February 3, 2021

Dear Premier Ford,

On behalf of the people of West Highland Baptist Church, I extend our heartfelt thanks for your tireless and dedicated efforts during this incredibly difficult season. We are grateful for you and the team of dedicated men and women who surround you to advise and assist. As I stated in a previous letter to you (sent December 30, 2020) we pray for you regularly.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we recognize that the authority of civil government properly extends to matters of the public good (Romans 13:4), and managing the spread of a dangerous virus such as COVID-19 certainly qualifies under that mandate. We recognize that a threat of this magnitude requires coordinated public response and we are thankful for the dedicated leadership provided by all levels of government across the political spectrum.

While we readily admit that as pastors and church leaders we are not experts in epidemiology, we do dare to claim insight into the human condition and the tremendous social, personal, and spiritual costs associated with our current strategy and lockdown protocols. We write this letter to you so as to provide you with the best information possible when it comes time to re-evaluate our approach. From our perspective, the impact of these measures has been under-appreciated. Families have been forced into poverty, seniors have been separated from their loved ones, the grieving have not been able to meet for funerals, addicts have been operating without support, single parents have been placed in an impossible situation and many women have been locked in homes with their abusers. This situation cannot continue indefinitely and we would advocate for a more targeted approach; one that imposes less of a burden upon the overall social and spiritual fabric of our shared society.

It is to this particular consideration that we feel uniquely qualified to speak. It is generally not in the nature of the church to trumpet its actions and contributions to society. Our Lord commanded us to do our work in secret and to seek our commendation from him alone. That being said, it cannot be denied that Canadian churches provide invaluable services to vulnerable individuals and families. Churches provide the bulk of the counseling services in many communities – usually at no cost to the recipients. Congregations work tirelessly with seniors and other shut-ins. They deliver meals, organize activities, shovel driveways and make phone calls so as to help the elderly live with dignity in their homes.

While Churches minister to the immediate needs of Canadians, we do not believe this to be our primary value. We also help people with spiritual needs. We believe that the greatest threat that Canadians currently face is not COVID -19 – as deadly as this virus has proven to be. The greatest threat faced by Canadians is the absence of God in their lives. We believe that through the person and work of Jesus Christ human beings can be healed, forgiven, and restored to the lives and dignity they were created and intended to enjoy. We believe that matters now and we believe that matters for eternity. To state the matter simply, we need to find a way to attend to both immediate and ultimate concerns.

The gathering of Christians for worship, fellowship, teaching, and encouragement is, we believe, an essential service – not only to us but also to those we love and serve. It is when we are together that we are able to fulfill our calling to stir one another up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25) – works that benefit our friends, loved ones, and fellow citizens. We cannot do this on our own! We need the grace that God supplies through the ordinary means of corporate worship. It is when we are together that we are uniquely equipped to be the blessing we aspire to be for the people of our great nation. We humbly ask that you find a way to manage the spread of this virus that does not deprive us of our sacred and essential assemblies.

We also want to express to you a deep concern that is prevalent throughout our church and we believe the entire Christian community in Ontario and across Canada. Our constitution affirms that religion is a public good through the twin guarantees of religious freedom and religious equality. We recognize that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows these protections to be limited where it is demonstrably justified to do so. But these limitations must always be proportionate. In the case of COVID-19 lockdowns on places of worship, the public benefit to be gained through decreased virus transmission must be balanced against the very real cost imposed on faith communities. We are very seriously concerned about the precedents that ongoing lockdowns may set for future limitations on religious freedom.

In closing, we ask that you will allow churches and other places of worship in Ontario to open their doors again as soon as it is safe to do so. Be assured that we are not blind to the risk of transmission posed by larger gatherings. This is why we are prepared to observe evidence-based best practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our church. We promise to continue to follow the needed protocols once we are allowed to reopen.

Thank you once again for your extraordinary leadership during these very troubled times.

Sincerely,

Rev. John Mahaffey

Lead Pastor

On behalf of the Elders and Members of West Highland Baptist Church,

Hamilton, ON

P.S. My administrative assistant, Judie Birnie, will soon follow up with your office concerning our invitation to you to bring greetings to our church and for you to allow us to pray for you in an upcoming worship service.