Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

In the name of the One whose Spirit equips us to do justice, act kindly and love God, greetings!

On behalf of the Northern Spirit Regional Council (NSRC) of the United Church of Canada, thank you! Your passion and creativity for finding ways to love neighbours and live the gospel in these challenging times are inspiring and amazing. You continue to answer the call to be the church and for that we thank God! The words of our Creed also remind us that we are not alone. We understand the ache that is ever present because we are unable to gather face to face, to hug, to console, to celebrate with one another. While we wait with God, we are also looking forward to that time when we begin to gather again.

We are aware that some other denominations are asking for exemptions to the proposed re-opening strategies.  At the May 13, 2020 meeting of the NSRC Executive, we agreed to issue a statement to the Alberta Government and our constituents advocating for a safe and reasonable re-opening, but opposing any special exemptions for communities of faith.  (Please keep reading below for the letter.) The safety of our people and the communities in which we serve are primary.  While we know ourselves to be essential for the well-being of many, we believe that any special exemptions would put people at risk unnecessarily.

While the decision to re-open lies with the local governing bodies of your community of faith, we ask that you comply with your provincial or territorial regulations. Resources can be found here under Places of Worship and on the United Church’s national website.

There are a host of considerations to be taken into consideration, including liability, cleaning and access protocols, as well as ensuring any current restrictions are in place. First and foremost, we want to take seriously the well-being of the people whom we serve. There are many ways in which we can be the people God calls without putting people at risk.

If you require further information, you can contact us at the information below.

Blessings,
Ruth Lumax, chair of the Regional Council
Shannon McCarthy, Executive Minister

Letter to the government of Alberta

To: Minister Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health, Province of Alberta

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health

May 18, 2020

Dear Mr. Shandro & Dr. Hinshaw

We are writing on behalf of Northern Spirit Regional Council (NSRC) of the United Church of Canada. NSRC comprises over 100 Communities of Faith and outreach ministries from Highway 13 north to the NWT and into NE British Columbia. We want to thank Dr. Hinshaw and Alberta Health Services for their professionalism, compassion and diligence in the past months. Your response to the Covid-19 situation, as well as other factors in the political climate, have been exemplary.

We are aware that some communities of faith are asking for exemptions to the proposed re-opening strategies.  At the May 13, 2020 meeting of the NSRC Executive, we agreed to issue a statement to our constituents advocating for a safe and reasonable re-opening, but opposing any special exemptions for communities of faith.  The safety of our people and the communities in which we serve are primary.  While we know ourselves to be essential for the well-being of many, we believe that any special exemptions would put people at risk unnecessarily. We continue to find creative ways to offer the care and encouragement that makes visible our call to love our neighbours.

We would also be willing to be part of any consultations about how re-opening might include and/or affect communities of faith (places of worship) in our jurisdiction.

If you require further information, you can contact us at the information below.

Blessings,

Ruth Lumax, chair of the Regional Council
Shannon McCarthy, Executive Minister