“But if the watchman
see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if
the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his
iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” [Ezekiel 33:6]
“For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.” [Ephesians 6:12]
Presbyterians Week Headlines
[1] Presbyterian
Church of Australia Set to Defy Gay Conversion Bill
[2] Canadian
Province Bans Church Gatherings ‘Indefinitely’
[4] Injunction
Sought against Fraser Valley Churches Defying B.C. Health Orders
[5] Bid
for Injunction against British Colombia Churches Breaking COVID-19 Rules
Dismissed
[6] Hundreds
of Churches Threatened by France’s Plan to End Muslim Separatism
[8] Tillsonburg,
Ontario Pastor Charged for Failing to Comply with COVID Restrictions
[9] Scottish
Ministers to Scottish Ministers to Face Judicial Review over Lockdown Church
Closures
[10] Scottish
Ministers to Face Judicial Review over Church Closures
[11] British
Colombia Government Seeking Court Order So Police Can Detain Church-Goers
---
[1] Presbyterian
Church of Australia Set to Defy Gay Conversion Bill
In response to Daniel Andrews
‘Change
or Suppression Practices Bill’, the Presbyterian Church of
Australia stands poised to defy the recent legislation. As has
previously been reported, there are a plethora
of problems with the bill—which has significant legal
repercussions for people also outside of the state—and was recently passed by
the Victorian Upper House without amendment, with a cross party group of
politicians also vowing to push a similar
proposal in the NSW Parliament. According to the Star Observer:
https://caldronpool.com/breaking-presbyterian-church-of-australia-set-to-defy-gay-conversion-bill/
+ Presbyterian
Church of Australia, 168 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills,
New
South Wales, 2010, Australia,
02-9690-9333, Fax: 02-9310-2148, Contact Page
[2] Canadian
Province Bans Church Gatherings ‘Indefinitely’
The province of British
Columbia has announced that they are extending their pandemic restrictions
“indefinitely,” with all churches prohibited from gathering for services under
threats of crushing fines and jail time.
The province, which has a population of 5.1 million people and has had 1259
COVID-19 related deaths, all but sixty-five that occurred in nursing homes,
made the announcement on Friday, after passing a midnight deadline.
“Right now, we need to stay the path,” said Provincial Health Officer Dr.
Bonnie Henry, the woman in charge who is controlling policy. “We need to
protect the progress we have made and not squander our progress.”
https://protestia.com/2021/02/09/canadian-province-bans-church-gatherings-indefinitely/
+ Protestia, c/o Fellowship Baptist Church, 2181
West Holly Street, Sidney,
Montana 59270,
406-433-4004, info@fbcsidney.org
Province Claims Restrictions on In-Person Religious Services Are Justified To
Battle Pandemic
B.C.'s provincial health
officer is seeking an injunction prohibiting gatherings by three Christian
churches that are challenging her orders suspending in-person religious
services.
Lawyers for Dr. Bonnie Henry
and B.C.'s attorney general will be in B.C. Supreme Court on Friday seeking
orders against the leaders of Langley's Riverside Calvary Chapel, Abbotsford's
Immanuel Covenant Reformed Church and the Free Reformed Church of Chilliwack.
The province filed an application
for the injunction last week along with a response to a petition by the
churches and a handful of others who want to overturn Henry's orders.
+ Canadian
Broadcasting Centre, Post Office Box 500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5W 1E6, 514-597-6000, Contact Page
[4] Injunction
Sought against Fraser Valley Churches Defying B.C. Health Orders
The B.C. government and Dr.
Bonnie Henry are seeking a court injunction this Friday against three Fraser
Valley churches that have denied public health orders to cease holding
in-person services.
Langley’s Riverside Calvary
Chapel, along with Immanuel Covenant Reformed Church in Abbotsford and the Free
Reformed Church of Chilliwack took the government to court in January.
They have petitioned a judge
to lift orders that banned or restricted public gatherings, “as they
unjustifiably infringe the rights and freedoms of the petitioners [the
churches] guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” according
to the claim filed by lawyers for the churches.
