From August 29th, worshippers at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco will have to produce proof of vaccination before they are permitted to enter the building to attend a service.
From here:
Following the guidance of local public health officials and our Bishop, we will be requiring that everyone 12 years and above will need to show proof of vaccination before entry into Grace Cathedral. Starting Aug 24 for Events and will expand to include all Services starting Aug 29. We have implemented an advanced proof of vaccination form for you to complete and upload an image of your vaccination card.
The Diocese of Long Island is demanding all its clergy be vaccinated. Or else.
Meanwhile, both dioceses are working diligently to expunge Matthew 8:3 (“And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed”) from all the Bibles in its parish churches – the few that still have Bibles, that is. After all, Jesus’ reckless act might encourage others to welcome or even touch the unvaccinated.
Whatever happened to John 6:37 – I will never send away anyone who comes to me?
I don’t disagree with John 6:37. But in Newfoundland and Labrador, when there was no power in the winter due to icy storms, Sunday worship services had to be cancelled. When the indoor temperature falls below 15 degrees, it would be very challenging to welcome God’s people to church.
That’s a different situation. When Churches can’t operate for environmental reasons, everyone is treated the same. This is making distinctions between people on the basis of what they have done or not done, with which I have serious problems.
A “church” that would demand that someone show a vaccine passport before being allowed to attend a service would have no problem requiring that people get 666 tattooed on their right hand or forehead before attending. Whoever is being worshipped at such “churches”, it is not the True and Living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Who is Father, Son, and holy Ghost.
By the ACC’s ideological alignment with the incumbent Federal Regime so by their Mandates shall ye know them; thus today more ‘Prime Ministerial’, un-Constitutional threats of “criminalizing” protesters who do need to avoid all health care settings, but, one has to suspect, do have some useful provocateurs among their number in order to give the Liberal Leader the appearance of fulfilling all righteousness on matters of covid 19 health:
his Regime having failed signally, from October, 2019 re. the Canadian Armed Forces, into 2020-2021 with open borders; CCP exported ppe;
and absent vaccine from May until August, 2020 costing $56 million.
Not to mention the camps his Regime was building for the un-vaccinated:
until the Canadian Military stopped them,
For some reason the Anglican Church in Toronto stopped short of requiring proof of vaccination to attend services. Credit where it’s due. The Church of England has done the same. But, the issue of vaccination for all volunteers that takes affect this Thursday the 30th is another matter entirely.
Either way, people are leaving the church. I know of one donor in my church who has terminated their membership and donation due to the lack of vaccine mandates for all parishioners who attend worship. Since I’m not fully vaccinated I will be prevented from doing my very active onsite roles.
This story has a long way to run and it may not be pretty.
COVID-19 is a developing story; it is not going away anytime soon, whether we like it or not. Perhaps, we need the patience of Job. The Book of Job raises difficult questions for consideration, such as: Does Job fear God only because he expects God to reward him for doing so? Is the faith of devout people self-serving? Why does God permit suffering?, etc. It is interesting to note that God does not answer Job’s questions or charges. Job’s problems evaporate when he realizes the greatness of God. The Book does not set out to answer the problem of suffering but to proclaim a God so great that no answer is needed. Someday, COVID-19 will pass away. Eventually, we will pass away. This world will also pass away. In the meantime, perhaps, we, or at least some of us, will have to endure vaccinations, double-masking and physical distancing, etc.