US state of Ohio passes new law banning officials from closing places of worship
Columbus, OhioAP Houses of worship can’t be shut down by local or state officials, and elections can’t be moved from their prescribed dates, under a bill signed into law Wednesday by Governor Mike DeWine and pushed by fellow Republican lawmakers angered over orders meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. DeWine expressly did not […]
Los Angeles church can hold indoor services, judge says
Los Angeles, USAP A judge on Friday allowed a Los Angeles church to hold indoor services despite coronavirus health orders as long as it practices safety measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing. Los Angeles County had sought a court order barring Grace Community Church from holding the services, arguing that they were an immediate […]
Sight-Seeing: Our California church met in person. Then the police came by. And said “well done”
Californian pastor ALAN CROSS, in an article first published on Religion News Service, writes about how his church has navigated coronavirus pandemic restrictions…
Uganda: As coronavirus toll continues to climb, clergy pressure government to reopen churches
JOHN SEMAKULA reports from Uganda on the battle over church reopenings…
“Buildings are closed but churches are open”: UK churches see lift in interest during coronavirus lockdown
DAVID ADAMS speaks with Peter Lynas, director of the Evangelical Alliance UK, about a new report looking how how British churches have fared during the coronavirus pandemic…
South Sudan cleric highlights biting hunger in a “triple pandemic” as African churches confront food insecurity
South Sudan church leaders are among African clerics who are highlighting a painful “hunger pandemic” in their countries, as experts warn of aggravated food insecurity in regions due to coronavirus. Fr James Oyet Latansio, general secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches, said the disease had devastated families, creating a “triple pandemic” including COVID-19, […]
Thankful to gather: In the US, some Old Order Mennonites feel called to return to church
LUIS ANDRES HENAO and JESSIE WARDARSKI, of Associated Press, report from Pennsylvania…
A “remarkable job”: How Australian churches are adapting to changing COVID realities
CHRISTOPHER GILBERT reports on how Australian churches are adapting as coronavirus restrictions start to ease…
Slowly, surely, US houses of worship emerge from lockdown
AP For the first time in two months, there was clapping, singing and fellowship inside Stithton Baptist Church in Radcliff, Kentucky, as members of the congregation returned to the sanctuary for Sunday morning services. There also were masks, hand sanitiser and social distancing. On a weekend when President Donald Trump declared houses of worship essential […]
Adapting church: Clergy, scientists grapple with thoughts of worship without congregational singing
ADELLE M BANKS, writing for Religion News Service, reports on how US churches are grappling with the idea of resuming congregational singing…