This came in to me today from Rev. Debra W. Haffner

Dear Colleagues:

This morning, the Religious Institute released "An Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Marriage Equality."

The Open Letter offers the religious foundations for securing the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. It says, "As religious leaders, we believe that all persons have the right to lead lives that express love, justice, mutuality, commitment, consent, and pleasure, including but not limited to civil and religious marriage." It addresses scripture and tradition as well as religious pluralism.

The Open Letter was developed at a colloquium of theologians sponsored by the Religious Institute. The authors include Rabbi Dr. Rebecca Alpert, Rev. Steve Clapp, Rev. Dr. Marvin Ellison, Rev. Dr. Larry Greenfield, Rev. Debra W. Haffner, Dr. Mary Hunt, Rev. Barbara Lundblad, Rev. Michael Schuenemyer, and Rev. Dr. Traci West.

You can read the Open Letter (and the accompanying press release) at
www.religiousinstitute.org. Click the scrolling banner, the News button, or the Marriage Equality button. Hard copies can be ordered at the site as well.

Please help us get the word out about the Open Letter. Feel free to pass on this message to your colleagues. We want to demonstrate that there is an authentic diverse religious voice that supports marriage equality.

Rev. Debra W. Haffner