+ Coast
Mountain News, 1060 Highway 20, Bella
Coola, British Columbia,V0T
1C0, 250-799-5699, Contact Page
[5] Bid
for Injunction against British Colombia Churches Breaking COVID-19 Rules
Dismissed
A judge has dismissed the
British Columbia government's application for an injunction against three
Fraser Valley churches that are breaking COVID-19 rules that prohibit in-person
services, though he agreed the public will likely face what may be greater
exposure to the virus.
The injunction request by
B.C.'s attorney general and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry came
after the churches and others filed a petition challenging the rules, arguing
they violate their charter rights and freedoms.
B.C. Supreme Court Chief
Justice Christopher Hinkson said in a written ruling released Wednesday that
the provincial health officer has means under the Public Health Act to enforce
the rules without an injunction.
+ Canadian
Broadcasting Centre, Post Office Box 500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5W 1E6, 514-597-6000, Contact Page
[6] Hundreds
of Churches Threatened by France’s Plan to End Muslim Separatism
Frustrated by years of
terrorism inflicted by radical Islamists, France’s parliament is debating a law
to end Muslim separatism.
French evangelicals fear
their churches will become collateral damage.
“This is the first time, as
president of the Protestant Federation of France, that I find myself in the
position of defending freedom of worship,” said François Clavairoly.
“I never imagined that in my
own country something like this could happen.”
Officially named “the Law to
Uphold Republican Principles,” the 459-page bill has been the subject of
fierce debate this month, receiving over 1,700 proposed amendments.
+ Christianity Today
International, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol
Stream, Illinois 60188, 630-260-6200,
Fax: 630-260-0114, mwhite@christianitytoday.com
By JEFF MAPLES,
Reformation Charlotte
In a drastic move, the
Australian province of Victoria has now criminalized prayer that seeks to
change one’s sexual orientation. Under the new draconian “conversion therapy”
legislation passed by Congress on February 4, called the Change
or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021,
under the definition of change or suppression practice, includes
“carrying out a religious practice, including but not limited to, a prayer
based practice, a deliverance practice or an exorcism.”
The offense includes prayer
either remotely on line or in-person and includes with it a long list of other
forbiden practices including “psychiatry or psychotherapy consultation,
treatment or therapy, or any other similar consultation, treatment or therapy.”
The offense is punishable by
imprisonment for up to ten years if, by its own definition, causes “serious
injury.” Though, “serious injury” is not clearly defined, the legislation
states that it has the same meaning as found in the Crimes
Act of 1958, which generalizes the meaning as “endangers life.”
+ Reformation
Charlotte, info@reformationcharlotte.org
[8] Tillsonburg,
Ontario Pastor Charged for Failing to Comply with COVID Restrictions
Faith Presbyterian Church’s
pastor Steve Richardson decided it was time to make a stand in Tillsonburg.
When the Ontario government
announced its province-wide shutdown measures, which went into effect Dec. 26
to minimize transmission of the COVID-19 virus, it included restrictions on
organized public indoor events. For church services, the mandatory
capacity was 10 people or less, including parishioners, officiants, and staff.
+ Tillsonburg News,
365 Bloor Street East, Toronto,
Ontario,
Canada
M4W 3L4, bwinter@postmedia.com
[9] Scottish
Ministers to Scottish Ministers to Face Judicial Review over Lockdown Church
Closures
The Scottish ministers’
policy banning gathered church worship is set to face a full judicial review following
a challenge from 27 Scottish church leaders.
The leaders, who come from a range of Christian denominations, including the
Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), the Church of Scotland, the Free Church
of Scotland, and a number of independent churches, launched the action stating
that the closures are unlawful as they breach Human Rights law and the Scottish
constitution. The case is supported by the Christian Legal Centre.
The legal claim was lodged on the 28 January 2021, and the case was marked as
‘urgent’ by a judge. The Scottish Ministers were given seven days to respond to
or challenge the claim, which they declined to do.
Lord Braid has now granted full permission for a substantive hearing, which
will take place remotely on the 11 and 12 March 2021. This could result in the
courts ordering the Scottish Ministers to allow churches to reopen.
Church leaders have described the legal case as a ‘crucial moment for the
freedom of the church in Scotland’ and stated that the continued ‘criminalisation
of public worship is damaging and dangerous’ for the country.
Disproportionate step
Restrictions outlined by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on Friday 8 January
2021, made it a criminal offence in the highest tiers for churches to hold
services in-person and, for example, to conduct baptisms.
