Achi news desk-
The policies of a Kelowna, BC, performing arts center are under scrutiny after its decision to rent space to Praxis Church, an ultra-conservative church that publicly disapproves of the LGBTQ2 community.
“The concern is about the doctrine that the church has, which is based on their beliefs about homosexuality and gender identity,” said Wilbur Turner, president of Advocacy Canada, an organization that advocates for the LGBTQ2 community that call the Rotary Centre. to re-evaluate its policies.
Among other things, Praxis Church members “believe that divorce and adultery are violations of God’s purpose for marriage as set forth in the Holy Bible,” according to its website.
“In addition, we believe that God created men and women as two different sexual beings and that living in accordance with God’s created plan and one’s biological sex is essential to being a disciple of Jesus,” the website reads.
It’s an updated version of the mission statement that sparked protests in 2021. At the time, the website claimed that members “do not condone same-sex marriage or homosexual lifestyles.”
Turner said the church’s view goes against the Rotary Arts Center’s mission statement of inclusivity.
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“The mission of the Rotary Arts Center is to serve as a dynamic hub where artists and communities converge, finding empowerment and inspiration through the inclusive and transformative power of creative expression,” the website reads.
Combining the Praxis Church and this view offers a “mixed message,” Turner said.
“The Rotary Arts Center has a very large Pride flag hanging in their atrium, and people who walk in see that as a symbol of inclusion. And when you have an organization that has hundreds of people coming in there for their event every Sunday, taking that space and promoting the ideas that homosexuality is a sin… that’s really transphobic and homophobic .”
People are affected by the presence of the church, Turner said.
For his part, the minister of Praxis Church, Josh Dool, said that inclusivity means being welcoming to people of all beliefs.
“The Rotary Center itself is committed to being a place that is welcoming and inclusive of everyone and is a place where a variety of groups gather,” said Dool.
“Churches have gathered there for over 20 years. We have just come on Advocacy Canada’s radar, I think, because we are one of the fastest growing churches in Canada. And we’re the largest church in Kelowna that has our doctrinal statement on issues like this, right up on our website.”
He went on to say that the church is inclusive.
“Everyone who comes through the practice doors, we have a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, people who still don’t share our thoughts to those who share our thoughts and that’s all perfectly fine,” he said. .
However, Turner will continue to push for the RCA to take a closer look at its policies.
“We believe that the RCA can further strengthen its commitment to inclusion by developing clear policies and practices that promote a safe and welcoming environment for all,” said Turner.
It calls on the RCA to engage in dialogue with the community and develop concrete steps to ensure that the arts center remains a space that is free from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
“By implementing clear policies and practices, the RCA can ensure that it remains a welcoming place for all members of our diverse community,” he said.
The RCA has declined an opportunity to comment.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
