The issue of whether or not to hold Easter services made national headlines when Donald Trump first announced on March 24 he wanted to see churches “packed” for Easter Sunday, despite concerns from health professionals. As he does with most of his comments, he later retracted that statement, encouraged Americans to celebrate the holiday from home, and shared that he would be watching a service online.
Despite stay-at-home orders in place to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus and ties to state outbreaks, many religious leaders continue to host services and events. Multiple state officials urged worshippers not to attend in-person services, especially on Easter, in efforts to avoid another major outbreak, in addition to limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people. State officials even threatened to fine and charge these individuals with misdemeanors to prevent them from attending, yet hundreds of people still did.
Religious leaders are referring to their First Amendment rights to justify why they continue to hold services. While states like New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, and California have issued stay-at-home orders, these orders either exempt religious institutions as “essential” (allowing them to stay open) or exclude them from penalties, BuzzFeed News reported. These states are also encouraging online services and precautions to be taken, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to stay six feet apart.
“Satan and a virus will not stop us,” Rev. Tony Spell told Reuters. Spell, a pastor at the evangelical Life Tabernacle Church in Louisiana, said he expected a crowd of over 2,000 people Sunday. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, approximately 500 people attended Sunday’s Easter service. “God will shield us from all harm and sickness,” Spell said. “We are not afraid. We are called by God to stand against the Antichrist creeping into America’s borders. We will spread the Gospel.” Despite being arrested on March 31 and charged with six misdemeanors for violating orders by the governor on a ban of gatherings of 50 people or more, Spell is unfazed and insists on continuing to host in-person services.
Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne was also arrested for holding services at his church, River at Tampa Bay in Florida. Browne was charged with two misdemeanors and told worshippers the church doors will remain open despite the pandemic. “And if it is the end, then so be it. We’re willing to die for the cause of the Gospel,” Howard-Browne said during one of his services, according to BuzzFeed News. Following his arrest, however, he closed the church and claimed that his decision came from wanting to protect his congregation from the government, not the coronavirus.
In Houston, Texas, more than 100 people attended one of two services offered at the Glorious Way Church on Sunday. An associate pastor at the church told ABC 13 that without in-person services, the congregation would not be fully served. In addition, they said that service plans, including how people entered and exited, were reviewed by fire marshals. In an earlier interview with The Texas Tribune, church officials said they would be limiting seating and supplying hand sanitizer to worshippers.
In Kentucky, churches including the Maryville Baptist Church continued to welcome worshippers and have services despite Gov. Andy Beshear's order against mass gatherings and warnings that officials will take note of the license plate numbers of those who attend and issue a mandatory 14-day quarantine. State officials said they were aware of at least six churches that planned to hold services Sunday.
Several worshippers leaving the Maryville Baptist Church Sunday told USA Today they were not going to follow the notices. Those who stayed in their cars and listened to the service were not reprimanded. "If you read the Constitution of the United States, if you read the constitution of the state of Kentucky, they both say that (Beshear) is infringing on the church's rights," Rev. Jack Roberts of the Maryville Baptist Church said. Roberts was among the vehicle owners who received a 14-day quarantine notice to prevent the spread. He said Monday he would not self-quarantine. Roberts’ Sunday service drew attendees from within and outside of the state, including people from New Jersey.
In Ohio, Solid Rock Church said it is taking precautions to continue services as long as the First Amendment is in place. “Fortunately, our facility is large enough that we are able to easily ensure that everyone who is physically in the facility is practicing the physical distancing; we are providing additional cleaning and hand sanitizing stations; and we are holding some services outside to allow for more distance,” the church said on its website.
In Kansas, Republican lawmakers revoked the governor’s order restricting religious gatherings to 10 people days before Easter. Republican state leaders called the order “inappropriate” despite three of 12 confirmed state clusters of COVID-19 being linked to church gatherings. The order was then upheld by the Kansas Supreme Court on Saturday; a church pastor in Junction City, Kansas, said he would continue services on Sundays regardless.
According to The Kansas City Star, another pastor, Aaron Harris of Calvary Baptist Church, said his services continued as usual both in-person and online; his Easter service had more than 20 people in attendance. Like some other religious leaders, Harris called the order “unconstitutional.” CNN correspondent Gary Tuchman reported that an unidentified pastor held services despite the ban by claiming all the church attendees were part of the choir. "He says there's a loophole in the law," Tuchman reported the pastor said. "In the executive order, signed by the Democratic governor, it states that preachers, readers, choir or musical performers don't count as part of your 10," the pastor claimed.
While some churches ignored advisories to social distance, many have moved services online in efforts to limit the number of cases of COVID-19. Religious institutions are becoming more creative by offering online religious education classes in addition to holding drive-in services in states that allow it.