In response, the church leaders sent a pre-action letter to
the Scottish Ministers on 15 January, urging them to re-open churches.
They emphasised that the regulations prohibit them from supporting the
material, emotional and spiritual needs in their congregations and communities.
In the claim the church leaders outlined that they fully understand the
seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the difficult decisions the Scottish
Government has had to take.
However, the leaders stated that they believe the Scottish Ministers’
have “failed to appreciate that the closure of places of worship is a
disproportionate step, and one which has serious implications for freedom of
religion.”
The Scottish Ministers’ responded by
rejecting the claim and declaring that the state can ‘regulate the secular
activities of Churches…for the purposes of protecting public health’ and that
churches are compelled to ‘comply with secular law’ and
therefore must remain closed.
This statement conflicts directly with the long-established and traditional
authority Scottish churches have had over their own affairs, free from state
interference. This is enshrined in the 1592 Act, the 1706 Act for Securing
Protestant Religion and the Church of Scotland Act 1921.
There has been no attempt to close churches in Scotland since the persecution
of the Presbyterian church, instituted by the Stuart kings, in the 17th
century.
Left with no alternative but to pursue a judicial review, lawyers representing
the church leaders lodged the legal claim for judicial review on 28 January
2021 arguing that the regulations are in violation of the European Convention
on Human Rights (Articles 9 and 11) and the Scottish Constitution.
As part of the legal case, the church leaders will seek a ‘declarator’ that the
closure of churches in Scotland are unlawful, that church closure regulations
must be reversed, and that a person may lawfully leave their home to attend a
place of worship without fear of prosecution.
In the claim, the church leaders: ‘hold that public corporate worship,
involving the physical gathering together of Christians… are fundamental and
indispensable aspects of their religion’, and argue that ‘in the absence of the
gathered people of God, there is effectively no “church.”’
Closures ‘illogical’ says microbiologist
Scottish Ministers’ insist they are relying on ‘science’ to justify a number of
lockdown measures, including church closures. However, an expert report, provided
as part of the case by microbiologist, Dr Ian Blenkharn, describes the strategy
as ‘illogical’ on a number of levels.
Dr Blenkharn says, for example, that it is: “illogical to propose that
church premises can be used for blood donor sessions, food banks and other
social support activities, and if required for Covid-19 testing and vaccination
activities”, but not for public worship.
At present, a church building in Scotland could be used as a vaccination
centre, but should the same people recite the Lord’s Prayer together, they
could be prosecuted.
Dr Blenkharn’s report concludes that he can find: “No barriers to the
safe opening of churches for worship. Indeed, there is an overwhelming and
unavoidable comparator that church services present no additional risk of
COVID-19 coronavirus infection than would the many different commercial
activities in the manufacturing, supply and retail sectors etc that are now
permitted to operate.”
‘Constitutional issues’
The decision to close churches in Scotland is out of step, not only with the
decision of the English and Welsh government’s decision to allow churches to
remain open under the current lockdown, but also internationally.
In November 2020, Chancellor Angela Merkel refused to close churches in Germany
due to ‘constitutional issues’.
Earlier this year a French high court branded government church closures as
unlawful and overturned the ban, and the Supreme Court of the United States
recently allowed churches to remain open in New York state.
‘A crucial moment’
Rev. Dr William Philip, leader of The Tron Church in Glasgow,
said: “Criminalising corporate worship is both damaging and dangerous
for Scotland, and we are pleased that this case will be heard in March 2021.
“We must care for people as whole human beings, and Covid 19 is not the only
threat to health and wellbeing.
“Our congregation of 500 in the heart of Glasgow is diverse in age and
background, including some of the most vulnerable in the city. I have witnessed
first-hand huge suffering through lockdown, not least a huge increase in
loneliness, misery and untold damage to mental health. The worst
deprivations from this ban are inflicted on the poorest, the neediest, the most
vulnerable – now excluded from the comfort and encouragement in life and death
only Christian worship can give.
“At a time when we have been forcefully confronted with the fragility of
mortal life, we have allowed the message of the eternal to be eclipsed entirely
by the earthly in the national consciousness. There is an urgent need for
a message of hope and salvation. This is the calling of the Christian Church –
especially in dark and difficult days: Jesus Christ is the only hope that
dispels all fear, death included.”
