While Governor Laura Kelly’s executive order limiting church gatherings across the state has been met with some criticism in recent weeks, it has garnered an abundance of support from local religious leaders.
Recently the order gained national attention after the Legislative Coordinating Council voted to overturn it just ahead of the Easter holiday weekend. Shortly after the governor’s administration took legal action against the decision, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled Kelly that the LCC did not have the authority to override the order.
A week later, a federal judge then placed a temporary injunction on the order following a lawsuit that was filed by two Kansas churches. A status conference will take place at 2 pm Monday in Wichita.
With the abundance of opinions surging on the topic in recent weeks, KVOE recently spoke with three Emporia pastors to gauge their thoughts on the matter.
Pastors Eddie Hosch of Messiah Lutheran Church, Ron Harris of First United Methodist Church and Howard Cassidy-Moffat of First Congregational Church of Emporia expressed their support for the order and agreed this is not a political issue but a question regarding the safety of congregations and the general public.
Well ahead of the order’s announcement each of the three churches had already taken steps to alter their services with the health and safety of their congregations and the local community in mind. Pastor Cassidy-Moffat says his congregation has responded well to the changes.
Cassidy-Moffat also noted that once the COVID-19 pandemic eases it is unknown what “normal” will look like as it pertains to church services. Pastor Hosch commended his congregation for not trying to rush the process.
Pastor Harris says their church is currently looking into how the church can continue improving on sanitation and precautionary methods moving forward.
Messiah Lutheran Church has been holding its weekly church services in a drive-through format at the Lyon County Fairgrounds since mid-March. First United Methodist Church has been holding services in the sanctuary with no congregation members in attendance and streaming them virtually.
Pastor Cassidy-Moffat along with his wife, and fellow pastor, Laura Cassidy-Moffat have been streaming their services virtually from their homes since mid-March. For more information on these churches or their services contact them directly.
