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 害羞草研究所渃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.
害羞草研究所淭he constant condescension by Dr. Henry, purporting to tell us 害羞草研究所榳hat faith is害羞草研究所� and the endless patronization 害羞草研究所� as if the government 害羞草研究所榰nderstands害羞草研究所� anything at all about what constitutes faith itself, let alone its practice 害羞草研究所� has long past worn thin,害羞草研究所� the reverend wrote.
Henry害羞草研究所檚 response to this Thursday was that she thinks people sometimes 害羞草研究所渢ake what I say and twist it to make their own ideas about it.
害羞草研究所淚 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,害羞草研究所� she told the Now-Leader.
Henry said she害羞草研究所檚 learned a 害羞草研究所渢remendous amount害羞草研究所� from faith leaders and has said on occasion what she害羞草研究所檚 been told about beliefs and about faith. 害羞草研究所淎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.害羞草研究所�
Henry said she doesn害羞草研究所檛 purport to know everybody害羞草研究所檚 ideas about faith, but knows there are 害羞草研究所済reat leaders害羞草研究所� in that community who are 害羞草研究所渟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 害羞草研究所� they have my gratitude, and my admiration.害羞草研究所�
In his letter to Dix, the reverend wrote, 害羞草研究所淕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 害羞草研究所渋sn害羞草研究所檛 a big deal害羞草研究所� when it comes to practising a faith more than a dozen times older than the nation of Canada itself.害羞草研究所�
What faith leaders would appreciate, Dyck told Dix, is 害羞草研究所渟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.害羞草研究所�
The health minister害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所淚 can tell Reverend Dyck that at our church, that we害羞草研究所檝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.害羞草研究所�
Dix said he害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渙verwhelmingly害羞草研究所� inspired by the work done by faith communities of all faiths and all denominations to support people in their communities during this difficult time.
害羞草研究所淎ll I can say is it害羞草研究所檚 not condescension, it害羞草研究所檚 gratitude that we feel for the support we get in our community, wherever we find it,害羞草研究所� Dix told the Now-Leader. 害羞草研究所淎nd for many people, that害羞草研究所檚 in communities of faith. So, we害羞草研究所檙e with you and we害羞草研究所檙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.
害羞草研究所淚 think Dr. Henry has been unbelievably respectful,害羞草研究所� Dix said in her defence. 害羞草研究所淚 so admire her approach when she talks about kindness, which is at the core I think of many faiths害羞草研究所� views as well. She lives that every day and I害羞草研究所檓 so, so proud to stand with her and I just so disagree with the criticism that came in the letter.害羞草研究所�
tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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