A coalition of 38 church leaders in B.C. released a joint letter on Tuesday, Jan. 5, saying they B次元官网网址渇ully supportB次元官网网址� provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, and were B次元官网网址渄eeply disappointedB次元官网网址� with critical comments made by some faith leaders, who, they stressed, do not speak for them.
B次元官网网址淲e wanted to publicly reach out to show our deep respect and appreciation for you, your staff and all those in leadership in this most challenging time,B次元官网网址� the letter stated.
B次元官网网址淲e fully support the work you have done throughout 2020 and appreciate your calm, considerate guidance and wisdom as you work to keep us all safe.B次元官网网址�
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The letter was co-written by Rev. Kristen Steele, pastor of the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Langley, and Rev. Aneeta Saroop, pastor of the Spirit of Life Lutheran Church in Vancouver.
Rev. Steele said it was in reaction to news coverage of critical comments made by some church leaders who oppose the limits on public gatherings.
B次元官网网址淭here wasnB次元官网网址檛 a lot of our voices,B次元官网网址� Steele remarked.
B次元官网网址淲e just wanted to show our support.B次元官网网址�
It was circulated to other Lutheran, and Anglican churches which have what Steele described as a B次元官网网址渨orking relationshipB次元官网网址� with the Lutheran church, then sent to Henry and Dix in late December.
B次元官网网址淣one of us have served in ministry through a global pandemic before and we look to experts to help us through these times,B次元官网网址� they stated in the letter.
B次元官网网址淵our work has been invaluable to us. We have been deeply disappointed in the multiple times that the voices of a particular group of faith leaders have been spotlighted and amplified publicly criticizing your work and your mandates. As you are already aware, those voices do not speak for all of us.B次元官网网址�
They added they were B次元官网网址渄eeply gratefulB次元官网网址� that Henry and Dix have consulted with faith leaders.
B次元官网网址淭hank you for your hard work. We continue to hold each of you, your staff, our government, BCB次元官网网址檚 front line workers and all impacted by COVID-19 in our prayers.B次元官网网址�
One of the signatories, Rev. Andrew Halladay, the vicar at St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 Anglican Church in Langley, has, like most church leaders, moved services online.
B次元官网网址淭he people in our congregation want to demonstrate their love of God by keeping people safe,B次元官网网址� Rev. Halladay commented.
B次元官网网址淭he church is not the building, it is the relationship we have with each other,B次元官网网址� Halladay added.
Rev. Steele concurred.
B次元官网网址淭he building is closed, but the church is not closed,B次元官网网址� Steele told Black Press Media.
As well, leaders of churches in Victoria, Nanaimo, Castlegar, Prince Rupert, Port Alberni, Gibsons, Kamloops, Kelowna, North Vancouver, Delta, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Richmond, Maple Ridge, and Vernon, also signed.
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A few weeks earlier, Brad Sumner, pastor of the Jericho Ridge Community Church, located on the Langley-Surrey border, attracted thousands of views and dozens of mostly favourable comments when he posted an that described shutting down in-person worship during the current rise in COVID-19 cases as B次元官网网址渁n act of Christian charity.B次元官网网址�
Sumner asked B次元官网网址渁re worship services an essential service?B次元官网网址� and concluded they are, but donB次元官网网址檛 need to be in-person.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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