris - St.Andrews Presbyterian
Rev.Kent M. Melcher - Shawnee Heights United Methodist
Chaplain John Dillingham - retired
Rev.Barry Dundus - Campus Ministry at Washburn
Rev.George Brecht - Central Presbyterian
Rev.Harold Schneider - Holy Name Church
Rev.John Rossiter - Assumption Church
Rev.Mary Alice Knewtson
Rev.Virgina Pych

*Names of congregations of organizations listed for identification only.