P.E.I. church criticized for post about webinar designed to ‘protect’ children during Pride Month

A member of a Summerside church is talking out towards a social media submit he calls “homophobic,” and on the lookout for a brand new religion neighborhood.

Within the submit, the Summerside Group Church directed its followers to a June 17 webinar providing “sensible recommendation for folks and grandparents to guard kids from what’s taking place throughout Satisfaction Month.”

The occasion included B.C. pastor Kevin Cavanaugh interviewing Wilna Van Beek, writer of When Homosexual Comes Residence, who particulars her journey working towards her same-sex sights by embracing Jesus as an alternative.

Stephen MacIsaac is a member of P.E.I.’s LBGTQ+ neighborhood and has been attending Summerside Group Church for a number of years. He mentioned he was shocked and harm by the submit.

“The submit they shared on Fb may be very homophobic in my eyes, and leans rather a lot in direction of conversion remedy,” mentioned MacIsaac.

Conversion remedy refers to practices which search to alter a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual, to alter a person’s gender id to cisgender, or to alter their gender expression to match the intercourse they had been assigned at start.

It has been banned in P.E.I. since 2019 and was made unlawful in Canada in 2021. 

“I am disillusioned, you understand, that the leaders of the church that you just look as much as and also you go to while you want somebody, some consolation — understanding that that is how they view myself and all people locally may be very disheartening,” mentioned MacIsaac. 

MacIsaac has been sharing his personal message of affection and acceptance on his social media pages following the submit — and he even had a shirt made to advertise that message whereas he is out locally. The T-shirt reads “LGBTQ+ or Straight, Jesus Loves All.”

He mentioned he’s now on the lookout for a brand new church to hitch, the place he’ll really feel welcomed for who he’s. 

“If I might realized that is how they view individuals in my scenario, I’d by no means have gone to that church,” mentioned MacIsaac. “They’ll apologize, however I nonetheless understand how they really feel. So they’d be losing their breath. I will not be again.”

‘We belief God’s design’

A frontrunner on the Summerside Group Church is not providing any apologies for the submit, which has since been faraway from the church’s web site and social media. 

Pastor Tracy Linkletter advised CBC Information the aim of the webinar was to offer an area for dialog on sexuality and gender from a Christian perspective. She mentioned everyone seems to be welcome to attend her church.

“We perceive that, you understand, individuals come from totally different totally different views of life. We perceive that,” mentioned Linkletter. “However we do additionally perceive that, like, we’re Christian, so we belief God’s design for sexuality and gender. And that is what we stand on, is his design. However we welcome everybody to listen to Jesus’s life-saving and life-changing message.”

Linkletter would not specify what she means by “God’s design on sexuality and gender,” or share her church’s views on dialog remedy.

“There’s simply a lot across the difficulty of conversion remedy that I might desire to not remark any additional on that,” mentioned Linkletter. 

She mentioned the church has obtained blended suggestions on its posting in regards to the occasion, and she or he understands that some individuals — together with these outdoors her church neighborhood — aren’t proud of the submit. 

We at all times say, “There’s a lot of church buildings and we suggest you discover a place that you just really feel secure and that you just really feel at dwelling.” That is essential to us.– Pastor Tracy Linkletter

When advised that a minimum of one member of her congregation plans to discover a new place of worship, Linkletter mentioned generally that occurs. 

“We’re an open neighborhood, we’re a loving neighborhood, and we acknowledge that folks, you understand, at instances, you understand, would possibly realise this isn’t the place,” mentioned Linkletter. 

“And we at all times say, ‘There’s a lot of church buildings and we suggest you discover a place that you just really feel secure and that you just really feel at dwelling.’ That is essential to us.” 

Confusion and concern

For Scott Alan, youth program coordinator at PEERS Alliance, a bunch that helps members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, the tone of the Summerside Group Church submit brought on some confusion — and concern. 

“We had been type of questioning what they had been which means by, you understand, ‘the way to defend kids,'” mentioned Alan. 

“They’re greater than welcome to have their beliefs. What issues us extra is once they begin pushing these beliefs on society and making us all attempt to comply with their private guidelines and beliefs. We identical to to let individuals be who they’re and categorical themselves freely and overtly and have a good time that,” mentioned Alan.

He mentioned it is disappointing to see a church suggest kids want safety from a celebration of various gender identities.

“I grew up at all times believing that church was a spot for individuals to expertise love and neighborhood and acceptance. So to see the entire reverse from a church is a little bit bit upsetting,” mentioned Alan.

He identified {that a} latest article within the Canadian Medical Journal reported that youth who’re trans and queer are 5 instances extra prone to have suicidal ideation than younger individuals who aren’t. They’re additionally a lot extra prone to try suicide, the article mentioned.

It is vital to have secure areas the place individuals are celebrated for who they’re, Alan mentioned.

“What do you suppose Jesus would do?” mentioned Alan. 

“Would He forged the primary stone? Or would He love and settle for our neighborhood for who we’re in hopes that the Holy Spirit would work via us? And that is actually what I’d ask them,” he mentioned. 

The best way to get assist

In case you are contemplating suicide and want fast assist, or you understand somebody who wants fast assist, listed below are some sources.

• Youngsters Assist Telephone: 1-800-668-6868, or text through their website.
• Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 or textual content (45645)
• P.E.I. Helpline: 1-800-218-2885.