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One could have guessed that we were heading towards such an extreme situation since, to remain alone in the area of Christianity and its multitude of legally derived and recognized churches and forms of worship, a growing protest began to emerge. all the more clearly against the measures that governments have decided in an attempt – even desperate – to stop the spread of the pandemic, closing what doctors had certainly identified as foci of community awareness. Among these, we know, it is also about religious ceremonies in closed spaces, a decision that has provoked multiple protests, in more or less explicit forms and with potential for violence and which could be expanded or used for exploitation. politics by extremist forces. But, in principle, the heads of Christian churches have sent – at least so far – fairly calm messages, which seem to fully respect the fundamental principles of the secular state.
The question was how long they would resist within the limits of logic and not be tempted by the games outside the church, which burned the streets of the great Western metropolises in violent and animated demonstrations by neo-anarchist groups against the rules of quarantine.
Here is the first clear sign that it could not last long and that the authority of the state is legally contested: for the first time, 71 churches and Christian denominations in England are suing the government of His Grace and head of the Anglican cult for decisions of limitation of the rights of believers due to a pandemic. Specifically, the immediate cancellation of the new restrictions announced on October 31st and which began to apply from Thursday November 5th and which will remain in force until December 2nd. You can consult them here, and in section 5 you will find the specification of the restrictions that apply to churches that will remain closed unless they are used for funerals, for video / audio broadcasting of services, childcare or when they are part of a school, offering essential public services on a voluntary basis, such as food collection or blood donation, other activities such as organizing support groups for certain situations.
Read the restrictions and you will see that, in principle, they are practically the same everywhere in Europe. So, what is the problem? From my point of view, the key question raised by representatives of the Christian Churches is less about the present nature of the restrictions than the possibility they have – and will use – of returning as an important influencer, with recognized power, to ordering the course of society. and in what has been until now, in the modern age, the capacity of the secular government to make decisions and implement them.
I do not know the real power of the signatories of the protest call to mobilize the masses of believers in England (plus Wales, where we have a similar call), but under certain conditions of significant social tensions as announced in the post-BREXIT chaos, it is not it is impossible to believe that this dimension could very easily be added to the sources of great unrest. Here are the signatories of the solemn appeal to the government:
1. Rev. Ade Omooba MBE, Co-Chair, National Church Leaders Forum – NCLF, A Black Christian Voice
2. Dr David Muir, Co-Chair, National Church Leaders Forum – NCLF, A Black Christian Voice
3. Pastor Dr Kenny Ademosu, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
4. Pastor Dr Dele Adewumi, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
5. Pastor Dr Ayo Akinsanya, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
6. Pastor Yemi Akinwande, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
7. Pastor Paul Akowe, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
8. Pastor Oliver Allmand-Smith, Trinity Grace Church
9. Rev. Derek Andrews, Pastor, The Presence Of God Ministries
10. Dr. Gavin Ashenden, former chaplain to the queen, former Anglican bishop
11. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Senior Pastor, Kingsway International Christian Center – KICC
