A message of gratitude and encouragement from The Canadian Council of Churches to the scientific and medical communities working to eliminate COVID-19 and its effects, and to the general public who trust and rely on their efforts
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Romans 8:35)
COVID-19 is certainly presenting as one of the dangers in life to which St Paul refers, a global challenge which is putting all our public health resources to the test, as well as our spiritual, mental, emotional, economic and physical resources. Where is the face of Christ in this crisis?
Focusing on COVID-19, we whole-heartedly agree with the message of The Canadian Council of Churches and other faith leaders in Hope, Gratitude and Solidarity: A Message to Canadians from Religious Leaders in Canada in Response to the COVID-10 Pandemic:
We earnestly pray for healing, for the continued efforts to relieve human suffering, and for perseverance throughout these challenging times… We respond with an abundance of hope, gratitude and solidarity, trusting in the loving and ever merciful God, the source of all hope.
As the Faith and Life Sciences Reference Group of The Canadian Council of Churches, we try to cultivate faith perspectives on biotechnology. Over the years we have reflected on both the risks and benefits of new technologies, but today we are struck by the dedication and cooperation of virologists, biochemists, epidemiologists, and many other scientists working urgently in laboratories across Canada and the world to develop tests, treatments, and vaccines to protect us from the ongoing ravages of COVID-19. We know that developing a rapid test may save lives by earlier detection than is currently possible.
We are moved by the sense of duty and self-sacrificial love shown by those healthcare workers who care for those afflicted by COVID-19, risking their own health and safety. Those of us who must stay home to avoid spreading the disease can do our part by praying for their protection and success as they work tirelessly for our common good. Their efforts demonstrate both solidarity and cooperation, and it is heartening to see those virtues in practice in so many countries and in so many ways.
In the common letter noted above, we are reminded that, “In spite of present sufferings, which can seem overwhelming at times, the flames of hope cannot be extinguished. Love, which gives life its fullest meaning, continues to seek out the common good in spite of individual difficulties”. The Pauline text asks, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?” Our faith in Jesus Christ demands hope and love, and, in this case, gratitude towards those health care workers, scientists, and biotechnologists who are using their gifts to overwhelm the suffering resulting from this pandemic affliction, and we are grateful to the Lord our God for His countless Blessings revealed in the contributions of all people to the therapy, care and love of others during this crisis.
See printable pdf version of this statement here.
Signatories:
Rev. Stephen Kendall – President of The Canadian Council of Churches
Rev. Canon Dr. Eric Beresford – Anglican Church of Canada; Theologian and Ethicist; Rector of St. Timothy’s Anglican Church, Toronto; Past President, Atlantic School of Theology
Sr Zoe Bernatsky – Ukrainian Catholic Church; Assistant Professor Moral and Pastoral Theology, Newman Theological College, Edmonton
Fr. John Boutros – The Coptic Orthodox Church of Canada; priest at St. Moses & St. Katherine Coptic Orthodox Church. Toronto; former pediatric surgeon
Michael Buttrey – Anglican Church of Canada; Bioethicist, Theologian in Residence, St. Clement’s Church, Toronto
Lt-Colonel Jim Champ – The Salvation Army; liaison to the Faith and Witness Commission, Ecumenical Officer at The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory
Paul Heidebrecht – Mennonite Church Canada; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Conrad Grebel University College / University of Waterloo; Director, Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement
Dr. Emanuel Kolyvas, MD – Archdiocese of Canada of the Orthodox Church in America; doctor of infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology
Rev. Dr. Peter Kuhnert, MD, MDiv, FCFP – Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; Family Physician/Hospitalist- Grand River Hospital. Clinical staff- Delton Glebe Counselling Centre
Rev. Joan Masterton, BEd, MA, MDiv – The Presbyterian Church in Canada; Minister at St. James Presbyterian Church, Stouffville, past Director, Science Assessment and Integration, Meteorological Service of Canada
Dr. Moira McQueen LLB, MDiv, PhD – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; Executive Director, Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute; St Michael’s Faculty of Theology, University of Toronto
Anne Mitchell – Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers); Chair, Steering Committee of KAIROS; member, Central Committee of the World Council of Churches; past Executive Director of Quaker Earthcare Witness; past Executive Director of the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy
Dr. Jim Rusthoven, MD, PhD – Christian Reformed Church in North America; medical oncologist, biomedical ethicist, retired medical officer at Health Canada
Dr. Mary Susan Thomson, PhD – The Mar Thoma Church; Research Projects Manager at Faculty of Science, Ryerson University
Rev. Dr. Tracy Trothen, MDiv, ThD – The United Church of Canada; ethicist, registered psychotherapist (RP), spiritual health supervisor-educator (CASC), Professor at The School of Religion and The School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University