Christian leaders stricken with COVID
By Sue Careless
This past December several prominent Christian leaders were stricken with COVID – one fatally.
Canon Angus Sewap, who served as priest at St. Bartholomew Church in Pelican Narrows, died of complications from COVID on Dec. 3rd. He was 72. The Bishop of Saskatchewan Michael Hawkins described Canon Sewap as “a man of remarkable and irrepressible cheerfulness and generosity.”
Bishop Adam Halkett (Area Bishop of Missinipi) was a close friend of Sewap’s, and described him as a “humble servant” and a “dedicated priest” who was “a real role model for myself and others.”
Canon Sewap’s ordained ministry lasted three decades during which time, like so many Indigenous clergy in northern Canada, he served on an unpaid basis.
National Indigenous Archbishop Mark MacDonald described the Cree priest as a quiet man but that “his presence was very powerful. It had authority, it had a graciousness, it had a kindness.… He was someone who kept us together, and someone [with whom] you felt good about what you were doing because he was involved with it.”
The certified electrician also enjoyed carpentry and was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting. And at gospel jamborees the accomplished musician would bring out his guitar and sing.
Read Matt Gardner’s moving tribute to Canon Sewap in the Anglican Journal at: www.anglicanjournal.com/he-loved-the-lord-angus-sewap-remembered-as-role-model-humble-and-dedicated-priest/.
Both bishops Michael Hawkins and Adam Halkett were themselves stricken with the coronavirus. In early December Bishop Hawkins was in intensive care for 12 days with COVID. Bp Halkett and his daughter Katrina were also ill with the virus but were not hospitalized. Bp Halkett looked well in the video of his Christmas greeting to the Diocese of Saskatchewan.
Hawkins is now recovering at his home in Prince Albert. He told The Star Phoenix that he had just about every textbook symptom of the illness.
“COVID can attack different organs, and I think it sort of went into my heart,” he added. “I have to tell you, this thing laid me pretty low.”
Hawkins said that the isolation of being in hospital is even greater for people who are far from their families and primarily speak Cree, Dene or another Indigenous language instead of English.
Transmission rates are much higher in the north and among Indigenous communities than in the rest of Saskatchewan.
In a Facebook post on Dec. 15th, Bp Hawkins wrote: “I am grateful for the continued prayers. I saw the doctor yesterday and it was very encouraging. I remain on several meds to protect my heart and hope to have further tests by March. I am allowed to return to work for four hours a day until the second week of January and then ease back to full time. Kathy and Matthew have been tremendously caring and strict. Thank you for all your care and support. In the difficult parts on this journey, I knew and felt that Jesus and you all were with me. It has been a profound experience of the body of Christ.”
Bruce Clemenger, the president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, entered hospital on Dec. 29 with the coronavirus and remained there for 16 days, six of them in intensive care.
At the same time both his in-laws, Tracy Clemenger’s parents, were also stricken with COVID, and her father Ken died. Her mother, Shirley, was hospitalized but is now recovering at home. In the midst of this triple challenge, the Clemenger family was thankful for the “deeply sustaining” outpouring of prayer and support that they received.
On Jan. 2 a lung scan showed that Clemenger had “severe COVID pneumonia” taking over his lungs. There was now only 24-48 hours “or so,” to turn the direction of the virus around. The EFC urgently asked for prayer but also wrote: “His wife and children want everyone to know that they have come to a place of awe before God and want to say that this moment in time is not a mistake.”
His family was never allowed to visit, only talk with him by phone, but they noted in an email dated Jan. 4th that he is “moving well through the COVID valley timeline but there is always a caveat with COVID.”
The family email continued:
“This virus is called a criminal virus – it doesn’t play by any rules and it decides when it’s done. We are on a journey in these days which includes those who have gone before him. In reverence for those who passed in 2020 Round One with COVID, we now have so much new medical and scientific research on this. Bruce’s treatment is a testament to this today as his medical team is collaborating globally on best outcomes and treatments. Evidence-based collaboration worldwide is key and Bruce is in great hands with his medical team….
“Bruce is not in pain, but does feel the weight of his lungs, however, with breathing. He is spending his time resting, rotating, and being monitored. And then the main task of just breathing, praying and listening to inspiring and comforting music keeping spirits up.”
Bruce, his wife Tracy and their two daughters live in the Ottawa Valley. The family asked for prayer that Bruce’s “body and lungs will respond well to all treatments. Pray for wisdom for his medical team.”
Bill Fietje, Chair of the EFC Board of Directors wrote: “I was pleased to learn that the Chief Medical Officer in Bruce’s hospital is a Christian and has been in prayer for Bruce. There are also many other Christians in the ICU unit. The Medical Officer told Tracy that she welcomes the prayers of the body of Christ in her fight against COVID in Bruce’s body and for all people fighting COVID….
“In a recent issue of Faith Today, Clemenger shared about memorizing the 23rd Psalm when he was a child. He wrote: ‘In times of trials and affliction, indeed at all times, we are encouraged to pray. Through prayer we bind ourselves to God as like a twined rope…’”
Clemenger has been with EFC since 1992 and has served as its president for almost 19 years. In 1996 he established the EFC’s Ottawa office and became the founding director of the EFC’s Centre for Faith and Public Life.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada/Alliance évangélique du Canada is a national evangelical alliance and a member of the World Evangelical Alliance. Its affiliates comprise 42 evangelical Christian denominations, 64 Christian organizations, 38 educational institutions, and 700 local church congregations in Canada. The Anglican Network in Canada is a denominational affiliate while several congregations in the Anglican Church of Canada are also members.
South of the border, Bp Anthony Burton, formerly Bishop of Saskatchewan (1993-2008), and his wife Anna both tested positive for COVID and had to rest for three weeks at home. At the time Bp Burton reminded his well wishers that “God has it all in hand” and “To be of good peace.” The couple has since recovered. Burton is rector of the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, Texas, and is also a member of the Communion Partners. TAP.
–With files from The Anglican Journal and EFC
