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While some churchgoers have made headlines in recent weeks for breaking health orders and continuing to gather, others are hopeful the public can be reminded of the good still being done elsewhere.
Darin Latham, lead pastor at Vancouver’s Broadway Church, has conflicting feelings when hearing about churches fined for breaking provincial COVID-19 health orders that ban events and gatherings.
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“When I read that stuff, I’m of two minds. There’s one part of me that thinks – yes, I understand the frustration,” said Latham, noting that some churchgoers likely bristle at the fact that restaurants and retail shops are permitted to stay open.
VANCOUVER Congregations gathered on Sunday at two churches in the Fraser Valley for the fourth week in a row since the order to suspend church services due to COVID-19 came down. The Riverside Calvary Chapel in Langley and Free Grace Baptist Church in Chilliwack held in-person services, in contravention of B.C.’s public health order. “We’re called to come together as a congregation,” said Mac Cross outside the Free Grace Baptist church, “we as a people are the church.” Cross said he came from Abbotsford and his girlfriend, from Vancouver to attend the service because most churches are closed.
by Craig Takeuchi on December 18th, 2020 at 2:30 PM 1 of 1 2 of 1
One ongoing point of contention in the current round of provincial health orders has been religious services.
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said at recent COVID-19 briefings that the majority of religious and faith groups have been compliant with her orders not to hold in-person gatherings or services, and to instead conduct them with remote means.
In addition, Henry said that many religious leaders have informed her that they are continuing to practice their faith while remaining apart.
However, there have been a handful of examples of churches defying health orders, even in some of the health regions of the province that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 transmission.
Chilliwack RCMP recommend charges against churches continuing to hold in-person worship cbc.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cbc.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
VANCOUVER Chilliwack RCMP say they are recommending that charges be laid against people connected to three churches that have held in-person gatherings which are banned under current public health orders. In a news statement on Saturday, the RCMP confirmed that it is recommending charges against three separate churches within Chilliwack, and has sent evidence to the BC Prosecution Service. “Each of these incidents was actively investigated by the Chilliwack RCMP,” said Sgt. Krista Vrolyk in a statement. On Sunday, fewer members attended a rescheduled 10 a.m. service at Free Grace Baptist Church on Wellington Avenue. But CTV News still spotted dozens of worshipers leaving the building, despite the provincial health order.