A coalition of 38 church leaders in B.C. released a joint letter on Tuesday, Jan. 5, saying they 91裸聊视频渇ully support91裸聊视频� provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, and were 91裸聊视频渄eeply disappointed91裸聊视频� with critical comments made by some faith leaders, who, they stressed, do not speak for them.
91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频� the letter stated.
91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�
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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.
91裸聊视频淭here wasn91裸聊视频檛 a lot of our voices,91裸聊视频� Steele remarked.
91裸聊视频淲e just wanted to show our support.91裸聊视频�
It was circulated to other Lutheran, and Anglican churches which have what Steele described as a 91裸聊视频渨orking relationship91裸聊视频� with the Lutheran church, then sent to Henry and Dix in late December.
91裸聊视频淣one of us have served in ministry through a global pandemic before and we look to experts to help us through these times,91裸聊视频� they stated in the letter.
91裸聊视频淵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.91裸聊视频�
They added they were 91裸聊视频渄eeply grateful91裸聊视频� that Henry and Dix have consulted with faith leaders.
91裸聊视频淭hank you for your hard work. We continue to hold each of you, your staff, our government, BC91裸聊视频檚 front line workers and all impacted by COVID-19 in our prayers.91裸聊视频�
One of the signatories, Rev. Andrew Halladay, the vicar at St. Andrew91裸聊视频檚 Anglican Church in Langley, has, like most church leaders, moved services online.
91裸聊视频淭he people in our congregation want to demonstrate their love of God by keeping people safe,91裸聊视频� Rev. Halladay commented.
91裸聊视频淭he church is not the building, it is the relationship we have with each other,91裸聊视频� Halladay added.
Rev. Steele concurred.
91裸聊视频淭he building is closed, but the church is not closed,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渁n act of Christian charity.91裸聊视频�
Sumner asked 91裸聊视频渁re worship services an essential service?91裸聊视频� and concluded they are, but don91裸聊视频檛 need to be in-person.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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