Rev. Geoffrey de Bruin, leader at Christian Revival Church Edinburgh,
said: “This is now a crucial moment for the freedom of the church in
Scotland.
“The closure of churches is a breach of the historic principle of the
separation of church and state which is enshrined in the Scottish constitution.
“The state may see church ministry as parallel to other public gatherings
such as cinemas and restaurants, but believers see church ministry as far more
important.
“For Christians, spiritual health is more important than physical health.
“Churches serve as lifelines of support to the most vulnerable during the
toughest times and we pray that these important principles and beliefs will be
recognised and upheld by the courts in March.”
+ Christian Concern,
+ Free Church of Scotland (Continuing),
Rev. John MacLeod, Free Church Manse, Portmahomack,
Ross-shire, Scotland, principalclerk@fccontinuing.org
+ Free Church of Scotland, 15
North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh,
Scotland EH1
2LS, 0131-226-5286, Fax: 0131-220-0597, catherine@freechurchofscotland.org.uk
+ Church of Scotland,
[10] Scottish
Ministers to Face Judicial Review over Church Closures
The Scottish government’s
policy banning gathered church worship is set to face a full
judicial review following a legal challenge from twenty-seven
Scottish church leaders.
Supported by the Christian
Legal Centre, the leaders, who come from a range of Christian denominations,
including the Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland, the Free Church
of Scotland (Continuing), and a number of independent churches, launched the
action stating that the closures are unlawful as they breach Human Rights law
and the Scottish constitution.
Urgent consideration
The legal claim was lodged on
28 January 2021 and was deemed suitable for urgent consideration by a
judge. The Scottish Ministers were given seven days to challenge whether
permission should be given for the claim to proceed, which they declined to do.
It allowed the Scottish Ministers, the Lord Advocate and the Advocate General a
chance to decide whether they wanted to participate in the decision of the
court as to whether permission be granted for the Judicial Review to proceed.
Lord Braid has now granted
full permission for a substantive hearing, which will take place remotely on
the 11 and 12 March 2021. This could result in the courts ordering the Scottish
Ministers to allow churches to reopen.
Church leaders have described
the legal case as a “crucial moment for the freedom of the church in
Scotland” and stated that the continued “criminalisation of
public worship is damaging and dangerous” for the country.
Disproportionate step
Restrictions outlined by
First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on Friday 8 January 2021, made it a criminal
offence in the highest tiers for churches to hold services in-person and, for
example, to conduct baptisms.
In response, the church
leaders sent a pre-action
letter to the Scottish Ministers on 15 January, urging them
to re-open churches. They emphasised that the regulations prohibit them from
supporting the material, emotional and spiritual needs in their congregations
and communities.
In the claim, the church
leaders outlined that they fully understand the seriousness of the Covid
pandemic and the difficult decisions the Scottish Government has had to take.
However, the leaders stated that they believe the Scottish Ministers’
have “failed to appreciate that the closure of places of worship is a
disproportionate step, and one which has serious implications for freedom of
religion.”
The
Scottish Ministers responded by rejecting the claim and
declaring that the state should be allowed to “regulate the secular
activities of Churches … for the purposes of protecting public health” and
that churches are compelled to “comply with secular law” and
therefore must remain closed.
This statement conflicts
directly with the long-established and traditional authority Scottish churches
have had over their own affairs, free from state interference. This is
enshrined in the 1592 Act, the 1706 Act for Securing Protestant Religion and
the Church of Scotland Act 1921.
There has been no attempt to
close churches in Scotland since the persecution of the Presbyterian church,
instituted by the Stuart kings, in the 17th century.
Left with no alternative but
to pursue a judicial review, lawyers representing the church leaders lodged the
legal claim for judicial review on 28 January 2021 arguing that the regulations
are in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (Articles 9 and 11)
and the Scottish Constitution.
As part of the legal case,
the church leaders will seek a ‘declarator’ that the closure of churches in
Scotland is unlawful, that church closure regulations must be reversed, and
that a person may lawfully leave their home to attend a place of worship
without fear of prosecution.
In the claim, the church
leaders, “hold that public corporate worship, involving the physical
gathering together of Christians … are fundamental and indispensable aspects of
their religion,” and argue that “in the absence of the
gathered people of God, there is effectively no ‘church’.”
