Beth Pride

I am proud to say that Beth Stroud is my pastor [Cover, "Holy War," Michael J. Mishak, Dec. 1, 2005]. I have been a member of First United Methodist Church of Germantown for nearly 30 years, and I have been in the audience for Beth's journey. I had the privilege of being in church on the Easter Sunday when Beth told her story and told us that her integrity as a United Methodist minister and as a person demanded that she tell the whole truth. I could give you a long list of the reasons I value, appreciate and support Beth, as a person and as a pastor. But I think it's enough to say that Beth Stroud is my pastor.

I suspect that I will be only one of several dozen people who will bring in a copy of the article to pin to one of our bulletin boards. My reaction, on finishing the story, is that you presented Beth and Chris honestly and with dignity, and I appreciate that. I have only one minor complaint, and it is with the caption for the picture titled "Unwelcome in This House." The "house" shown in the picture is our church—Beth's and mine. And Beth will always be welcome, with open arms and loving hearts, in our "house." Beth continues to serve our congregation, and will be a member of our staff for as long as she wishes to serve us. That is our promise to her and to ourselves.

Virginia Klipstein
Glenside

How could we all not be enthralled with the better-than-fiction story of Stroud's coming out as a lesbian, speaking truth to power and, with her partner, becoming a foster parent? I think if Mary, the mother of Jesus, were to come back today, she would choose to identify with those whose voices are not accepted by too many of us. Maybe instead of being Jewish, she would be a woman of color, maybe a Palestinian and a lesbian.

Someone once told us, "Let he who hath not sinned cast the first stone." I wonder if the Rev. Thomas Hall, the lead prosecutor for the group that chose to defrock Stroud, is as concerned about the commitment and relationships established at First United Methodist Church of Germantown as he is regarding the integrity of the Methodist Book of Discipline.

This was an opportunity for the church to stand up for justice and equality. It failed to do so. Hopefully, he and others in the church hierarchy will take part in "charitable dialogue" and come to an understanding that inclusiveness is the essence of the true church.

Marlene Santoyo
West Mt. Airy

I commend Bruce Schimmel on articulately telling the story behind Independence Park Mall's completion [Loose Canon, "Thanks and No Thanks," Nov. 24, 2005]. He not only paid a long-overdue tribute to the land's historical heroes, but also shed light on our local leaders' efforts to honor those heroes. Now that's something to celebrate in July of 2006.

Sarah Stroback
Center City