Faith Communities Standing Together Against Hate Based on Religious Identity
Canada is home to a vast diversity of people of different national origins, ethnicities, religions, and heritage.
But today, we see fear, division, hurt and grief. Even more alarming, we have also seen violence.
At times, these conditions seem to overwhelm or even subsume our common bonds of citizenship, friendship, and love for one another.
Yet, there is more that unites than divides us.
Love unites; hate divides. Respect unites; bigotry divides. Dialogue unites; ignorance divides. Listening unites; harassment divides.
None can deny the pain of these days. Yet, we see our common humanity.
Rather than viewing religion as a source of conflict and contention, we know that faith traditions can be the basis for deeper conversations and increased cooperation, greater understanding, and shared activity for a common good.
This is why…
We, representatives of Canada’s diverse faith communities, solemnly commit to:
• Work for understanding, for justice, and for peace.
• Stand against hate of any kind in Canada. No one should be subject to racism, violence, silencing, or retaliation because of religion, indigeneity, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender, or nationality. • Reject any glorification of the perpetrators of violence and those who sow discrimination and hatred, especially in our own communities.
• Urge our adherents never to allow their faith to become a cause for hatred of another human being.
We call on the Government of Canada to:
• Support Canadian interfaith efforts to provide non-sectarian medical and humanitarian aid to victims – especially child victims – of international conflicts through reputable and trustworthy organizations as a means of advancing peacebuilding abroad and social solidarity in Canada.
• Ensure that faith communities have the proper resources for the security of their houses of worship, educational institutions — including schools, daycare centres, colleges, or universities – community centres, and cemeteries.
• Introduce a comprehensive strategy to foster understanding about online hate based on religious identity.
• Ensure, in collaboration with other levels of government, hate crime units are informed about hate based on religious identity in every law enforcement service, so that targeted groups can feel safe, heard, and respected. To this end we stand ready to offer our assistance.
A clip from the media launch from the Parliamentary Press Gallery can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/interfaithconv/
This Statement of Faith Communities Standing Against Hate Based on Religious Identity has been prepared by the Canadian Interfaith Conversation and is endorsed by its Executive Committee members.
Shaila Carter Co-Chair, The Canadian Interfaith Conversation
Pastor Peter Noteboom Co-Chair, The Canadian Interfaith Conversation
Andrea Salguero Bahá'í Community of Canada
Dario Chaiquin Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
Sandra Pallin National Communication Director, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Bruce J. Clemenger The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
Akaash Maharaj Ambassador-at-Large, Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption Haseen Khan Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador St. John’s and Newfoundland Religious Social Action Coalition Faith Communities
This Statement of Faith Communities Standing Against Hate Based on Religious Identity has also been endorsed and signed by the following fifty-nine additional communities and institutions.
The Most Reverend Linda Nicholls, Primate
The Anglican Church of Canada
Rev. Wesley Mills MLC, President
Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada
Rev. Dr. Brent Russett, Minister
Asbury Free Methodist Church, Perth, Ontario
Mike Gordon, Lead Minister
Bethel Christian Assembly, Brandon Manitoba
Greg Neuman, Senior Pastor
Big Church, Barrie, Ontario
Rev. John Estabrooks, Lead Pastor
Bonavista Evangelical Missionary Church, Calgary, Alberta
Michael B. Pawelke, President
Briercrest Christian Academy, Saskatchewan
Ryan Anderson, Lead Organizer
Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
Dr. Harjot Kaur Singh, Chair
Calgary Interfaith Council
Robbie Oleniuk, Pastor
Calvary Evangelical Missionary Church, Owen Sound, Ontario
John Pellowe, CEO
Canadian Centre for Christian Charities
The Rev. Amanda Currie, President
The Canadian Council of Churches
Nuzhat Jafri, Executive Director
Canadian Council of Muslim Women
Celia Cheatley, Presiding Clerk
Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Rev. Bruce Jones, Lead Pastor
Chalmers Community Church, Kincardine, Ontario
Jean-Daniel Ó Donncada, National Pastor
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Albert Postma, Executive Director, Canada
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Willard Metzger, Executive Director
Citizens For Public Justice
The Rev. Len Goddard, President
Community Christana Fellowship Church of Canada
The Rev. Dennis Friesen, Lead Pastor
Dalmeny Bible Church, Saskatchewan
Robert A Watson, Secretary
Devine Street Gospel Chapel, Sarnia, Ontario
Gail Allen, President, Netta Phillet, Co-ordinator
Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education & Action
Rev. William Taylor, Executive Director
Evangelical Free Church of Canada
David Guretzki, PhD, President & CEO
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
The Rev. Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
John DeGiovanni, Pastor
Firestview Community Church, Grimsby, Ontario
Dr. Bill Thornton, Senior Pastor
Flamborough Baptist Church, Waterdown, Ontario
Rev. Maurice Hatfield, Pastor
Fredericton Junction United Baptist Church, Trinity United Baptist Church
The Rev. W. Steven Mills
Grace Evangelical Free Church of Thunder Bay, Ontario
Jay Moore, Chair
Interfaith Grand River
Ronald A. Kuipers, President
The Institute for Christian Studies
Halil Yurtsever, Executive Director
Intercultural Dialogue Institute
Glenn Gerbrandt, Pastor
Lashburn Community Church, Sask.
Doug Klassen, Executive Minister
Mennonite Church Canada
Liu Lafontaine, President
Multifaith Saskatchewan
Sherry Marceil, Chair
Multi-Faith Summit Council of BC
Zul Kassamali, President
National Alliance for the Advancement of Pluralistic Societies Toronto Area Interfaith Council
The Rev. Tula Van Gaasbeek, Co-Chair
National Christian Muslim Liaison Committee
Chris Barrett, National Director
The Navigators of Canada
Johannes Schouten, Pastor
Nelson Ave Community Church, Burnaby, BC
Jeff Edwards, Pastor
Northwest Community Church, Calgary, Alberta
Rob Cave, Lead Pastor
Okotoks Evangelical Free Church, Alberta
Joshua Bautista, Executive Director
Operation Mobilization
Dr. Laura Lewis, Executive Director
Pregnancy Care Canada
The Rev. Dr. Patricia Dutcher-Walls, Moderator of the General Assembly The Presbyterian Church in Canada
Mark Bergen, Lead Pastor, Sharon Ardell, Board Chair
Prince Albert Alliance Church, Saskatchewan
Gordon Ponak, Lead Pastor
Richardfield Christian Fellowship, Edmonton, Alberta
Rev. Drew Mersereau, Senior Pastor
Gunnubingsville Baptist Church, Riverview, New Brunswick
The Rev. Barry Buhler, Senior Pastor
Russell Alliance Church, Manitoba
Commissioner Lee Graves, Territorial Commander
The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory
Rabbi Ed Elkin, President
Toronto Board of Rabbis
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator, The Rev. Dr. Michael Blair, General Secretary The United Church of Canada
Rev. Mark MacKnight, President
Vanguard College
May Shihadeh, Chair Sheila Flood, Executive Director
Victoria, BC Multifaith Society
Mike Stone, Executive Director
Vision Ministries Canada
David Ruis, National Director
Association of Vineyard Churches Canada
The Rev. Dr. Stephen Elliott, National Superintendent
The Wesleyan Church of Canada
Rev. Dr. James R. Graham, Lead Pastor
Whitewood Evangelical Missionary Church, Saskatchewan
Barry Duguid, Chair
Willowdale Baptist Church