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Group of 38 B.C. church leaders BԪַfully supportBԪַ Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix

Joint letter of support says they are BԪַdeeply disappointedBԪַ by critical comments from some churches
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Rev. Andrew Halladay, the vicar at St. AndrewBԪַs Anglican Church in Langley, sits in an empty pew on Tuesday, Jan. 5. His church had to move online because of COVID-19 limits on public gatherings. Halladay is one of 38 church leaders in B.C. to sign a joint letter of support for provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

A coalition of 38 church leaders in B.C. released a joint letter on Tuesday, Jan. 5, saying they BԪַfully supportBԪַ provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, and were BԪַdeeply disappointedBԪַ with critical comments made by some faith leaders, who, they stressed, do not speak for them.

BԪַWe 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,BԪַ the letter stated.

BԪַWe 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.BԪַ

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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.

BԪַThere wasnBԪַt a lot of our voices,BԪַ Steele remarked.

BԪַWe just wanted to show our support.BԪַ

It was circulated to other Lutheran, and Anglican churches which have what Steele described as a BԪַworking relationshipBԪַ with the Lutheran church, then sent to Henry and Dix in late December.

BԪַNone of us have served in ministry through a global pandemic before and we look to experts to help us through these times,BԪַ they stated in the letter.

BԪַYour 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.BԪַ

They added they were BԪַdeeply gratefulBԪַ that Henry and Dix have consulted with faith leaders.

BԪַThank you for your hard work. We continue to hold each of you, your staff, our government, BCBԪַs front line workers and all impacted by COVID-19 in our prayers.BԪַ

One of the signatories, Rev. Andrew Halladay, the vicar at St. AndrewBԪַs Anglican Church in Langley, has, like most church leaders, moved services online.

BԪַThe people in our congregation want to demonstrate their love of God by keeping people safe,BԪַ Rev. Halladay commented.

BԪַThe church is not the building, it is the relationship we have with each other,BԪַ Halladay added.

Rev. Steele concurred.

BԪַThe building is closed, but the church is not closed,BԪַ 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 BԪַan act of Christian charity.BԪַ

Sumner asked BԪַare worship services an essential service?BԪַ and concluded they are, but donBԪַt need to be in-person.



dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

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Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, IBԪַm the guy youBԪַll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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