Fisher Towers in Southern photo by James Kay

INTER-FAITH LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE RED ROCK WILDERNESS

Dear Member of Congress,

Many Americans find spiritual renewal in the wilderness. In doing so, they follow the same path walked by Moses who spoke with God in the wilderness of the Sinai and Jesus who was baptized in the wilderness of the Jordan River and numerous others of many faiths. Through creation God nourishes life and provides blessings of sustenance. Special places, deserving of wilderness designation, provide a space for prayer and for retaining the vessels which sustain God’s gift of life here on Earth. The red rock canyon lands of Utah are among these treasures.

The wilderness of southern and central Utah, with its wide open spaces, spectacular vistas, and intimate slot canyons, constitutes one of the largest remaining networks of undesignated wild lands in the lower 48 states. These federal lands have wild, rugged characteristics where visitors can enjoy a remote experience iconic of the American West. This special place, once described by Wallace Stegner as “a lovely and terrible wilderness, such a wilderness as [Jesus] and the prophets went out into; harshly and beautifully colored, broken and worn until its bones are exposed, its great sky without a smudge of taint from Technocracy”, is deserving of the highest form of land protection America’s laws have to offer.

“America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act” would provide the protection these lands need and deserve. It would designate 9.4 million acres of land – essentially keeping it as it is today for our families and for future generations. In addition to affording preservation of wildlife and retaining opportunities for hiking, camping, hunting, scientific study, prayer, and spiritual reflection, America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act would also protect a vast array of archeological resources and places sacred to Native Americans. As in many other locales, the protection of this land will also provide a sustainable economic foundation for the people who live amidst God’s bounty. Stewardship of lands and wild places that God has entrusted to our care is both a critical part of our call to protect creation and a responsibility shared by all citizens. We, as people of faith, call upon Congress to establish this kind of recognition, giving permanent protection to this vital part of God’s miraculous creation.

Sincerely,

National Council of Churches of Christ, USA Jordan Blevins, Assistant Director of Eco-Justice Program Washington, DC

The Right Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish Episcopal Diocese of Utah, , Utah

Christ United Methodist Church Rev. Steve Goodier, Senior Minister Rev. Tom Towns, Associate Minister Salt Lake City, Utah

Rev. Erin Gilmore Pastor, Holladay United Church of Christ Holladay, Utah

Rev. Handi Jo Dolloff-Holt Pastor, Trinity United Methodist Kearns, Utah

Board of Church and Society Wisconsin Conference, United Methodist Church

St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Parish Fr. Jim DeBruycker, Pastor Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Friends Meeting Mary Jean Port Minneapolis, MN

First United Methodist Environmental Justice Committee LaGrange, IL

First United Methodist Environmental Affinity Group Mark Madsen Iowa City, IA

Trinity Episcopal Stewardship of Creation Ministry Committee Iowa City, IA

Monona United Methodist Work Area of Church and Society Monona, WI

Illinois Clergy and Laity for Utah Wilderness Rev. Dr. Howard Daughenbaugh United Methodist Clergy, Retired Bloomington, IL

Rev. Dr. Jim Goulding Professor of Religious Studies, Edgewood College Madison, WI

Dr. Peter W. Bakken, Ph.D., Coordinator for Public Policy, Wisconsin Council of Churches Madison, WI

Bradley R. O’Grosky MN-WI Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Coordinator Madison, WI

Rev. Thomas C. Harmon, Senior Pastor First United Methodist LaGrange, IL

Rev. Cathryn Caliendo, Pastor Wesley United Methodist Cicero, IL

Rev. James Shannon, Pastor St. Paul’s Episcopal Grand Forks, ND

Rev. Wes Aardahl, Pastor Faith Lutheran Bismarck, ND

Rev. Rebecca Aardahl, Pastor Heart River Lutheran Mandan, ND

Paul Black, Director of Communications Ministries Illinois Great Rivers Conference, United Methodist Springfield, IL

Rev. Daniel Lybarger Cerro Gordo United Methodist, Pastor Free Traditional Cherokee Bank of North Carolina, Chief United Methodist Committee on Native American Ministry, Member Cerro Gordo, IL

Rev. James Cotter, Pastor Columbus United Methodist Columbus, WI

Rev. Joseph N. Peacock United Methodist Clergy, Retired Urbana, IL

Dr. Charles O’daffer – United Methodist Professor of Mathematics Emeritus, Illinois State University Hudson, IL

Mrs. Harriet O’daffer – United Methodist Unit 5 School Board, Emeritus Member Hudson, IL

