Megachurch launches 'Peaceably Gather' petition for Sunday reopenings

Citing concerns over religious freedom, some evangelical pastors are reopening their churches as soon as this Sunday, despite most Americans wanting continued restrictions on gatherings. 

After state and federal coronavirus measures restricted in-person gatherings, several states including Texas and Georgia have begun reopening non-essential businesses like movie theaters and hair salons with social distancing guidelines like limited capacity. 

Megachurch pastor Brian Gibson of His Churches announced this week that his church would reopen services at three of his four locations across Texas and Kentucky on May 17 and asked other religious leaders to join him for “Peaceably Gather” Sunday. 

“If you’ve got to wait one more week or you’re in a COVID hotspot or something, man, use wisdom, but don’t let the government dictate what you can do with your religious freedom,” Gibson said in a video addressing religious leaders. 

“Peaceably Gather” references the First Amendment of the U.S Constitution which reads “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting… the right of the people peaceably to assemble..."

Only 9 percent of Americans including the majority of evangelicals agree that in-person religious services should be permitted without restrictions, and two-thirds think regulating in-person worship during a pandemic is not a violation of religious freedom, according to a new UChicago Divinity School/AP-NORC poll. 

On May 8, a federal court halted Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s executive order prohibiting mass gatherings until May 20, allowing exemptions for religious gatherings. According to the ruling, “any in-person religious service which adheres to applicable social distancing and hygiene guidelines” will be protected. 

Texas allowed houses of worship to reopen May 1, along with several businesses like movie theaters and bars but with limited capacity. The state has also advised its houses of worship to be creative with online and drive-through worship and if reopening, to take precautions like asking the elderly and vulnerable to stay home and sanitize the building. Many churches are choosing to remain online only for longer.

Like most churches across the country, Gibson’s congregations closed their doors and transitioned to online services as the coronavirus pandemic ramped up domestically. While he believes that at the time virtual services were the prudent course of action, now it has gone on too long, he said. 

After his drive-thru Easter service was shut down by the Health Department, Gibson adopted a new sense of urgency in protecting religious liberties. According to Gibson and other staff members, the church filled Easter eggs with candy while wearing gloves and masks, then set the eggs aside for five days to mitigate the risk of spreading germs. 

During the drive-thru service, people remained in their vehicles and practiced social distancing while distributing eggs. When the Kentucky Health Department showed up to shut down the operation, church volunteers and officials perceived it as a targeted attack.

“The McDonalds has teenagers handing french fries out the window, the Starbucks down the road is passing out lattes… but the church isn’t responsible enough to give a kid an egg,” Gibson said. 

This incident fueled the initiative to persuade religious leaders from all faiths to reopen. The issue at play is not merely a Christian issue, Gibson said, but an important moment for all Americans. 

“It is time for every pastor, every rabbi, every Muslim leader, every religious leader to exercise their First Amendment rights,” Gibson said. “I think you need to do it measured. I think you need to practice social distancing. I think we need to be smart, but I think we need to be constitutional and make a stand. If we lay down our rights now, I fear our children and our grandchildren will grow up in a very different America.” 

In a video calling for churches across the country to sign the Peaceably Assemble petition and re-open their doors, Gibson cited concerns over religious liberties.

“Some governors are calling for up to a year with no religious assembly,” Gibson said. While it was not clear which governors he was referencing, a recent article published by the Geller Report claimed that the Illinois governor, a Democrat, would close churches for a year. The article was later deemed misleading by a fact-checking report in USA Today.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s plan came with the caveat that it “can and will be updated as research and science develop.” Pritzker’s most recent order to allow religious services with 10 or less people with social distancing has survived two lawsuits from churches so far, once in state court and once in a federal court.

First Liberty Institute, a legal organization dedicated solely to religious liberty issues, has announced that it will provide legal representation to any of Gibson’s four churches should they face confrontation with local governments this weekend. According to Gibson, the organization has also pledged to advise religious leaders all across the country on how to reopen safely and navigate legal troubles. 

“If you don’t understand the laws in your municipalities or what you need to do to do this safely and be smart about it… [First Liberty] has pledged resources,” Gibson said. 

As of today, 80 churches across the United States, including congregations from Alaska to California, have signed the petition. 

Jarrod James, lead pastor of Christ Reformed Church in Oklahoma, signed the petition this week. His congregation has been meeting in person since April 19, while restrictions limiting gatherings of more than 10 people were still in place. 

James instructed congregants to park at the Walmart across the street and be bussed to the congregation by church officials in order to avoid the conspicuous appearance of cars parked out front.

“We took the approach that this is all a bunch of bologna and no different from the flu, and we even had a fellowship meal after church,” James said. “Once we learned all the background on ‘Filthy Fauci,’ we’re just really not buying the hype. If we had known at the beginning what we know now, we wouldn’t have closed down at all.” 

While some church leaders who have opened or are on the path to reopening do not regard the virus as a risk, Gibson’s initiative encourages caution and protective measures. 

His Church locations in Owensboro, Ky, Henderson, Ky. and Amarillo, Texas will reopen this weekend. However, the location in Dumas, Texas, which Gibson considers to still be a “COVID hotspot” will remain closed. Church leaders are adopting a “wait and see” method for reopening this location, Gibson said. 

The other three locations will reopen with several protections in place. Due to the perceived impossibility of enforcing social-distancing measures, children’s ministry will not resume in-person services. The sanctuary will follow state-mandated capacity restrictions imposed on restaurants and retail sites, with ushers counting congregants as they enter. Households will sit together with distance between clusters. At the end of the service, instead of a “mad dash to the restaurants,” which would be seen on a typical Sunday, congregants will be released by row, Gibson said.

On top of these measures, a third service format will be introduced at the campuses set to reopen. If congregants are not ready to resume in-person service but are tired of the online-only format, they are welcomed to come to the church parking lot, livestream the service from their vehicles and receive prepackaged communion. 

 “Jesus is both a lion and a lamb,” Gibson said. “Right now, America needs some lions to stand up and roar for the constitution.” 

Liza Vandenboom is a student at The King’s College, an intern at Religion Unplugged, and a religion columnist for the Empire State Tribune.