Pete Vere
The Interim

The off-duty police officer stared at the four teenaged boys from the church’s youth group. The youth minister had told him about the boisterous activity the night before. The officer was concerned. He told the four teenagers that their behaviour was less than worthy of the name Christian and that they had nearly crossed the line of the law. He told them that they were headed for trouble and it would break his heart if he was forced to bring them down to the station. Then, he paused before telling each of the four that they were capable of better.

The young men nodded in shame. Constable Kevin Serviss was a just and honest man whose integrity was above reproach. He enjoyed this same reputation among the people on his beat, among his fellow officers back at the station and among his fellow worshippers at our church. Kevin’s love of God and neighbour deeply influenced his actions as a Christian and as a police officer.

One example is the Elgin Street Mission, which Kevin helped found as an outreach to street people, prostitutes and drug addicts. “Because of the great human need I saw, I felt God call me to help establish a place of refuge,” Kevin recently shared with The Interim. Kevin also led the initiative in the early 1990s to found a crisis pregnancy centre within the Sudbury community. “I encountered pregnant women in all sorts of difficult circumstances,” Kevin explained. “They needed emotional support, food and shelter, diapers, counselling, basic parenting skills and job training. I thought they deserved a real choice. Let’s help them choose an option that is not abortion, poverty or a life of crime.”

Kevin understands the needs of his community. He traded his badge for the pulpit in 1999 and now serves as an assistant pastor at Glad Tidings Tabernacle. He seldom speaks or takes action without first listening to all sides of the story. Likewise, people listen when Kevin speaks.

Only one of the young men from the youth group did not listen. He is now in jail. Of the other three, one became an accountant, another a successful mechanic and the third is the author of this article. Thus, I experienced Kevin’s firm compassion first hand and am honoured to count him among my friends.

Kevin recently won the federal nomination in Sudbury for the Conservative Party. During his acceptance speech, Kevin stated: “I believe in the traditional definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. It has served us well ...” He then moved on to other issues.

Yet, the local media only latched on to this one statement. For example, Heidi Ulrichsen wrote in the online news service Northern Life about the the reaction of another candidate who doesn’t think “church and politics should mix.” He added: “Although (Kevin) had other issues, he’s really running on the traditional marriage issue.”

Even if one ignores the fact that marriage is the most fundamental building block of society, why don’t Kevin’s critics mention his background as a police officer and social justice advocate?