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