Dear Editor,
A Statement of Unity by Richmond Church Leaders:
Recently, our city of Richmond has been tainted by the introduction of racist flyers that target a particular group of people and encourage a division that does not reflect our community. Using words such as “alt-right,” those who produce and distribute these flyers have no doubt been encouraged by the recent U.S. election and the open bigotry and racism expressed there. But as Canadians, we should not abandon the filters that keep us from doing and saying things that threaten the social cohesiveness of our society.
We, as leaders within the Christian Churches in Richmond, believe that the majority of our fellow Richmondites do not share the intolerant bigotry of those behind the racist flyers. And we believe that the majority of people in Richmond, good, kind, hard-working and welcoming people, support the values that are important to all of us together. As people of faith, we believe that every person is created in the image of their creator, of God, in whom is perfect love. As such creations, all people are deserving of dignity and respect and we celebrate that unity in the midst of our diversity.
We do not deny that there are serious challenges that face us as communities and as a city. These challenges, including housing affordability, rising costs of living, increased homelessness and the growing gap between the richest and the poorest are real and valid and need to be addressed thoughtfully, carefully and consistently. But we must address these challenges together, utilizing all our gifts and abilities, not by driving people apart and scapegoating segments of our community. Working together, we can live as an example to others as a community that is rooted in love, not fear, who believe in God’s abundance, not scarcity, who support politics of inclusion, not identity, united in our welcome for all who desire to call our city home.
In this season of Advent, into a world riddled by fear and darkness, Christians believe that God sent God’s son, Jesus Christ, as the light that shines in the darkness, that the darkness did not overcome. As a child, Jesus lived as a refugee; he lived as one without a place to call home; he lived as one under threat, but the darkness did not overcome his light and it cannot, and will not, overcome the light that shines wherever darkness is present. We encourage the people of our community, our city of Richmond, to live as lights that shine in the darkness of racism and fear, and to live with hope, peace, joy and love, for all people.
Peace.
Rev. Victor Kim, Richmond Presbyterian; Rev. Maggie Watts-Hammond, Gilmore Park United; Kathie Chiu (Major), Pastor/Corps Officer, Richmond Community; Rev. Brenda Miller, Steveston United; Rev. Stuart Appenheimer, Brighouse United; Randy and Skye Fulton, Pastor/Chaplain to International Students at KPU, TWU and Success; Rev. Brian Vickers, St. Anne’s, Steveston Anglican; Rev. Gary Gaudin, South Arm United; Rev. Warren McKinnon, Richmond United Pastoral Charge; Rev. Christoph Reiners, Our Saviour Lutheran; Rev. David J. Poirier SA, St. Joseph the Worker Parish; Frank Klassen, Senior Pastor, Trinity Pacific; Pastor Stefano Piva, Bethany Baptist; Rev. Yoko Kihara, Gilmore Park United; Rev. Dr. David Cheung, Immanuel Christian Reformed; Rev. Dr. Alan Lai, Richmond Chinese United
