Local group looks for clarity and relief from Northern Health on COVID related measures related to worship services

As the holiday season draws closer, a new community organization is looking to push back on the current Northern Health COVID related measures on worship services, with organizers looking for some clarity and consideration from health officials.

Reopen Worship for Prince Rupert, launched their campaign overnight, with a website the destination for those in the community looking to share the message of the importance of spiritual life for residents of the North Coast.

The information portal provides for the view that the current restriction on Worship Services while allowing for other gathering activities such as hockey games and theatre performances to name a few,  is an unfair application of the health measures. 

The site also offers information on how to Understand the health orders, host home worship gatherings and to speak out for the right to Worship.

One of the organizers of the Prince Rupert campaign is Tom Kertes, who notes of the focus for the group as they look for equal treatment with other elements of community activity 

ReopenWorkship.org has launched a series of information and action campaigns to reopen worship services in Prince Rupert. 

Northern Health issued an order on November 30, 2021 that bans worship services in places of worship, despite allowing other activities such as eating at restaurants, drinking at pubs until 10 PM, watching movies, attending live concerts, and viewing hockey games in the arena. ReopenWorship.org considers it unfair and unnecessary to ban church and other worship services. 

Rather than ban worship, the group calls for universal measures such as requiring masks and vaccinations to attend services. Other universal measures include improved ventilation and reduced capacity. Places of worship should be subject to same measures as other public venues. 

 Mr. Kertes  also observes of the opportunity to host home worship services in the community.

“Social gatherings of up to ten other vaccinated guests, plus the occupants of the home, are allowed under the order. People can gather in small groups for shared worship, perhaps by streaming services from their church or temple and viewing in a small group at their home,”

As part of the roll out of the campaign this week, the organization has also noted of the importance of faith during times of challenge, calling on Pastor Diana Edis of St. Paul's Lutheran Church to expand on that theme.

 

“Faith plays an important role in the health of the community. Coming together for worship is an essential expression of faith. Churches and other places of worship should be treated fairly. If people are allowed to eat out, go to hockey games, watch plays or movies, or do other public activities then they should also be allowed to worship at their church or temple.”

 The organization has four key areas of concern over the Health Orders as they are currently in place: 

1. Worship is no different from many of the allowed activities, such as educational events, cultural events, and other indoor gatherings. Worship should therefore be subject to the same restrictions as for similar activities, events, places, and gatherings. 

2. Worship can be done safely through universal public health measures - such as increased ventilation, wearing of masks, and requiring attendees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

3. Worship and other faith activities are essential to the community. They bring communities together and support spiritual health and emotional well-being. Communities of faith rely on worship to maintain their relationship with the divine, to strengthen their communal bonds, and to sustain members for work in the broader community. 

4. The right to worship freely should be cherished and protected. Northern Health is undermining this right by singling out worship services. Other rights of believers are also being curtailed, including our rights to freedom of assembly and of association. Worship should be treated as any other public activity and not singled out.

Among their plans towards delivering their message is a letter writing campaign to be directed to MLA Jennifer Rice's office, to reach out to her for advocacy of their quest with the Health Ministry and Public Health Officials.

Their observations on the rather unusual approach of health measures which allow for some openings such as sports attendance while banning worship services does seem like like a valid point to take to the health officials and politicians for clarification.

However, with a new variant in the form of Omicron on the way and still very much unknown, it will be interesting to follow their efforts to see if they find success in their mission.

You can explore their website further here.

More community notes can be found from our Community page here.