From our Rector:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Downloadable pdf file below:
An open letter to the people of Windsor regarding hatred in the community on Pink Shirt Day
for anti-bullying awareness.
February 24, 2021
To our dear neighbours,
Over the past week the Windsor Essex Transgender and Allied Support organization’s office location was targeted with three separate acts of vandalism. The vandalism included hateful language and symbols and recently escalated to involve property damage. Presumably, this was directed at the organization because the perpetrator disagrees with their work of offering support to transgender individuals in our community. Violence and hatred are unacceptable under any circumstances.
The signatories to this letter are deeply concerned about this activity. All people of our community should be able to feel safe and secure. All people of our community should be able to live a dignified existence. All people of our community should be treated with respect. These are fundamental aims to which every member of our community should be committed as human beings and citizens.
For us, as Anglican people of faith, these aims are rooted in the fact that we understand that all people are created in the image of God. In addition to that, we are called through our baptismal promises to seek and serve Christ in all people, loving our neighbours as ourselves, and to strive for justice and peace, respecting the dignity of every human being.
Therefore we:
• condemn the vandalism, hatred, and destruction that has taken place,
• commit to living peacefully in our community and to loving all our neighbours,
• commit to working to build safe communities where all people can be free to live fully and
abundantly,
• offer our prayers for those targeted to be filled with peace and strength,
• and offer our prayers for the perpetrator to show kindness and live peacefully.
Our hope is that you will join us in this so that we can send this important message to our community.
We invite you to stand together as a community in opposition to hatred and discord. This activity cannot be disregarded and it must not be tolerated.
Yours sincerely,
The Venerable Jane Humphreys, Archdeacon of Essex (Anglican)
The Rev’d Canon Robert Lemon, Regional Dean of Essex
The Rev’d Ryan Boivin, Rector, St. Andrew’s, Lasalle, St. David St. Mark’s, Windsor
The Rev’d Chris Brouillard-Coyle, Rector, St. Paul’s Essex, Trinity Church, Cottam
The Rev’d Elise Chambers, Rector, Parish of the Southern Trinity
The Rev’d Robert Clifford, Rector, All Saints’, Windsor
The Rev’d Hilton Gomes, Chaplain, HDGH
The Rev’d Gordon Maitland, Rector, St. John’s, Sandwich
The Rev’d Sharla Malliff, Rector, St. James, Windsor
The Rev’d Kimberly Myer, Rector, St. Stephen’s, Oldcastle, Redeemer, Colchester North
The Rev’d Paul Poolton, Rector, St. Augustine of Canterbury, Windsor
The Rev’d Canon Ann Smith, Retired
The Rev’d Andreas Thiel, Rector, St. Matthew’s, Windsor
The Rev’d Andrew Wilson, Rector, St. John the Evangelist, Leamington
The Rev’d Deborah Wilson-Safa, Deacon, St. John the Evangelist, Windsor
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For additional information:The Rev’d Canon Robert Lemon, [email protected] 519-735-4921
Downloadable pdf is here: WEtrans letter