The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston, president and dean of Episcopal Divinity School, sent a letter to bishops of the Episcopal Church recently, requesting their signatures on a document called "The Cambridge Accord."

While recognizing contrasting views on biblical, theological and moral issues concerning homosexuality, the accord asks affirmations on three points:

’Ä¢ "That no homosexual person should ever be deprived of liberty, personal property, or civil rights because of his or her sexual orientation;

’Ä¢ "That all acts of violence, oppression, and degradation against homosexual persons are wrong and cannot be sanctioned by an appeal to the Christian faith; and

’Ä¢ "That every human being is created equal in the eyes of God and therefore deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."

In a letter accompanying the accord, Bishop Charleston asked bishops to sign the document because "global persecution of homosexuals has reached alarming proportions." In addition to examples from the U.S., Bishop Charleston pointed to persecution in Africa "particularly in Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, (where) leaders at the highest levels of government have made public statements vilifying homosexuals with a claim to justification through the Christian faith."

He suggests that as the Anglican Communion struggles with issues of homosexuality, it had "perhaps inadvertently, fanned the flames of some misguided and bigoted reaction. Therefore, the responsibility for us to calm the passions of hate become even more acute."