Greetings WAC Community,
“. . . Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:10
The black revolution is much more than a struggle for the rights of Negroes. It is forcing America to face all its interrelated flaws – racism, militarism and materialism. It is exposing the evils that are rooted deeply in the whole structure of our society. It reveals systemic rather than superficial flaws and suggests that radical reconstruction of society itself is the real issue to be faced. – Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968
For it is likely that there can be no resurrection by proxy. Each person and each generation may be called to stand anew – not alone at the river. – Vincent Harding, 1990 in his book, Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement
Sadly, we have witnessed chaos in many of our communities, challenging us as people of faith to speak and act boldly and courageously to end racism, materialism and militarism. . . As in Dr. King’s time, we teeter precariously between chaos and community. – Invitation to the Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD): Confronting Chaos, Forging Community, 15th national gathering in DC, April 21-24, 2017,
I have registered for the EAD 2017 appropriately to follow Easter and booked my flight and lodging. Like last year for the EAD when the focus was on racism, I wonder if I’ll be the only one participating from Wyoming. If you are going, let me know, as I would like very much to coordinate with you. I see the mission of the Wyoming Association of Churches to challenge our congregations to move outside of our comfort zones to be God’s compassion and justice. We should not leave it to the politicians who worry about whether they will get re-elected and are tempted by promises that if they vote a certain way, they will get thousands of dollars put into their campaigns in 2018.
Where is the church in all of this? That’s a question that a friend often asks me. I wonder if the chaos that exists now because the church has failed to act. Our congregations are equipped for handing out band aids, but that is scarce relief when surgery is required.
We know, or should know, that God is with us confronting the chaos. The EAD gathering can be a big step toward forging community where perhaps we can be the church. The sponsors of EAD 2017 are the church. We are the church. We need not stand alone. We can be in community.
If you cannot go to DC with me in April, then I ask that you:
Pray for me to gain the knowledge, skills and inspiration for solutions to take to Wyoming’s Congressional delegation and to bring back to Wyoming.
Pledge to assist me to deliver the message upon my return to our congregations, cities and towns in Wyoming.
If you and/or your church would like to donate to WAC to help offset the costs of my attending EAD 2017, I would very much appreciate that too. Donate
Fear not. Be bold. Do justice.
Blessings,
Chesie
P.S. We are still looking for a chair of the Peace & Justice Team of the Wyoming Association of Churches. If you might be interested in chairing or being on the team, let me know. 307-761-0755.
The Wyoming Association of Churches appreciates your many financial gifts for our justice work in Wyoming for the oppressed. Click here. Or mail your contribution to WAC, PO Box 1473, Laramie, WY 82073. You may designate your gift to the Wind River Native Advocacy Center.
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