12. Pastor Dr. Jonathan Bayes, UK Director, Carey Outreach Ministries
13. Bishop Lovel Bent, Presiding Bishop, Connections Trust
14. Paul Brown-Ruling Elder, Sheffield Presbyterian Church
15. Richard Buckle – Elder, Starbeck Mission Church
16. Pastor Stephen Casey, Speke Baptist Church (FIEC)
17. Rev. Ian Christensen, AoG UK, Senior Minister, New Life Christian Center International
18. Rev. Will Cockram, Cuckfield Baptist Church
19. Pastor Benjamin Conway, Tree of Life Church UK
20. Dr Paul Corney, Immanuel Presbyterian Church
21. Father Mark Crowther-Alwyn, St Giles Parish Church
22. George Curry, Elswick Parish Church
23. Peter Davies, Elder, Treboeth Gospel Hall
24. Chris Demetriou, senior pastor, Cornerstone
25. Pastor Dr Chima Dioka, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
26. Nick Donnelly, Dukinfield Congregation Church
27. Professor John Durodola, National President, Fellowship of Nigerian Christians (OFNC)
28. Pastor Dr Victor Ebenuwa, Deeper Christian Life Ministry Yorkshire Regional Headquarters (Leeds)
29. Rev Edward Evans, Westgate Evangelical Chapel
30. Pastor Dr Funso Fabiyi, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
31. Rev. Dr Ian Farley, St John’s Church at Buckhurst Hill
32. Darrin Gilchrist, Itinerant Minister
33. Rev. Asif Gill, Senior Leader, Ecclesia International
34. Dennis Greenidge, senior pastor, Worldwide Mission Fellowship
35. Pastor Andrew Grimshaw, Grace Life Church – Manchester
36. Rev. Alex Gyasi MBE, Convener & Senior Pastor, Kingdom Culture Alliance and Highway of Holiness.
37. Rev. Dr David Hathaway DD, President, Eurovision Mission to Europe.
38. Rev. Nathan Hilton, Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church
39. Rev. Jon Hobbs, Grace Church Haywards Heath
40. Rev. Richard Holst, Christ Church Presbyterian, Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
41. Pastor Aaron Jarvis, Londonderry Baptist Church
42. Rev. Matthew Jolley, Bury St Edmunds Presbyterian Church
43. Rev. Joshua D. Jones, Therfield Chapel
44. Pastor Thabo Marais, Senior Pastor, Christian Revival Church London
45. Canon Yaqub Masih MBE, Secretary General, British Asian Christians; General Secretary and Founder, New Horizons
46. Rev. Douglas McCallum, Cambridge Presbyterian Church
47. Stephen Metcalfe, Elder, Starbeck Mission
48. Rev. Dr Peter Naylor, Immanuel Presbyterian Church
49. Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, President, Oxford Center for Training, Research, Advocacy and Dialogue – OXTRAD
50. Graham Nichols, pastor of Christ Church Haywards Heath and director of Affinity
51. Rev. Dr Brad Norman, Salvation for the Nations Intl. Churches
52. Pastor Michael Ogunkanmi, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
53. Pastor Dr Samuel Ohiomokhare, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
54. Pastor Sunday Okenwa, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
55. Chris Owen (retired Baptist minister) and Heather Owen (Christian counselor)
56. Pastor Frank Oyibo, Deeper Christian Life Ministry UK
57. Pastor George Platt, Highgate Road Chapel
58. Pastors John and Sally Quintanilla, Christian Faith Church, Coventry
59. Rev. Dr. Matthew PW Roberts, Minister, Trinity Church York International Presbyterian Church
60. Rev. Dr. Peter Sanlon, Emmanuel Anglican Church,
61. Rev. Dr William M. Schweitzer, Presbyterian Church of All Saints
62. Felipe Sediles, Chapel of Victory, Hamble
63. Pastor Paul Song, London Shepherd Church
64. Pastor Kola Taiwo, Senior Pastor, New Wine Church
65. Rev. Clyde Thomas, Victory Church, Cwmbran
66. Rev Melvin Tinker, Director of Theology, The Christ Church Network
67. Pastor Goddey Wariboko, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, UK
68. Rev. Keith Waters, New Connexions Church, Ely
69. Bishop Alfred Williams BA (Hons), LLB (Hons), LLM (Inter. Business Law), MCIArb. Presiding Bishop, Christ Faith Tabernacle International Churches
70. Rev. Josh Williamson, Newquay Reformed Baptist Church
71. Rev. Benjamin Wontrop
But there is something else.
Read the letter from the law firm representing the group of 71 indignant clergymen and, to understand why the matter could start to burn elsewhere, see the argument used and how the provisions of the legislation promoted by the European Court of Human Rights (which however the British will no longer apply it post-BREXIT) which speaks of “autonomy of the Churches”. A discussion could open up that would do a lot of harm if the pandemic now evolves into the same tragic parameters and governments will have to extend very tough quarantine measures during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Will the Church put itself first in the resistance movement against a government that will impose quarantine during the holidays or, on the contrary, will it say that Caesar should be given what he deserves and that the laws and regulations in force must be obeyed? Difficult decision and, in fact, it is better not to know.
But if he looked at us, what should be done?
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