Greetings WAC community,
Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. – Genesis 1:11
A few weeks ago, I let you know that we expect that the Wyoming Association of Churches will become interfaith, officially happening at our annual meeting in October; something the entire membership present will have an opportunity to decide. I said WAC would become WIC (Wyoming Interfaith Council). But because WIC is the well-known acronym for Women and Infant Care, a program that WAC was instrumental in getting adopted by the Wyoming State Legislature and means so much to Wyoming’s mothers and their new born, some of our members asked for the proposed name be changed.
The new name proposed is Wyoming Interfaith Network – WIN. WIN is an acronym for others, but nothing closely associated with us at this time. WIN has a nice ring for a good seed-bearing organization. The seed allows continuing reproduction created on the 3rd day according to the creation story found in Genesis. Jesus and Paul talk of seeds as a symbol of what can grow from faith and stewardship. May the seeds of WIN flourish!
We need a new logo to become interfaith. In our newsletter that went out last month, we asked for submissions by July 1. I will extend that to July 31.
This is our current one. Note that interfaith means more than Jews, Muslims and Christians. We expect to include all religions, all people of faith in Wyoming, including Native American. Our logo needs to be inclusive. If you have a proposal, let us know. You may email your idea to
On another note, I am worried about the proposed bill released last Thursday by a group of U.S. Senators that included both Senator Enzi and Senator Barrasso. I cannot bring myself to call it a bill on healthcare because if enacted, it would do the opposite. The push is to vote on it right away. While our healthcare system needs repairs, we should follow the Hippocratic Oath of doctors, Primum non nocere, a Latin phrase that means, “First, do no harm.”
Medicaid is not the part that needs fixing, except to be expanded. Drastic reductions proposed for Medicaid would significantly harm children and the elderly, the poor and most vulnerable. But it also would hurt businesses whose employees could not get needed treatment and not be able to work. It will hurt our hospitals and other health care providers. As people of faith for justice, we need to act before it is too late.
Save the Date: July 18, Wind River Gathering on Economic Opportunities and 3rd Annual Riverton Peace March. The gathering will begin at 10 am at the Wind River Casino Cottonwood Room and continue until 4 pm. Following will be the Peace March in commemoration of the shootings in Riverton at the Center of Hope of two Northern Arapaho men by a white city employee that will end at the Riverton City Park. Watch for more details later.
Fear not. Be bold. Do justice.
Blessings,
Chesie Lee
The Wyoming Association of Churches appreciates your many financial gifts for our justice work in Wyoming. Click Here. Or you may mail checks to PO Box 1473, Laramie, WY 82073.