“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13
I wanted to let you know about some of the sacrificial acts of faith and love I am seeing in the diocese.
First of all, I commend the good people of St John’s, Duncan who are sacrificially and lovingly giving over most of their land so that 130 units of much-needed affordable housing can be built in their community. The diocese was approached about using our land for this build after another site in town fell through, and I am so impressed at how the community has responded to the call. Despite the inconveniences that a major multi-year build will bring on their congregation, St John’s has put the needs of the community above their own and has said yes to this life-giving project that is critically needed in their community. I am proud of how, through this project, we are living into our baptismal promises to love our neighbors as ourselves and to respect the dignity of every human being.
As that project gets underway in Duncan we are also, at long last, beginning to move folks into the 85 new units of affordable housing at our Dawson Heights site in Saanich. Dawson Heights Ltd. is wholly owned by the diocese and, with these new units, now has a total of 183 units of affordable housing. This project has taken over 8 years from vision to completion and has only come to fruition because of the tireless work and determination of the volunteer board.
I would also commend to you the gracious and courageous folk of St Dunstan’s, who vacated their building and began worshipping with Two Saints Parish in January. That partnership is proving to be life-giving, and diocesan council has just accepted a conditional offer on the St Dunstan’s property. If this sale does go through, diocesan council will be entrusted with stewarding those funds in a way that contributes to the long-term ministry of the diocese as a whole. We will all be bound in gratitude to the good people of St Dunstan’s.
William Temple, who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1942-1944, famously said that the church is the one institution that exists primarily for those who are outside of it. The faithful, courageous and sacrificial decisions that the people of our diocese are able to make speaks to the depth of faith and witness in this place.
