The following is excerpted from “John MacArthur Vows to Continue Church Service,” Reformation Charlotte, Sept. 10, 2020: “The Los Angeles Superior Court issued a preliminary injunction September 10 against Grace Community Church and Pastor John MacArthur, refusing to follow the U.S. and California State constitutional protections for churches. The ruling fails to apply the appropriate constitutional standard of review. The order prohibits the church from ‘conducting, participating in, or attending any indoor worship services’ and also bans outdoor worship unless onerous restrictions are followed in a heavy-handed move against the internationally known preacher and his congregation. MacArthur and Grace Community Church’s attorneys from the Thomas More Society said the judge refused to consider their important separation of powers arguments ‘in any meaningful fashion’ and essentially ‘ducked the issue.’ Special Counsel Jenna Ellis said, ‘Although this is a temporary setback, we will continue to fight for Pastor MacArthur and Grace Community Church’s constitutionally protected right to hold church.’”
Grace Community Church held a packed Sunday morning service on September 13. MacArthur began the service by listing the county’s requirements, which if obeyed would make it impossible for the church to assemble. They include no singing, no hugging, temperature checks, no communion, shortening sermons, and maintaining six feet of social distance at all times everywhere.
(Friday Church News Notes, September 18, 2020, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)