INDIANAPOLIS -- More than 600 conservatives from mainline Protestant churches have launched a counter-assault on what they say are their liberal-leaning denominations, according to Religion News Service.

"The Holy Spirit has not abandoned our churches, neither will we," a group of 18 theologians wrote in a joint "Letter to Confessing Christians," released Oct. 25 at the meeting of the Association for Church Renewal in Indianapolis.

Conference participants came from the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Episcopal Church, American Baptist Churches U.S.A. and the United Church of Canada.

The mainline evangelicals claim their denominations have abandoned Scripture by embracing homosexuality, an anything-goes theology and liberal causes like abortion and, in some cases, opposition to war with Iraq.

"Churches need faithful confessors for one essential reason: A church that is unable to confess its faith is a lame and withered church," according to the letter. "The church needs faithful witnesses in order to be the church of Jesus Christ."

Discussion centered around whether to attempt a political takeover of the denominations through legislation and elections, or to attempt to co-exist with the progressive groups while still having a say in church law.

Nancy Ammerman, a sociologist at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Conn., said a political takeover within any of the denominations is unlikely.

"I can't imagine any of these denominations completely dominated by a conservative agenda," Ammerman said.