Brianna Clark is a junior English major with a concentration in writing. These Churches Refuse To Close Over COVID-19. 11 January 2021. Nonetheless we are mindful of the pressure church leaders are under and the greater risk taken by all those involved in hosting open buildings for whom we have a duty of care.". While this latest lockdown in England is similar to that imposed by the Government last March it differs in that this time round, churches are permitted to remain open for public worship. But churches are still functioning in plenty of ways. "Clergy who have concerns, and others who are shielding, should take particular care and stay at home," she added.Â. "It is important that we respect each other and the decisions that our churches make and not cast aspersions on the motives that individuals and churches may have for either choosing to remain open or moving to online services only.". Of course,thecoronavirus is a special circumstance and the needs of society must be considered, but the coronavirus is a special circumstance and the needs of society must be considered, but the church and the faith community is a vital part of what it means to practice Christianity. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board. Churches can stay open during England’s third lockdown in a move welcomed by leaders as maintaining an ‘essential source of energy for the common good’. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The copyright for each article, photograph and graphic appearing in the Chimes is accorded by its author. The letter states that their safety has been affirmed by Public Health England (PHE) Churches are essential. Places of worship to open at level 3 lockdown, attendance limited to 50 people ... for religious leaders or to allow churches to open under strict conditions. The Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) has asked its churches in England to suspend public worship during this lockdown because of rising Covid numbers and pressure on the NHS. Prime Minister Boris Johnson implemented a national lockdown in England on Monday, January 4. Although most, if not all, churches are streaming services online, the elements of community and discipleship are greatly weakened. Church open: Churches are closed during the UK lockdown (Image: Getty) Church open: the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and John Sentamu (Image: Getty) Religious liberty, public health, and the police powers of the states This is what the body of Jesus is, a family. The leader of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), John Stevens, has taken a similar approach, telling church leaders and trustees to "make their own decision" about the appropriate course of action "in their specific circumstances". My hometown is the small, wine country town of Windsor, about an hour north of San Francisco. Registered in England and Wales 5090917, Christian Today, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN, People struggling with Covid grief warned against contacting the dead, French schools ordered to prohibit gender neutral language, Majority of British public does not support woke ideology - poll, Church has been an 'essential refuge' during the pandemic - Prince William, Scottish Government ordered to pay additional costs over church closures. "The regular practice of our faith in God is a source of personal resilience and dedicated service of those in need, both vital in these difficult times," he said. have stopped attending church, even online. The Bishop of Exeter has welcomed the Government’s decision to allow church buildings to stay open in this current lockdown. We cannot keep churches closed for the entirety of this extended quarantine, or it will begin to breach our right to practice our religion. The Centers for Disease Control offers many safety protocols for faith communities to practice and they should be adhered. However, at this point in the pandemic, in-person services should be available for those who would like to re-enter a faith-filled community in a socially-distanced environment. In a church that is full on a Sunday, with a large age range, many vulnerable people would be put at risk. "No evidence has been forthcoming to justify the inclusion of places of worship as sources of infection," they said. "I am glad no measures have been introduced to obstruct or curtail this essential source of energy for the common good.". Church leaders have challenged government bodies not to impose bans on church activities. by. We do not want to worship unsafely, but neglecting worship all together cannot be the alternative. Church closures in second national lockdown are a 'source of anguish', say Catholic leaders. