Richmond pastor 'fed up' with rule-breaking churches

“My faith compels me to care for my neighbour.”

Richmond pastor Christoph Reiners was in no doubt where his priorities lie when asked for his reaction to churches in the Fraser Valley continuing to scoff at fines and flout public health orders by offering in-person religious services.

Reiners, of Our Saviour Lutheran Church on No. 4 road just south of Westminster Highway, totally understands parishioners’ hunger to worship, especially on a Sunday.

But his overwhelming desire to look after everyone in his community, not just his immediate congregation, has handcuffed his church to primarily offering virtual services only during the pandemic, give or take a few, socially distanced ones in their parking lot last summer.

And Reiners said he and many of his colleagues have “grown a little tired of churches protesting the suspension of in-person gatherings, or worse, of those defying the orders.”

He also pointed out that practising one’s faith doesn’t need to be restricted to one day of the week, as pointed out recently by a certain Dr. Henry.

“I think it was really irresponsible (for the offending churches to offer in-person services)…we know that in-person gatherings increase the chances of spreading (the virus),” Reiners told the Richmond News, adding that he has also been offering evening live-streamed services.

“Churches are not exempt from the rules and I think it has been a mistake to paint this as a human rights issue.

“Bonnie Henry said in statement that if we understood our faith only be limited to Sundays, then we’ve misunderstood it.”

As far as Reiners knows, everyone in the faith community in Richmond has been abiding by the public health orders, which currently prohibit in-person services.

“I have been in touch with (other churches in the area) and I know one or two are not happy,” added Reiners.

“But we can’t put everything to a vote. What matters the most is that we keep everyone safe; my first responsibility is towards my parishioners, the public and to people who work here.

“It has not always been easy”

If people continue to complain and protest, said Reiners, they should pause to “think about the people who’ve lost loved ones.”

“My wife, who’s the (executive director) in a care home, had a staff member who lost her husband to COVID. There’s also people who’ve lost their work, their businesses.”

Reiners said his church has been live-streaming services since the beginning of the pandemic in March, although not always with 100 per cent success.

“We’ve had to rise to the challenge and, to be honest, it has not always been easy,” he said.

“We had a bit of a disaster just the other day, it didn’t work at all.

“But having to stream for a little while — although it’s sad that we can’t come together to worship — isn’t that bad.”

In the meantime, Reiners and a large number of local, fellow faith leaders sent a letter of solidarity and support to Henry and B.C. health minister Adrian Dix.