Nisqually Valley News Publisher/Editor Keven Mr Graves responded to letter writer Bettye Johnson which he titled “Looking for a Balanced View on Religion” in the January 18th edition. Ms. Johnson commented about the NVN going outside of the Nisqually Valley’s coverage area to get a Religious Column writer in Lacey’s Pastor Jeff Adams instead of Yelm’s own religious leaders to write for the newspaper.

Mr Graves responded,
“For more than nine years, the Nisqually Valley News has extended offers to various pastors in the Yelm area to write a religious column. There was no interest expressed by any of them until recently….”

Mr. Graves states that Pastor Jim Braun of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Yelm and Pastor Jeff Adams of Lacey’s Paramount Christian Church are the only ones that stepped up to the plate, so their rotating columns will appear in the NVN every other week.

Graves says, “While not everyone will agree with every view presented in their columns, hopefully they will inspire thought and discussion. After years of trying to launch a religious column in this newspaper, I’m very appreciative that both of them agreed to take on the challenge.”

While I welcome Pastor Adams to the Yelm scene as his Lacey Church looks to expand here, I would like to suggest to Mr. Graves that he look no further than his own back yard in Yelm & Rainier and invite retired ministers from various churches, including Bettye Johnson, a retired minister herself & the Rev. Richard Banach from the Methodist Church, both who have written previously for this blog.

We have alot of talent in this area that is untapped and I am certain would welcome an opportunity to share their experience and wisdom for the NVN’s Religious Column, instead of just being limited to two writers, one of which is from outside the NVN coverage area.

Further, with vehicular traffic and the ensuing air pollution one of the largest issues for Yelm, how about a regular column on FUSE [Faiths United for Sustainable Energy]. Their mission: “Our vision is for faith communities to become catalysts in the movement to eliminate our society’s dependence on fossil fuels.”

All of our community’s varied faiths united for one goal to the betterment of our community?
This is an idea whose time has come, don’t you think?
Are our local faiths and newspaper willing to spearhead this here and be a catalyst for uniting the community with this kind of wonderful project?

WHAT DO YOU SAY?