Closures ‘illogical’ says
microbiologist
Scottish Ministers’ insist
they are relying on ‘science’ to justify a number of lockdown measures,
including church closures. However, an expert report, provided as part of the
case by microbiologist, Dr Ian Blenkharn, describes the strategy as ‘illogical’
on a number of levels.
Dr Blenkharn says, for
example, that it is: “illogical to propose that church premises can be
used for blood donor sessions, food banks and other social support activities,
and if required for Covid-19 testing and vaccination activities,” but
not for public worship.
At present, a church building
in Scotland could be used as a vaccination centre, but should the same people
recite the Lord’s Prayer together, they could be prosecuted.
Dr Blenkharn’s report
concludes that he can find “no barriers to the safe opening of churches
for worship. Indeed, there is an overwhelming and unavoidable comparator that
church services present no additional risk of COVID-19 coronavirus infection
than would the many different commercial activities in the manufacturing,
supply and retail sectors etc that are now permitted to operate.”
‘Constitutional issues’
The decision to close
churches in Scotland is out of step, not only with the decision of the English
and Welsh government’s decision to allow churches to remain open under the
current lockdown, but also internationally.
In November 2020, Chancellor
Angela Merkel refused to close churches in Germany due to ‘constitutional
issues’.
Earlier this year a French
high court branded government church closures as unlawful and overturned the
ban, and the Supreme Court of the United States recently allowed churches to
remain open in New York state.
‘A crucial moment’
Rev. Dr William Philip,
leader of The Tron Church in Glasgow,
said: “Criminalising corporate worship is both damaging and dangerous
for Scotland, and we are pleased that this case will be heard in March 2021.
“We must care for people
as whole human beings, and Covid 19 is not the only threat to health and
wellbeing.
“Our congregation of 500
in the heart of Glasgow is diverse in age and background, including some of the
most vulnerable in the city. I have witnessed first-hand huge suffering through
lockdown, not least a huge increase in loneliness, misery and untold damage to
mental health. The worst deprivations from this ban are inflicted on the poorest,
the neediest, the most vulnerable – now excluded from the comfort and
encouragement in life and death only Christian worship can give.
“At a time when we have
been forcefully confronted with the fragility of mortal life, we have allowed
the message of the eternal to be eclipsed entirely by the earthly in the
national consciousness. There is an urgent need for a message of hope and
salvation. This is the calling of the Christian Church – especially in dark and
difficult days: Jesus Christ is the only hope that dispels all fear, death
included.”
Rev. Geoffrey de Bruin,
leader at Christian Revival Church Edinburgh, said: “This is now a crucial moment for the freedom of the
church in Scotland.
“The closure of churches
is a breach of the historic principle of the independence of the church from
the state which is enshrined in the Scottish constitution.
“The state may see church
ministry as parallel to other public gatherings such as cinemas and restaurants,
but believers see church ministry as far more important.
“For Christians, spiritual
health is more important than physical health.
“Churches serve as
lifelines of support to the most vulnerable during the toughest times and we
pray that these important principles and beliefs will be recognised and upheld
by the courts in March.”
Find
out more about Church lockdown
+ Christian Concern,
70 Wimpole Street, London
W1G 8AX, England,
020 7935 1488, Contact
Page
[11] British
Colombia Government Seeking Court Order So Police Can Detain Church-Goers
At least three Fraser Valley
churches are expected to open their doors to parishioners on Sunday, as they
have every week since in-person worship was banned under temporary COVID-19
restrictions announced in November.
Abbotsford’s Immanuel
Covenant, the Free Reformed Church of Chilliwack and Langley’s Riverside
Calvary Chapel have taken the province to court, saying the public health
orders violate constitutional rights.
"If there ever was a
need for churches, really it's now. It's during this very difficult time,” said
lawyer Paul Joffe, who represents the churches.
The case is scheduled to be
heard over two days at the start of March.
In the meantime, provincial
health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is seeking an injunction that would not only
order an end to in-person religious gatherings, but would also give police the
power to detain anyone suspected of intending to attend one.
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-government-seeking-court-order-so-police-can-detain-church-goers-1.5306837
+ Bell Media, 299 Queen Street West,
Toronto, Ontario M5V 2Z5, Canada, Contact
Page
