WYOMING  ASSOCIATION  OF  CHURCHES  

an  ecumenical  community  fostering  and  promoting,  spiritual  growth,  stewardship  of  the  land,  and  social  justice  in  Wyoming  since  1976  

Report  –  September  2011  

 

New  Executive  Director:  In  March,  Chesie  Lee  became  the  executive  director  of  the  Wyoming  

Association  of  Churches.    Lee,  a  former  certified  lay  speaker  in  the  United  Methodist  Church,  is  a  graduate  of  the  2-­‐year  Academy  for  Spiritual  

Formation.    She  has  lived  in  Wyoming  25  years,  is  an  attorney  and  brings  much  experience  working  with  nonprofits.  Lee  is  a  former  chair  of  

WAC  when  it  was  known  as  the  Wyoming  Church  Coalition.    She  was  the  primary  founder  of  Jubilee  House,  Inc.,  a  transition  home  in  

Douglas,  for  women  coming  out  of  prison.    She  now  lives  in  Laramie.  

3  Active  Teams/9  Denominations:    WAC  carries  out  its  work  through  three  teams:  Spiritual  Life,  

On  Sacred  Ground  and  Peace  &  Justice.    Board  members  are  appointed  by  the  judicatories  of  nine  denominations  with  churches  in  Wyoming:  

American  Baptists,  Disciples  of  Christ,  Episcopalians,  Friends  (Quakers),  Lutherans  

(ELCA),  Presbyterians  (USA),  Roman  Catholics,  United  Methodists  and  United  Church  of  Christ.  

Updated  Website  and  Now  on  Facebook:  Go  to  www.wyomingassociationofchurches.org  to  

learn  more  about  WAC.  

2011  Actions  

A  Faith  Response  to  Immigration,  It  Begins  with  Understanding  the  Issues,  was  held  in  Cheyenne  

at  First  Presbyterian  Church,  January  8  with  50  participants  from  throughout  Wyoming.  

Speakers:  (left  to  right):  Carmina  Oaks,  Social  Services,  Jackson;  Jen  Smyers,  Church  World  Services,  D.C.;  Floyd  Esquibel,  Wyoming  Senate,  Cheyenne;  Amy  Mendez,  Presbyterian,  Denver;  Stevon  Lucero,  Artist,  Mural  

Presentation:  Walls  that  Speak  

 Presence  at  Wyoming  State  Legislature  -­‐  WAC  

chose  three  priorities  for  advocacy  for  2011:  1. Immigration  like  Arizona’s  bill  -­‐  opposed  2. State  Lottery  –  opposed  

3. Nursery  at  Women’s  Prison  –  supported  

The  immigration  and  state  lottery  bills  were  defeated  and  the  nursery  was  delayed  until  the  

2012  budget  session.    WAC  spoke  on  other  bills  reflecting  WAC’s  positions  on  justice.    

Red  Desert  Awareness:  In  late  April  events  were  held  in  Lander,  Rock  Springs,  Casper  and  Laramie  to  highlight  the  beauty  of  Wyoming’s  

Red  Desert.    June  17-­‐18,  a  Rendezvous  included  ground  and  flight  tours,  an  art  show,  dinner,  symposium  and  ecumenical  worship.    About  

200  participated  in  the  events.  

 Boar’s  Tusk  in  the  Red  Desert  at  Sunset  

   

Sowing  Seeds  of  Peace  on  9/11  -­‐  WAC  co-­‐sponsored  with  other  faith  groups,  including  Jews  and  Muslims,  a  gathering  in  Laramie  to  

symbolically  sow  peace.  An  actual  garden  is  to  be  planted  at  the  Albany  County  Courthouse.    

 Open  discussion  allows  for  increased  understanding.  

Annual  Meeting  and  Retreat:  The  Thomas  Apostle  Center  in  Cody  is  the  site  of  the  2011  

Annual  Meeting  September  21-­‐22,  and  includes  a  tour  of  the  new  interpretive  center  for  the  Heart  Mountain  Internment  Camp  and  Ann  

Wafer  leading  the  retreat  theme  of  Spiritual  Wholeness.  This  will  be  a  time  for  discerning  where  WAC  is  being  called  in  Wyoming,  

reviewing  resolutions  and  electing  officers.      

 

DIOLOGUES  WAC  is  sponsoring  town-­‐meeting  style  dialogues  on  3  Wyoming  issues  on  October  8  in  Casper.    The  topics  include  (1)  Judicial  

responses  to  youth  offenders,  (2)  Marriage  and  civil  unions  for  same  sex  couples,  and  (3)  Providing  health  care  for  Wyoming’s  poor.  

 New  Pastors  Retreat:  WAC  welcomes  new  priests  and  pastors  by  inviting  them  to  a  retreat  

held  at  Ring  Lake  Ranch  August  22-­‐23  led  by  WAC  leaders.  WAC  provides  support  for  those  new  to  the  ministry  and/or  new  to  Wyoming.