In 1998, I
came across the term ‘white privilege’ for the first time in my life. I was disturbed and angered by the term and
the person who used it because I believed it to be the fabrication of
reality. Gathering was
multi-ethnic. Members were invited to be
there because of their education, expertise and passion for social justice
through the proclamation and actions of the church. I was insulted by the insinuation that I was
lesser than the Caucasian members because we were there to work towards
equality, social justice and new relationship with one another and thus, were equals.
In 2104, I
participated in an exercise to exhibit and understand ‘white privilege’. All of us in the group were asked to stand
and continue to move to the right if we qualified for a benchmark of privilege
which was to answer affirmatively to the questions. At the end of the exercise, I was standing
farthest on the right side along with an Indigenous friend. My friend and I were the privileged persons
in the group because of our life experiences, education and several other
factors. The facilitator told both of us
that we were still not equal because of our ethnicity. And I thought, here he goes again and was
hurt as well as insulted because of his comments. Since then to latter part of 2018, I
denounced this exercise and whole business of ‘white privilege’ as an anathema
to our society because of my naivety and great trust in the institutional
church.
In 2018, I
wrote a letter to the leader of the church pleading with him to address or acknowledge
angst and struggles of church members of visible minorities as it relates to
but not exclusive to the full inclusion of LGBTQ members of the church. By no means, it was intended to either halt
the discussion or start all over again.
It was simply a letter asking to be pastoral to and aware of the
struggles of new Canadians. To my
surprise and profound disappointment, I have not even received an acknowledgement
of my letter from said leader’s office.
The silence from
the leader is deafening to say the least.
Leader’s confidantes and staff member, in response to my inquiry about no
response have made excuses such as that maybe he has not seen the letter and they
will take it up with him. And I am still
waiting. . .
Full Inclusion
of LGBTQ members of the church has been an important part of my ministry. Since 1995, everyone who should know is aware
of my position. The personal issue and
struggle for me in the midst of silence is that for the first time, I have
recognized and experienced ‘white privilege’ and how it will never allow a
person of colour and an Indigenous person to be equal in any conversation of
the church and the society regardless of our profession, education, passion and
love for this church.
Good News is
that God is stirring people of faith in various ways. Those who were subjugated
and marginalised have started to ask difficult yet life giving questions to the
dominant group and culture within the church.
One can ignore the plea now, but please know that the voices of the
masses will not be silenced and ignored forever in the life and witness of this
church.
