wfn.org | Pledge of Civility for Candidates

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3170 notes).

Note 3168 modified by UMNS on Sept. 12, 1996 at 16:58 Eastern (2796
characters).

SEARCH:   Interfaith, Alliance, pledge, civility, political,
               election

CONTACT:  Joretta Purdue                         454(10-71B){3168}
          Washington, D.C.  (202) 546-8722          Sept. 12, 1996

Interfaith Alliance asks candidates
to take civility pledge

     WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- The Interfaith Alliance, a mainstream
faith-based organization with headquarters here, sent a "pledge of
civility" to political candidates Sept. 10, asking for their
commitment to the principles named in the document.
     Membership in the alliance is held by individuals, not
denominations or other religious groups. The alliance's board of
directors includes two prominent United Methodists.
     The pledge of civility affirms "the positive role religion
plays in the democratic process," repudiates "the use of religion
as a weapon" in political matters, and renounces campaign tactics
and "campaign contributions from organizations or individuals who
practice or advocate exclusion or intolerance."
     With a cover letter requesting their commitment to restoring
civility to the public debate, the pledge was sent to 1,000
candidates at the national, state and local levels -- including
President Clinton, Bob Dole and Ross Perot. Office seekers who
receive the pledge are being asked to return it to the
organization.
     The alliance also announced plans to issue millions of non-
partisan voter guides as part of its plan to encourage voting. 
     The Rev. Albert Pennybacker is president of the board of
directors. The Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, general secretary of the
National Council of Churches, is on the board, together with
bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal, Roman Catholic and
Episcopal churches and officials of Jewish, Presbyterian, Baptist
and Unitarian organizations.
     United Methodist the Rev. J. Philip Wogaman, senior pastor of
Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, is first vice
president. The Rev. John W. Swomley, professor emeritus, St.
Paul's School of Theology, is the second United Methodist on the
board of directors.
     The grass-roots organization's advisory board is headed by
Terry Anderson, a former Associated Press correspondent who was
held hostage in Lebanon. He said, "After uplifting calls by the
Presidential candidates in San Diego and Chicago for civility and
tolerance," he hopes they will sign this pledge.
     The alliance draws its membership from 30 faith communities 
but does not include the denominations and communions themselves.
It includes Republicans, Democrats and Independents, and was
founded two years ago.
     The pledge is one component of the alliance's "Road to
Renewal," an election-year education effort.
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