A thousand liberal religious scholars and clergy in the United States have endorsed a statement affirming sexuality as God's gift and calling for the full participation of women and gays and lesbians in the life of religious institutions.

"We feel there is a need to develop a clear and articulate basis for the living out of sexuality as a life-affirming gift," John Thomas, president of the United Church of Christ (UCC), told Ecumenical News International (ENI).

The declaration, known as the "Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing," was publicly released January 18. The text of the declaration and a list of supporters were published this week as a full-page advertisement in the New York Times. Conservative critics of the document accused the signatories of trying to overthrow Bible-based morality.

Liberal Protestants dominate the list of signatories, though a smaller group of Roman Catholics and Jews also endorsed the resolution. John A. Buehrens, head of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, endorsed the declaration, along with 14 bishops from various denominations, 15 seminary presidents and academic deans, and theologians from more than 32 US seminaries.

Originally 850 people signed the resolution, but since its release to the public, a further 150 have added their support.

Among prominent clergy endorsing the document were Edmond Browning, retired presiding bishop of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church, and Paul Sherry, former president of the United Church of Christ, who has been honored for his work in ministry to gays and lesbians.

The document's signatories declared they were speaking out "against the pain, brokenness, oppression, and loss of meaning that many experience about their ...