Bishop backs controls on church services

DEAR EDITOR:

I am fully in support of the Ministry of Health restrictions regarding worship in this time when escalating transmission of COVID-19 cases are threatening the capacity of our health-care system.

Individual rights, while fundamental and necessary, are always to be balanced with the needs of society. (Seat belt legislation comes to mind!) In these next few months, the need to reduce transmission of the virus takes priority over my need to worship in person.

Wide consultation with members of the Anglican Diocese of Kootenay (South Eastern B.C.) has shown that, although we dearly miss our in-person worship and are saddened by diminished Christmas traditions this year, we feel that foregoing these this year is a demonstration of Christ’s call to care for our neighbour, including parishioners in the vulnerable population.

We believe it is a small sacrifice on our part to care for our health care system at this time. Many of us know people waiting longer for medical treatments and surgery because hospitals are being stretched at this time. Foregoing gathering for worship for now is a sacrifice we are willing to make to ensure that people receive necessary medical care. It is irresponsible to overwhelm already exhausted front-line health-care workers. We do not think that the provincial health protocols are a violation of our individual rights.

We have become creative in offering online worship and in reaching out by phone and safely distanced visits to those of our members who live alone and may feel isolated. Yes, we agree our faith communities are essential to our mental health, but for now we choose to stay home and connect in other ways. God is not confined to our buildings. We pray mornings and evenings at home, study our Bibles at home, we worship and sing online or over the phone, we have coffee hour gatherings on Zoom. If by doing so we save even one life, we are content.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, Premier Horgan, and Health Minister Adrian Dix have been very respectful and affirming of the role faith communities are playing at this time in keeping people safe, calm, and connected with community. We respect the health guidelines in order to bless our society. This is not forever; it is for now. The Rt. Rev. Lynne E. McNaughton Bishop,

Diocese of Kootenay