WINONA, Minn. – The Winona City Council voted 5-1 to hire a faith-based organization, Salt and Light Partners, to counsel police officers who have been through horrific trauma. The program was approved for $15,000 a year for unlimited calls. Salt and Light has a corps of ordained chaplain available, all with emotional wellness training. The chaplains will be compensated directly by Salt and Light, not the city. Two Council members, Jeff Hyma and Sam Zierden Shortridge expressed concern about lots of God-talk in Salt and Light literature. To Baptist Pastor George Beech, who runs Salt and Light, Hyma said he was less than comfortable with repeated references to Christian scripture. Zierden Shortdge worried about proselytizing in violation of the core separation of church and state in the American pluralistic creed. In the end, Hyma supported the Salt and Light contract. How they vioted:
For chaplaincy contract
George Borzyskowski (4th Ward, East End).
Jerome Christenson (at-large).
Jeff Hyma (2nd Ward, West Side).
Jason Dicus (at-large).
Scott Sherman (mayor).
Steve Young (1st Ward, West End).
Against
Sam Zierden Shortridge (3rd Ward, downtown).
Beech. Executive director of Salt and Light. Gave assurances that his chaplains can meet an individual’s religious or non-religious needs. This includes he said, connecting clients with counselors of their choice.