For three years, St. Thomas Anglican has gladly participated with a booth at Chilliwack Pride, not just as part of the Church's general mission to reach out to the Queer community, but also to provide a deep well of love and support and visibility to those who have been hurt by, ostracized, or have not felt welcome in faith communities after coming out. We were priviliged enough to receive the following note from the Director of Community Outreach from Chilliwack Pride Society:
"We know that for many in our 2SLGBTQIA+ community, past experiences with faith communities have caused deep harm and feelings of emotional unsafety. So we took extra care in how we approached this. That said, having St. Thomas at Pride truly means a lot. Your presence is such an important and affirming representation of our queer community of faith. I’m so grateful for the work your church does to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for 2SLGBTQIA+ people. You show up with real love and care for those who have been pushed out or silenced. St. Thomas is a beautiful example of walking the walk."
St. Thomas Anglican Church Chilliwack continues it's mission to affirm, bless, and be present for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community of Chilliwack and beyond through intentional connections and regular events centred not just around Faith but also around the aspect of being Queer in the church and further afield.