Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix responded Thursday to what appears to be a growing gulf between themselves and some members of the faith community concerning the messaging coming out of their COVID-19 briefings.

Reverend Aaron Dyck, of Gateway Baptist Church, has written an open letter to Dix in which he wrote he feels 香蕉视频直播渃ompelled as a faith leader to request that people of faith be given the respect that is so overtly presented to every other particular group in this great province.

香蕉视频直播淭he constant condescension by Dr. Henry, purporting to tell us 香蕉视频直播榳hat faith is香蕉视频直播� and the endless patronization 香蕉视频直播� as if the government 香蕉视频直播榰nderstands香蕉视频直播� anything at all about what constitutes faith itself, let alone its practice 香蕉视频直播� has long past worn thin,香蕉视频直播� the reverend wrote.

Henry香蕉视频直播檚 response to this Thursday was that she thinks people sometimes 香蕉视频直播渢ake what I say and twist it to make their own ideas about it.

香蕉视频直播淚 have repeatedly said that I have taken advice and have had the privilege of speaking to many faith leaders in the last few months and I appreciate their advice immensely,香蕉视频直播� she told the Now-Leader.

Henry said she香蕉视频直播檚 learned a 香蕉视频直播渢remendous amount香蕉视频直播� from faith leaders and has said on occasion what she香蕉视频直播檚 been told about beliefs and about faith. 香蕉视频直播淎nd I do absolutely believe that we need our faith leaders in crises like these, more than ever before, and I really want to give my thanks and praise to the many, many leaders out there who have sent me their advice, their thinking, their thoughts, and the fact that they do understand we need to take measures to protect those that we care most about in our community right now.香蕉视频直播�

Henry said she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 purport to know everybody香蕉视频直播檚 ideas about faith, but knows there are 香蕉视频直播済reat leaders香蕉视频直播� in that community who are 香蕉视频直播渟tepping up every day and supporting the people they care about in their congregations and doing it in a safe way, and I just want salute them 香蕉视频直播� they have my gratitude, and my admiration.香蕉视频直播�

In his letter to Dix, the reverend wrote, 香蕉视频直播淕ood sir, I beg you: at the risk of alienating permanently the approximately two million British Columbians who practise religion, at least stop pretending that there is somehow a virtual replacement for thousands of years of physical, incarnational ministry. Tell us this is wrong. Tell us this is not OK. Tell us this is, in fact, an evil, however necessary, and stop with the platitudes. We are in your corner, but cannot for much longer be told this 香蕉视频直播渋sn香蕉视频直播檛 a big deal香蕉视频直播� when it comes to practising a faith more than a dozen times older than the nation of Canada itself.香蕉视频直播�

What faith leaders would appreciate, Dyck told Dix, is 香蕉视频直播渟ome respect for what you have taken from us, the cost to our people, and an acknowledgment that nothing replaces what we have laid down in order to support you and your efforts.香蕉视频直播�

The health minister香蕉视频直播檚 response to the reverend is that the provincial government, since the outset of the pandemic, has listened to and reached out to hundreds of faith leaders across B.C. He admitted his idea of faith is not necessarily shared by everyone, but added that 香蕉视频直播淚 can tell Reverend Dyck that at our church, that we香蕉视频直播檝e lost a lot of loved ones this year, including our minister, and the loss of being able to come together on Sunday has been profound for members of that congregation just as they have been for congregations around B.C.香蕉视频直播�

Dix said he香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渙verwhelmingly香蕉视频直播� inspired by the work done by faith communities of all faiths and all denominations to support people in their communities during this difficult time.

香蕉视频直播淎ll I can say is it香蕉视频直播檚 not condescension, it香蕉视频直播檚 gratitude that we feel for the support we get in our community, wherever we find it,香蕉视频直播� Dix told the Now-Leader. 香蕉视频直播淎nd for many people, that香蕉视频直播檚 in communities of faith. So, we香蕉视频直播檙e with you and we香蕉视频直播檙e asking you to join us in helping in this period to help heal, heal ourselves physically, and protect ourselves and our good health, and also stay healed and stay better as a community.

香蕉视频直播淚 think Dr. Henry has been unbelievably respectful,香蕉视频直播� Dix said in her defence. 香蕉视频直播淚 so admire her approach when she talks about kindness, which is at the core I think of many faiths香蕉视频直播� views as well. She lives that every day and I香蕉视频直播檓 so, so proud to stand with her and I just so disagree with the criticism that came in the letter.香蕉视频直播�

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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