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