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Coronavirus. Churches have faced bans from many ministry activities during efforts to fight Covid-19 – while other sectors of society could continue with equally risky activities. Church lockdown. However, as other businesses and organizations begin to reopen, it is unfair to withhold the same opportunity from places of worship. All places of worship can remain open for individual prayer and communal worship, in a rare example of gatherings involving multiple households which are still allowed. Given the gravity of the pandemic, it is understandable that churches, as places of socialization and large crowds, would be temporarily shut down. The opinions expressed in the Chimes do not necessarily represent Biola University, nor are they endorsed by the university. Does the Constitution Protect Their Right To Remain Open? Churches Remain Open During Stay-at-home Order. Rejected petition Churches Should Remain Open During Lockdown Individuals go to church in order to worship with other believers. The UK is experiencing a public health emergency as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a strongly worded statement, they said they were "perplexed" by the decision "given that the stringent measures taken since last March to ensure public safety in our churches have been effective". Because of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, proper cleaning and disinfecting needs to be enacted. The. Despite this, some pastors have already taken the decision to close their buildings and others are urging the same. Opening churches is needed to support Christians who may struggle with holding fast to their faith. Every church takes its own decision.” Earlier this month the Metropolitan police wrote to faith leaders in London reminding them of lockdown restrictions, which … "We strongly encourage churches not to open their buildings for in-person meeting if at all possible," the BUGB said in a statement.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-christiantoday_com-medrectangle-3-0')}; "We recognise that the Government guidelines allow churches to remain open in England during this period; however, given the significant increase in numbers of Covid-19 infections and pressure on the NHS, we advise churches to stand with the wider community in making every effort to limit the spread of the virus. It is strongly recommended that places of worship prepare a written safety plan that: o Describes measures/procedures that have been or will be implemented in the organization to reduce spread of COVID-19. [email protected] Houses of worship should be allowed the same chance to open with caution and following safety procedures. The Church of England has been criticised by some Anglicans for refusing to advise the closure of churches.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-christiantoday_com-medrectangle-4-0')}; The Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, a former nurse and Chair of the Church of England's Covid Recovery Group, acknowledged that "some may feel that it is currently better not to attend in person" and that some parishes would offer digital services only for the timebeing, but she left the decision to remain open or closed with individual churches. Some churches may not be able to reopen due to a lack of facilities conducive to these measures, but they should at least be given the opportunity to try following the state’s guidelines. The right to religious freedom means we have the ability to practice our personal faith without government penalty, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. "if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-christiantoday_com-box-4-0')}; He continued: "FIEC would urge all churches to comply fully with the law and guidance, and respect the autonomy of each local church as to whether to continue to meet physically during this difficult period for our nation. Stay up to date with the latest Christian news! "Whilst the new law will allow places of worship to remain open for corporate worship, this does not mean that they are required to remain open," he wrote in an update on the FIEC website. In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a lockdown last week, which included closing churches from last Friday. When she isn’t pursuing her aspiration to write and edit, she can be found spending time with the Spoken Word poetry club and chilling with her friends at the beach any chance she gets. Signed editorials, columns, letters to the editor and editorial cartoons express the opinion of those signing and not necessarily that of the Chimes. The public and mental-health benefits of public worship are significant — not least during a pandemic, ... Of course, some congregations will need to suspend public worship during this lockdown, and we will support them in doing so. This is why many churches voluntarily decided to cease most activities prior to the Government-enforced lockdown. The purpose of church is to offer biblical teachings and spiritual development—two things that we are not meant to acquire solely in isolation. First, Marcus Stock, the Catholic bishop of Leeds, wrote to the Prime Minister requesting that, this time around, places of worship be allowed to remain open and acts of worship be allowed to continue. Brianna Clark, Opinions EditorSeptember 16, 2020. There are some individuals who live alone and by attending church, they feel a part of a family. Their position reflects that of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, who has welcomed the decision south of the border to keep churches open for public worship. Of course, the coronavirus is a special circumstance and the needs of society must be considered, but the church and the faith community is a vital part of what it means to practice Christianity. All are places full of people and run the risk of spreading the virus if careful precautions are not set in place. California Gov. Attitudes have also varied in Scotland, where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon ordered churches to shut. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-christiantoday_com-banner-1-0')}; While Church of Scotland Moderator, Dr Martin Fair, has welcomed the decision to close churches "to keep each other safe", Catholic bishops have attacked the order.