THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 1, 1995 TAG: 9507290010
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Unlike Craig Ziemba (``Lesbians spared tough questions,'' letter, July 17), I found the story of Alice and Carol to be loaded with ``tough questions.'' I found the story to be a powerful reminder of the diversity of the body of Christ, an aspect of the faith which is all too easy to neglect given that most of us spend most of our time with folks who remind us of ourselves and tell us what we want to hear. In any event, as a Christian I honor these women.
As a Presbyterian elder, I admit my disappointment in Bayside Presbyterian Church for restricting Alice's and Carol's participation in serving communion. That, I suppose, is the church's answer to ``the tough questions.'' Even so, I am hopeful that the next few years will witness an awakening among Christians in general and Presbyterians in particular regarding historically marginalized members of the body.
God bless Alice, Carol, Craig Ziemba and all who want to serve.
SCOTT CAIRNS
Virginia Beach, July 20, 1995
The recent article about two beautiful people, Alice and Carol, was told well.
It is a shame that there are people who read only what they want to read into the Bible. The Bible is written by man with man's views. It is a shame that churches promote such hate instead of teaching unconditional love to all. All the negative responses about those two women are from good ``Christians'' who are supposed to love. The only good Christians I see are Alice and Carol, who want only to love each other and life. I wish them the best.
SUSAN HEINTZ
Portsmouth, July 18, 1995
Regarding ``Lesbians spared tough questions'' (letter, July 17) in which the writer objected to the way the story of Alice and Carol was presented: Now I am the nauseated one.
Since we've already brought God into the issue, let's not forget the teachings of Jesus. Remember when Jesus stopped the crowd from stoning an adultress? Should we bet he would have let them continue if he'd found out she'd been with another woman?
The Daily Break article about Alice and Carol was a story about two people being honest and true to themselves and openly pursuing their beliefs in the Hampton Roads community. Sounds pretty healthy to me. It wouldn't have been either healthy or interesting if the article had contained a lot of lesbian-bashing rhetoric.
One doesn't have to be homosexual to wish for a world where people can tolerate one another - regardless of sexual preference, color of skin, gender, personal beliefs, etc.
NANCY LEIGH JOBES
Virginia Beach, July 17, 1995 by CNB