Chris Woodward
Another defiant California pastor is making headlines for violating COVID-19 restrictions but this time a judge has stepped in to punish him and anyone who gathers under the church roof.
A temporary restraining order has been granted against Godspeak Calvary Chapel and its pastor, Rob McCoy. The order was granted by a Ventura County judge after the local government sued McCoy and his church for holding in-person services of up to 200 people.
State and local and officials have banned large gatherings as a way to fight the spread of COVID-19. According to The Christian Post, the church has been following the social distancing guidelines until just recently.
Reacting to the restraining order on The Todd Starnes Show, attorney Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel called it a stunning move.
"The judge issued a restraining order against him, the church, and one through 1,000 John Does," said Staver. "He issued the order and said ‘anyone acting in concert with any of these individuals.'"
According to Staver, this is the first time that there has been such an order placed against a church.
"The John Does, the in-concert language, means that anybody who dares go into that church building, at any time in the future, until this judge gives his blessing, will be held in contempt of court," Staver advised. "There's already penalties and fines of $1,000 a day, and now this contempt that would hold over you, for going into the building for worship or prayer, would result in you going to jail as well under this court's order. This has never happened before in America."
The pastor had said the Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to take action against the church in a county of 846,000 residents with only 77 deaths to date, which he pointed out is a death rate of .009 percent.
Last Friday, Pastor McCoy announced in a video message that he planned to continue holding indoor services. Staying true to his word, McCoy and Godspeak Calvary Chapel held services on Sunday.
"Come to church, and if you're one of the first thousand, you win a prize," McCoy said in the video. "You will get a citation. It will be a misdemeanor. It will go on your record. Be mindful of that."
No arrests were made, however, but that may change according to the judge's decision.
According to California newspaper reporter Becca Whitnall, a hearing was held Tuesday morning to discuss the contempt charge. Robert Tyler, an attorney for Godspeak and the pastor, said the county's punishment is an overreaction and compared it to Japanese internment camps.
Jaclyn Smith, an attorney for the county, meanwhile, asked the court to order the county sheriff to close the church property, a request that was denied by the judge, Whitnall reported in a Twitter thread.
Following today's hearing, Whitnall reported a contempt hearing is now scheduled for Friday, August 21.
Staver says he talked with the pastor and was informed that 2,500 attended the worship service -- and that wasn't the entire story.
"The building doesn't hold 2,500 people. So these people stayed outside, " Staver told the radio program. “Part of this group was another church that drove two hours to this church to be the first 1,000 people to be arrested so that the people inside could have their worship services."
Amid the new COVID-19 restrictions, some local churches are expected to begin holding services outdoors.
At Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon, the sounds of the gospel have been a bit more crisp.
"Sound is incredible. No echoes, feels intimate ... like church," said Pastor David Jeremiah.
Jeremiah says last month, when it became clear COVID-19 capacity restrictions would be too limiting indoors, they decided to move their services outside.
"Turned out to be a perfect amphitheater," said Jeremiah.
A stage has been set up in one of their parking lots. The seating is sectioned off by families, each grouping set 6 feet apart. Services have been moved to the evening to escape the heat. Masks and bottled water are handed out to those who need them. Any singing is mostly limited to musicians on stage to minimize the coronavirus risk.
"It's our way of doing church. It's the only thing we can do so that's what we do," said Jeremiah.
It's also going to be what other churches will do after recent coronavirus restrictions banned indoor church services. At the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Mira Mesa, an email was sent out announcing weekend outdoor masses.
In Poway, officials approved a plan to share park space with places of worship and fitness centers. The city of El Cajon is also weighing a similar plan. Jeremiah says those actions are much needed, because there is no substitute to gathering in person.
"Church is when God's people come together, and we want to make it possible for people to come together as much as possible, as much as we can, within the context of what we're experiencing with this pandemic," said Jeremiah.
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