IN AN OPENING STATEMENT, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TASK FORCE'S WORK GROUP ON THE DEATH PENALTY PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, NOTES THE NEED FOR CHURCHES TO DELIVER A POSITIVE MORAL MESSAGE IN THE DEBATE OVER THE DEATH PENALTY, URGES THAT THE MESSAGE EMPHASIZE GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE, AND REMINDS CHURCHES OF THE GOSPEL'S ADMONITION TO LOVE ONE'S ENEMIES AND OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH'S PRECLUSION OF DEHUMANIZING ACTIONS TOWARD CRIMINALS. STATEMENTS ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ARE PRESENTED FOR THE AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES, CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, U.S. CATHOLIC CONFERENCE, CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST), EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE, AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA. ALSO INCLUDED ARE STATEMENTS FROM THE MENNONITE GENERAL CONFERENCE, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF CHRIST, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U.S.A., UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN ETHICAL UNION, AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE, SYNAGOGUE COUNCIL OF AMERICA, UNION OF AMERICAN HEBREW CONGREGATIONS, AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. (AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S STATEMENT IS INCLUDED BECAUSE MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE CONFERENCE AT WHICH THE STATEMENT WAS DEVELOPED WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF RELIGIOUS BODIES). (LKM)