From the Director

September 25, 2008

Dear Leaders in the Communities of Faith:

Never before in the history of America has there been such confusion about marriage and the family.  The national debates over marriage law, civil unions and gay marriage have impacted you, your people, and your ministries.  As a result, important questions and conversations are underway in churches and synagogues throughout our land.

To assist you in addressing these questions, we are pleased to provide you with three resources that we believe offer clear and accurate information pertaining to the historic understanding of marriage as a life long union of a husband and wife.

First, Marriage and the Public Good is a powerful statement published in 2006 by the Witherspoon Institute at Princeton University.  Its ten principles summarize the central issues in the marriage debate.  Its message reflects the best of social science research and has been signed by more than seventy leading scholars from many faith traditions.  It demonstrates that the marriage debate in America is not merely a matter of personal faith, but it is also a concern for the common good of our civil society.

Second, you will also find a DVD that engages these key questions.  Leaders from various disciplines lend their voices to explain why the marriage debate is one of the foundational concerns of our day.  It is a useful tool for small group discussions, classroom instruction, or simply to share with others.

Third, you are encouraged to visit and to publish the website Thetruthaboutmarriage.org.  There you will find the entire text of the book and the complete presentation of the video for your further use.  The website also offers Marriage and the Public Good and the video in free quantity orders.  The book is available in both English and Spanish.  Quantities, however, are limited and will be delivered on a first come, first served basis.

Thank you, then, for your consideration of these materials and for your principled leadership in the American marriage debate.  As you speak on behalf of the historic Judeo-Christian understanding of marriage, you do more than bless your people and strengthen our nation.  You also uphold the truth.

In a few weeks we will write to you again and ask you to complete a questionnaire that will help us to carry out our educational mission more effectively.  So once again, thank you for being part of this national non-profit educational program—The Upholding The Truth Project.

Yours Sincerely in Support of Marriage,


Dr. Peter A. Lillback, President of Westminster Theological Seminary