Â. The pandemic should not be keeping us from our faith communities. Contrary to Sheriff Chronister’s allegation that Pastor Howard-Browne was ‘reckless,’ the actions of Hillsborough County and the Hernando County Sheriff are discriminatory against religion and church gatherings.” But while churches are being deemed non-essential, abortion clinics are still somehow classified as essential. Reopening churches would not require everyone to suddenly come rushing out of quarantine. The legislation for Step 2 of coming out of lockdown does not permit physical meeting in churches or other buildings other than for communal worship or the provision of essential voluntary and public services. While this latest lockdown in England is similar to that imposed by the Government last March it differs in that this time round, churches are permitted to remain open for public worship. England's four-week lockdown will see most religious services banned. The right to religious freedom means we have the ability to practice our personal faith without government penalty, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Comment: The case for keeping churches open in lockdown. Opening churches is needed to support Christians who may struggle with holding fast to their faith. Ontarians are asked to stay at home except for essential matters. Yet businesses have largely been trusted with putting safeguards in place, while in some areas churches have not. We cannot keep churches closed for the entirety of this extended quarantine, or it will begin to breach our right to practice our religion. But when the current four-week lockdown was announced, the response from church leaders was strikingly different. Moreover, significant number of other sectors similarly restricted last March alongside public worship â such as construction, manufacturing and elite sports - have now been left free to continue in operation.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-christiantoday_com-large-leaderboard-2-0')}; "We also note that, in England, the essential contribution of public worship to the spiritual welfare of all citizens during this crisis has now been endorsed by the decision not to close places of worship while the Scottish Government has apparently retreated from this view, causing dismay and confusion.". Churches are asking what they can do during a time of social distancing. Since then, some churches have congregated in … What to do when you're struggling with fear, The Church should get back to preaching the Gospel, says author Douglas Murray, Denying communion to pro-abortion Catholics like Biden could create 'discord', Vatican warns, Evangelical body writes to Finnish government over charges against Christian MP, Lessons from the book of Revelation in our increasingly anti-Christian culture. The Catholic Church described the ban as … There should be proper socially-distanced spacing between seats with a reduced quantity of attendees and precautions such as masks, hand sanitizer and eliminating communal use items like Bibles and hymnals. That is not something that should ever change. Although most, if not all, churches are streaming services online, the elements of community and discipleship are greatly weakened. However, unlike previous lockdowns, this time churches and other places of worship are permitted to stay open. The immunocompromised and those against breaking their quarantine still have the option of watching services online. The transmission of COVID-19 occurs mainly through respiratory droplets generated by coughing and sneezing, and commands us to meet together so that we may encourage one another. "We would still support churches to open their buildings, as you have done throughout the pandemic, to provide vital services to the local community, such as food banks. Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon said the Government has a "profound responsibility" to demonstrate why it has taken these decisions. There should be proper socially-distanced spacing between seats with a reduced quantity of attendees and precautions such as masks, hand sanitizer and eliminating communal use items like Bibles and hymnals. With certain boundaries in place, we should be allowed the option to return to our Sunday ritual of attending church. Gavin Newsom has recently allowed for places of worship, in certain counties, to reopen with restrictions—they must be outdoors and with modifications. California Gov. The purpose of church is to offer biblical teachings and spiritual development—two things that we are not meant to acquire solely in isolation. Some churches may not be able to reopen due to a lack of facilities conducive to these measures, but they should at least be given the opportunity to try following the state’s guidelines. On Monday 4 January, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that England would be entering a third national lockdown to try to combat the rise in cases of Covid 19. What are the current rules? Despite this, some pastors have already taken the decision to close their buildings and others are urging the same. In addition, proper cleaning and disinfecting needs to be enacted. With restaurants, malls and other businesses reopening, keeping churches closed suggests discrimination. Hello, my name is Brianna Clark, and I am a junior English major with a concentration in writing. We believe that a decision to allow churches to open during this