A supporter stands outside court in Edmonton on Thursday, March 4, 2021, as Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church appears in court to appeal bail conditions. He was arrested for allegedly holding Sunday services in violation of COVID-19 rules. A trial is to begin Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
EDMONTON – An Alberta pastor accused of leading church services in violation of public-health orders says the COVID-19 pandemic has been blown out of proportion by the government and the media.
Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church testified on the first day of his trial Monday and complained multiple times about how difficult it was to speak with a mask on.
KITCHENER Last week, a judge granted a temporary injunction to lock the doors at Trinity Bible Chapel. The church itself, church elders and people who attended services have all faced charges over the past few months following in-person services exceeding provincial limits. Under the current stay-at-home order, religious services are capped at 10 people indoors and outdoors. The church shifted to drive-in services following charges at the end of December and beginning of January. However, they reopened for in-person services in February and also held services above the provincial limit throughout the month of April. Here s a look at what s happened at the church over the past few months:
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EDMONTON - An Alberta pastor accused of leading church services in violation of public-health orders says the COVID-19 pandemic has been blown out of proportion by the government and the media.
A supporter stands outside court in Edmonton on Thursday, March 4, 2021, as Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church appears in court to appeal bail conditions. He was arrested for allegedly holding Sunday services in violation of COVID-19 rules. A trial is to begin Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
EDMONTON - An Alberta pastor accused of leading church services in violation of public-health orders says the COVID-19 pandemic has been blown out of proportion by the government and the media.
Winnipeg Free Press By: Dean Pritchard | Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Monday, May. 3, 2021 Save to Read Later
Only God has the authority to restrict church gatherings, a Steinbach area minister told a court hearing Monday for seven Manitoba churches fighting provincial pandemic restrictions limiting their right to assembly.
Winnipeg Free Press
Only God has the authority to restrict church gatherings, a Steinbach area minister told a court hearing Monday for seven Manitoba churches fighting provincial pandemic restrictions limiting their right to assembly. That is God’s jurisdiction, said Church of God (Restoration) minister Tobias Tissen. I don’t have the authority from God to do that.
By Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press on May 3, 2021.
A supporter stands outside court in Edmonton on Thursday, March 4, 2021, as Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church appears in court to appeal bail conditions. He was arrested for allegedly holding Sunday services in violation of COVID-19 rules. A trial is to begin Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
EDMONTON – An Alberta pastor accused of leading church services in violation of public-health orders says the COVID-19 pandemic has been blown out of proportion by the government and the media.
Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church testified on the first day of his trial Monday and complained multiple times about how difficult it was to speak with a mask on.