Efforts to restrict speech are appalling We write to you as a group of Protestant ministers who find ourselves appalled and angered by decisions made by NBC and CBS to disallow broadcast of advertisements by the United Church of Christ, one of our sister denominations, which portray their policies of respect toward and acceptance of all people within their fellowship. Within the context of programming regularly aired by these stewards of the nation's airways, these advertisements are not only tastefully done, but represent convictions deeply held by hundreds of thousands of Christian people. In contrast to the sort of divisiveness that characterizes so much of what is heard today, they reflect an openness and healing that is desperately needed in our nation's life. We strongly suspect that the decision to refuse broadcast of these advertisements has been taken as a result of pressure being brought by some religious and political groups ? pressure to restrict freedom of speech exercised by any whose beliefs conflict with theirs. We strongly urge the Columbia Broadcasting System and the National Broadcasting Company to re-assess their decisions and to permit broadcasts of these advertisements. The Revs. Lon B. Chesnutt, Gerald Goethe, Andrew Leigh Gunn, Clifford L. Harrison, William Holmes, Harry C. Kiely, Chester W. Kirk, Charles Mason, James R. Morgan, John A. Mote, R. Bruce Poynter, Gerald W. Weiss, J. Philip Wogaman, L. Carroll Yingling Jr., Ira G. Zepp and Bishop Forrest C. Stith. Wrong moral values identified I am writing in response to the Dec. 3 editorial by John W. Coleman Jr. concerning moral values. It seems that he wishes to create confusion about the moral values that 22 percent of voters expressed concern over and substitute his own list of moral values in their place. The first list he included ? abortion, same sex marriage and stem cell research ? are in my opinion scripturally-based issues. Mr. Coleman's substituted list is made up of socially-based moral values. His second list includes worthy issues that we should not ignore. But, I would equate this second list as worthy works for Christians but not equivalent to the other scriptural issues. One minor issue. I am not opposed to adult stem cell research; indeed, I am very much in favor of it. It is embryonic stem cell research that is opposed, since it involves killing living embryos. As a note, it is my understanding that adult stem cell research is where all of the progress has been made toward cures. If so, the embryonic research is not even necessary. Last, separation of church and state is not a Constitutional guarantee but was an interpretation issued by a liberal court creating something that was neither in the Constitution nor intended to be by the writers of the Constitution. It has been taken so far to the ridiculous side that recently a school teacher refused to allow the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom since it contained the words 'under God.' How much more of this must this nation endure before coming to its senses? J. Edward Head
Melville Chapel UMC, Elkridge Are hearts, minds, doors really open? The recent decisions in the trial of Beth Stroud in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference cause me to ask that The United Methodist Church stop falsely advertising that we are the church of 'Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.' It is clear that we have a long way to go before we can rightfully claim to live up to that slogan. If my employer were to fire an otherwise highly qualified, well-performing employee on the basis of his or her sexual orientation, the organization would be in court defending a lawsuit. How can the church get away with this? In 1989, the State of Maryland challenged the males-only membership policy of Burning Tree Country Club. The club asserted its rights to decide its membership and, therefore, had to give up its property tax exemption. They felt it was worth the money to protect their right to choose who was worthy to join their club. Perhaps the church may face this same decision someday. Lacking the wealth of a private country club, could the church sustain such a financial burden? Relying on writings in Leviticus and of the apostle Paul, one can easily make a quick case for the current policies of the church. On the other hand, we readily dismiss biblical writings on the matters of slavery, the status and role of women in the church and sacrificial offerings as no longer relevant. I pray that I will live to see the day when the issue of sexual orientation goes the way of the Central Jurisdiction and the denial of the ordination of women. Wesley E. Paulson
Millian Memorial UMC | 
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