time would have significant benefits for the population. Churches can stay open during England’s third lockdown in a move welcomed by leaders as maintaining an ‘essential source of energy for the common good’. However, the majority of churches are not meeting and many churches will be considering when they will resume in-person meeting and what criteria they may choose to judge that by. Were we too quick to close our doors during the pandemic? Churches are pivotal to the wellbeing and mental health of people. It’s... A lack of abortion regulations normalizes a disregard for human life, The Derek Chauvin verdict was accountability, not justice, Israel’s innovations are a modern fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-christiantoday_com-box-3-0')}; England's decision to allow places of worship to remain open during the third national lockdown has revealed a split in opinion among churches. The last-minute announcement left many in the position of having to widdle down in-person attendees, who have already reserved their seats, in order to abide by these strict new measures. God calls the body of Christ to help each other in hard times, but it is difficult to serve one another when our places of congregation are closed. Posted : Apr-07-2021 The Government of Ontario will launch a province-wide stay-at-home order starting on Thursday, April 8, 2021. All places of worship can remain open for individual prayer and communal worship, in a rare example of gatherings involving multiple households which are still allowed. Funerals will still be allowed, with a maximum of 30 attending. From that time until at … Gavin Newsom has recently allowed for places of worship, in certain counties, to, —they must be outdoors and with modifications. ... that would lose money during … Following the pursuit of a judicial review by over 120 pastors and vicars, the government has this time allowed church leaders the freedom to decide whether or not to keep churches open. We need churches to be open during lockdown, BREAKING: Derek Chauvin found guilty of murder, The right to religious freedom means we have the ability to practice our personal faith without government penalty, according to the. This is after the government imposed a national lockdown and prohibited gatherings of more than 100 people. "Without such scientific evidence these restrictions will appear to Catholics to be arbitrary and unfair. "We know that geographical contexts differ across England and we are aware that the decision lies with the local church. As part of lockdown legislation rushed through Parliament last night by a vote of 516-38, communal worship has been specifically banned in England, although churches are permitted to … Without church we lose that vital support of fellowship. Reuters. She said: "It is with real regret that we consider it necessary for places of worship to close during this period for all purposes except broadcasting a service or conducting a funeral or wedding. In a separate online survey by the trust, 75% of clergy and church officials said the closing of the places of worship during lockdown has had a negative effect on the local community. While universities and schools are allowed to open despite being the largest hotbeds for viruses, churches are being forced to shut. Churches in England, as with those in Wales and Northern Ireland, have been permitted to continue to meet during the current lockdown. But are churches open in lockdown? Many churches have sadly now closed again, especially in London, even though, unlike in the last two lockdowns, churches are (at the time of writing) permitted by law to stay open … The Enneagram can be a great discipleship tool, The Student News Site of Biola University, Brianna Clark, Opinions Editor (Spring 2020). Because of the coronavirus pandemic, one-third of practicing Christians have stopped attending church, even online. To this end, as we pray for you, we would like for you to reconsider the decision to keep churches in lockdown during the upcoming four-week period. Please click here to learn how. And with lockdown being relaxed across the UK, more places of worship are now open - but there are still changes to worshippers' usual practices. These restrictions mean currently if you can, you … Businesses that are open are required to prepare a safety plan. offers many safety protocols for faith communities to practice and they should be adhered. Hebrews 10:25 commands us to meet together so that we may encourage one another. We gathered examples from actual churches already engaged. "Many churches may choose to close for public worship during this lockdown period out of concern for the members of the congregation (especially if they are elderly and vulnerable) or their reputation in the wider community where there is strong public concern about unnecessarily spreading the virus. Without church we lose that vital support of fellowship. A … The Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) has asked its churches in England to suspend public worship during this lockdown … Under the latest Government guidance, churches are permitted to remain open for communal worship and private prayer and people are allowed to leave home to attend church. “Stop Asian Hate” is not getting pushback—is that a problem? Our freedom to practice religion should be as free as our market. The new lockdown measures will restrict churches to 15% capacity from the previous 30%.
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