Close to 500 California pastors are planning on re-opening their churches regardless of whether they have the state’s approval.
“The churches are not asking for permission,” said religious freedom attorney Bob Tyler, who is advising the pastors, CBN News reports.
“The governor is sitting here as a dictator, trumping the Constitution and is kind of hanging on to this state of emergency for as long as he can hold it,” he added.
Tyler noted that several of the pastors have already signed a petition asking California’s Governor Gavin Newsom to allow churches to meet if they commit to adhering to social distancing regulations.
According to the petition, the pastors are committed to opening up by May 31st as it is “The Day of Pentecost … also known as the birthday of the Christian church.” This year on May 31, marks “the 1,990th anniversary of the original Day of Pentecost that occurred in the year A.D. 30.”
“We declare that on May 31, 2020, or sooner, we will resume corporate worship as instructed in Hebrews 10:24-25”, the petition asserts.
According to Tyler, the pastors are “committed to opening regardless of what the governor decides.”
The petition also stipulates that the pastors also plan on advising Gov. Gavin Newsom on their plans to respect social distancing guidelines while still meeting in-person for church.
Pastor Matt Brown of Sandals Church in…
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