It is a grey, Sunday afternoon in downtown 麻豆传媒映画鈥� the kind of afternoon that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a cup of something hot and something to binge-watch on Netflix.
I, however, am at church.
There are about 45 people sitting in the nave of , waiting for the liturgy to begin. There is quite a bit of chatter among congregants until the cathedral鈥檚 bell rings. The chattering stops and the presider, Rev. Marnie Peterson, takes her place in front of the congregation and begins the service.
There is something very familiar yet very different about this service. Although it unfolds just like any other Mass I鈥檝e attended 鈥� or seen in movies 鈥� this priest is wearing jeans and a sweater. Her only priestly attire is a green stole over her outfit.
This is the community, a congregation of Christ Church Cathedral where 鈥渜uestions are honoured, faith is nurtured and discipleship pursued,鈥� according to its website.
After the Gospel reading there is a sermon, but it is not given by Peterson. Instead, Andrew Stephens-Rennie, co-founder of the St. Brigid community, gives a reflection, which is followed by questions and comments from the congregation. The booklet for the service explains: 鈥淎t St. Brigids, the preacher does not have the last word 鈥� you do.鈥�
The only rules are that comments or questions must be short and loud enough for everyone to hear.
Questions are the key to this new and growing congregation. Peterson and Stephens-Rennie dreamed up the congregation about four years ago while sharing a cubicle at the office of the Anglican Archdiocese of New Westminster (the official name for the Anglican Church in Vancouver).
鈥淲e were sitting, chatting across the cubicle, asking, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 wrong with my church?鈥欌�� recalls Stephens-Rennie. Both were finding it hard to locate a church community that they felt nourished by and where they could connect with other people.
The questions turned into conversations about what their ideal church community would look like. Over time a new question emerged: 鈥淗ow do we create a worship space with low-barrier entry?鈥� says Peterson.
Both agreed such a congregation would be a place where people were free to ask questions, disagree with the priest or preacher, and where 鈥渃ongregation members can be seen for who they are,鈥� says Stephens-Rennie.
There are a couple of non-negotiables: the liturgy and Jesus.
鈥淲e speak clearly about Jesus. We鈥檙e not making it fluffy,鈥� says Peterson, adding, 鈥淚 won鈥檛 make up anything in the liturgy.鈥�
She points out that the Anglican tradition of worship offers enough liturgical prayers to draw from that there is no need to make up anything new.
The dean of the cathedral, Peter Elliott, welcomed the move to start a new type of congregation and made space for the new group.
鈥淲e started with five people in [a meeting room in the basement], 鈥� Peterson recalls.
鈥淣ow we see around 50 people鈥� every Sunday, Stephens-Rennie estimates.
According to Stephens-Rennie, many of St. Brigid鈥檚 congregants come from a conservative, evangelical faith background, and many have felt shunned by their faith communities 鈥� often because they identify as LGBTQ or someone in their family does.
Some congregants do not identify as Christians but they return every Sunday because 鈥渢hey are fed,鈥� Peterson adds.
St. Brigid also . Congregants are part of a closed Facebook group that is used to post messages related to upcoming events, and for congregants to connect with each other.
Later in the week, when I鈥檓 seated in Peterson and Stephens-Rennie鈥檚 office, I ask what draws people to St. Brigid. Peterson posts the question on the community鈥檚 Facebook page and responses start rolling in.
Kenny Price, a regular St. Brigid congregant, replies: 鈥淚'm drawn to the liturgical tradition that echoes my Roman Catholic upbringing, but in a context where my sexual orientation is a non-issue. This has allowed me a real freedom to breathe and grow theologically and spiritually.鈥�
He adds: 鈥淚 found my way to [St. Brigid] after years of searching for a tribe that aligned itself with my understanding of God.鈥�
A friend of Price鈥檚 knew of the St. Brigid community and connected him to Stephens-Rennie via Twitter.
鈥淭he follow-through over time by Andrew ... is what summoned me back and helped me to dig in, and that community ethic and outreach is one of our strongest attributes 鈥� to me,鈥� Price concludes.
Peterson explains that while there is no requirement for congregants to identify as Christian or believe specific things, they are encouraged to 鈥渄ig in,鈥� connect with each other and become part of the community. She gives an example of a couple in the congregation who recently went through health problems and needed help.
鈥淲e made up a rota and put it out there and took turns driving them, being with them,鈥� she recalls.
Heidi Archer says she is drawn back to the St. Brigid community by 鈥渢he people, and the 100-per-cent, nothing-required-of-me welcome.
鈥淲hat nourishes me is the fact I don't have to check my brain at the door. There is room for nuance, questions, and (the big scary word for a lot of churches) change. Even if that means looking at your past and realizing you were wrong and moving forward with a spirit of humility,鈥� Archer says.
Another St. Brigid congregant, Casper Zuzek, says the community has been more than just a place to pray.
鈥淚f I'm being honest, I initially stayed because it was the only church I imagined ever feeling safe to transition at, but now I stay because it feels like home.
鈥淲hether I'm stuck in my grief and fear, or growing and changing, the folks at St. Bs have always been there to have my back, cheer me on, and walk through the hard things with me.鈥�
The St. Brigid鈥檚 Community gathers to celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard St.). Congregants are invited to stay for tea and goodies afterward. Check their for special events or
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After graduating from Simon Fraser University with a degree in communication, Alicia moved to Rome, where she got an unexpected start covering religion. Stints in Toronto, Madrid and Toronto followed, culminating with her return home to the West Coast. Alicia has worked as a television producer and host, and is currently a freelance writer for Aleteia and Catholic News Service, as well as Leap of Faith, the Westender's blog on faith and spirituality in Vancouver
