Jim in Virginia is distraught over the “HANDBOOK FOR LOCAL CHURCHES” that the “Back to In-Person Work Group of the Virginia Conference” of the United Methodist Church has released. I didn’t have to wade very far through its 79 nauseating pages to discover why: on page 3, after invocations of the “federal, state, and local authorities, including, but not limited to, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (‘HHS’)…, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (‘CDC’) …, the Virginia Department of Health (‘VDH’) …., and the discretion of leadership for the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church (the ‘Conference’)” rather than any reference whatever to the Bible, I found these intolerant and intolerable paragraphs:
To be very clear, the Conference is requiring a number of rules and protocols … . These are not recommendations and these are not optional. The Bishop is ordering that the rules and protocols be implemented consistently no matter the size of the church. There are no exceptions to these rules and requirements. For instance, if a church does not follow the rules and requirements, in-person worship will be stopped at that location.
Ahem. Them’s fightin’ words, more worthy of Fuhrer Northam than Christians (must be something in the water in Virginia. And to think that formerly great land birthed such lovers of liberty as Jefferson, Henry, and Washington!). Were I a Methodist, I’d be organizing a church in my home right about now.
If any individual refuses to follow the rules and requirements, the individual will be asked to leave the building or leave the drive-in service.
Ditto.
If the non-complying individual refuses to leave the building or refuses to get back in his/her vehicle at a drive-in service, the service will immediately end and those in attendance must leave the church property.
Hey, why do we need government to persecute Methodists when their own denomination does a superb job?
The Conference is putting the priority of the safety of everyone present at an in-person service or a drive-in service over any one person that objects to the requirements, rules, protocols, or guidelines. We realize that some may oppose the requirements, rules, protocols, or guidelines but showing opposition by refusing to comply will not be tolerated.
Psssst: home-church, home-church.
We do not have a vaccine and we know now that COVID-19 is highly contagious by inhaling respiratory droplets from others. This happens when people do not wear face coverings and when they do not stay 6 feet apart. PHYSICAL SOCIAL DISTANCING (STAY 6 FEET OR MORE AWAY FROM OTHERS) AND FACE COVERINGS FOR IN-PERSON MEETINGS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE.
None of that Pauline accommodation for differing opinions and convictions here, nosireee. No obeying God, either, when earthly rulers offer all the excuse “the Conference” wants to flaunt its power over the flock.
Meanwhile, should you plan to worship with these Virginian Methodists, bring a mask; you’ll receive pre-packaged Communion from gloved hands for consumption elsewhere; leave your kids who are 12 years of age and younger home; expect “no Sunday School, no nursery or children’s ministry, no coffee or fellowship time, … no handshake or hugging, … no baptisms”; and don’t dare lift your voice in worshipful song to the Lord.
“…[W]e need to ensure we can conduct these services safely,” the Methodists explain.
Indeed. After all, coronavirus is far more potent than the Almighty.
7:11 pm on May 27, 2020
