DOVER, Del.- Capacity limits announced Tuesday for many indoor venues because of COVID-19 will also affect churches, a development that received a mixed reaction from local pastors and church leaders.
Pastor Andy Stevens at Milford Church of God, a critic of previous restrictions on churches that were the subject of a now-settled federal lawsuit, said he worried about equity for churches because of a 30-percent capacity cap for indoor gatherings at places like churches that is maxed out at 50 people.
"Will casinos be able to be open to more than 50 people or will hundreds of people be able to gamble but you can't worship the Lord beyond 50 people?" he said.
Stevens said a lawyer involved with a settlement agreement to a federal lawsuit challenging previous was waiting to see the actual emergency order from Gov. John Carney (D-Delaware) to see whether they violate the terms of the resolution to the court case.
"I think the settlement that was reached last week with the governor was that we would be treated neutral and so I'm expecting that if it's a 50 cap then that should be for everywhere," he said.
Rev. Derrick Hodge at People's Church of Dover was more receptive of the restrictions and said respecting the limitations during the pandemic would be important not only for the congregation but the community at large.
"Christians believe we are called to think about the wellbeing of the whole peoples, to think about other people than us. It would be the height of selfishness or the height of unfaithfulness to say we're not going to follow these restrictions because we want to do whatever we want to do," he said.