Rev. Dr. Burt A. McIntosh United Methodist Clergy, retired Clinton, IL

Rev. Dr. Chester E. Sheldon United Methodist Clergy, Retired Bloomington, IL

Rev. Paul Akin Pastor, First United Methodist Iowa City, IA

Rev. John Raab Associate Pastor, First United Methodist Iowa City, IA

Rev. Dr. James B. Bortell United Methodist Clergy, Retired Pastor, Carlock (IL) Mennonnite Church

Rev. Dr. Miley Palmer United Methodist Clergy, Retired Decatur, IL

Bill & Martha Miller - United Methodist, Bloomington, IL

Rev’s. Cindy & Mike Jones, Pastors Wesley United Methodist Charleston, IL

Dr. David Rhoads, Professor Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Rev. Terry Clark United Methodist Clergy, Retired Springfield, IL

Rev. Kent King-Nobels, Pastor First United Methodist Decatur, IL

Rev. Marianne Cotter, Pastor Marshall United Methodist Marshall, WI

Rev. Michael Mueller, Pastor St. Andrew Lutheran Racine, WI

Rev. Frank Gaylord, Retired Wisconsin Conference, United Methodist Church

Rev. C. James Christensen, Retired Wisconsin Conference, United Methodist Church

Rev. C. Sue Bryce, Pastor Montello-Trinity United Methodist Montello, WI

Laura Nordstrom, lay member Wisconsin Conference, United Methodist Church Stoughton, WI

Leigh Roberts, lay member Wisconsin Conference, United Methodist Church 1st United Methodist in Madison, WI

Betty Henderson, Peace with Justice Coordinator Wisconsin Conference, United Methodist Church Salem United Methodist in Waukesha, WI

Dr. Robert Leh Illinois Wesleyan University, Emeritus First United Methodist in Normal, IL

Dr. Orlyn Edge Illinois State University, Emeritus First United Methodist in Normal, IL

Jana Edge Registered Nurse, Retired First United Methodist in Normal, IL

Peggy Scott Illinois State University, Emeritus First United Methodist in Normal, IL

Rev. Mel Schlachter Trinity Episcopal Iowa City, IA

Donna Wong-Gibbons Trinity Episcopal Vestry Iowa City, IA

Ben Hunnicutt Trinity Episcopal Vestry Iowa City, IA

Kim Anderson Trinity Episcopal Vestry Iowa City, IA

Melissa Murphy Trinity Episcopal Vestry Iowa City, IA

Rene Martin Trinity Episcopal Vestry Iowa City, IA

Rev. Raisin Horn Trinity Episcopal Iowa City, IA

Chris Buresh Trinity Episcopal Vestry Iowa City, IA

Deborah Lin-Dyken Trinity Episcopal Vestry Iowa City, IA

John Murray Trinity Episcopal Vestry Iowa City, IA

Rev. Ron Green Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Macomb, IL

Environmental Stewardship Coalition of Calvin College Brian Schaap Grand Rapids, MI

Robert Hathaway, Illinois State University Emeritus First United Methodist Normal, IL

Lynn Westcot First United Methodist Normal, IL

Carolyn Naden First United Methodist Normal, IL

Jim Goetsch Roman Catholic Fort Wayne, IN

Mary Ann Savard Roman Catholic Wilmette, IL

Denise Curry Roman Catholic Washington, DC

Sheila Murphy Roman Catholic Chicago, IL

Diane Cunningham Roman Catholic Kentwood, MI

Jo Ellen Remstein Roman Catholic Goshen, IN

Patricia Woodbury Roman Catholic Monks Corner, SC

Ann Duff Roman Catholic Akron, OH

Loretta Kerns Roman Catholic Cortland, OR

Jacalyn Griffin Community Lutheran Church Lake Barrington, IL

Chrstini Curran Roman Catholic Chicago, IL

Jacqueline Pidlubny Roman Catholic St. Paul, MN

Jean Prather Roman Catholic St. Michael, MN

C. Samuel Sinnett Roman Catholic St. Louis, MO 63108

Sharon Livingston Roman Catholic Brighton, CO

Susan Larson Roman Catholic Colorado Springs, CO

Doug Knuffke Roman Catholic Milliken, CO

Ann Mary Ellen Briganti Roman Catholic East Lansing, MI

Terry Gunville Roman Catholic Hartland, WI

T. Walker Roman Catholic Greendale, WI

Thomas O’Brien Roman Catholic Chicago, IL 60645

Rebecca Knuffke Roman Catholic Scottsdale, AZ

Katherine Wojton Roman Catholic Staten Island, NY

Sr. Annice McClure Roman Catholic Green Bay, WI

Affiliations, except where listed before the individual name, are for identification purposes only.