Beliefs on Homosexuality within various mainline Denominations

This is a brief summary of the Amici Curia (Friend of the Court Brief)
for James Dale v Boy Scouts of America, Superior Court of NJ, Appellate
Division, Appeal No A-2427-95T3, regarding mainstream religious opinion 
on basic rights for homosexuals.  (It was provided to me by Laura Montgomery 
Rutt.)

*Catholic - "As early as 1976, the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops stated that homosexuals...should not suffer
prejudice against their basic human rights.  They have the right
to respect, friendship and justice."

*Disciples of Christ - "In 1997, the Disciple of Christ urged
the enactment of 'legislation on local, state and national levels
which will end the denial of civil rights and the violation of
civil liberties for reasons of sexual orientation.'  The Disciples
of Christ resolution specifically recognized that 'the church,
among other elements of society, has contributed to the
persecution and suffering of homosexuals, and it is its
culpability in this regard which provides one reason for
seeking a more enlightened understanding."

*Episcopalian - "The Dioceasn Council of the Episcopal
Diocese of Newark, in accordance with the teaching of the
Episcopal Church in the United States of America, affirms the
rights of lesbians and gay men to equal protection of the laws
and to live free from discrimination based on affectional or
sexual orientation."

*Evangelical Lutheran Church in America  (ELCA)- "A 1993
resolution of the Church Council of the ELCA 'reaffirmed that
the historical position of the ELCA is...support for legislation,
referendums, and policies to protect the civil rights of all
persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, and to prohibit
discrimination in housing, employment, and public services
and accommodations"

*Friends (Quaker) - "Friends oppose discrimination against
lesbians and gay men and advocate vigorous enforcement and
strengthening of civil rights laws for the protection of
population groups, such as lesbians and gay men, that are the
targets of hatred and exclusionary practices."

*Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (JRF) - "JRF opposes all
forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and
actively supports legislation designed to prohibit such
discrimination."

*National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. -
"In 1975, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
USA stated that 'as a child of God, every person is endowed
with worth and dignity that human judgment cannot set aside.
Therefore, every person is entitled to equal treatment under the
law.'  The resolution urged churches and individual members
'to work to ensure the enactment of legislation at the national,
state and local levels that would guarantee the civil rights of
all persons without regard to their affectional or sexual
preference."

*Presbyterian Church of America (PCUSA) - "As early as
1977, the PCUSA....stressed 'the need of the Church to stand
for just treatment of homosexual persons in our society in
regard to their civil liberties, equal rights, and protection under
the law from social and economic discrimination.'  In 1978,
the General Assembly of the PCUSA further called upon
United Presbyterians 'to work for the passage of laws that
prohibit discrimination in the areas of employment, housing,
and public accommodations based on the sexual orientation of
a person."

*Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) - "In
accordance with the teaching of Reform Judaism that all
human beings are created "Betselem elohim" (in the divine
image), Reform Judaism has strongly condemned
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation".

*Unitarian Universalist Association - "The Association has
adopted numerous resolutions affirming the rights of lesbians
and gay men to live free from discrimination based on sexual
orientation and affirming the goals of equality, dignity and
respect for all people, regardless of affectional or sexual
orientation."

*United Church of Christ (UCC) - "The UCC in 1977:
deplored the use of scripture to generate hatred, and the
violation of civil rights of gay and bisexual persons and called
upon individual members, local churches .... to continue to
work for the enactment of civil rights legislation at the federal,
state, and local levels of government."

*United Methodist Church - "The Book of Discipline of the
United Methodist Church --  1992, adopted by the General
Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1992, states
that 'we insist that all persons, regardless of age gender marital
status or sexual orientaion, are entitled to have their human
and civil rights ensured' ...  If further states that Methodists 'are
committed to support [basic human rights and civil liberties]
for homosexual persons.' It recognizes, as well, that claims of
gay people to 'equal protection before the law' present a clear
issue of simple justice."