On March 23, Jennifer Bailer, the Butler County health commissioner, sent the church a letter noting her office had received numerous complaints from the surrounding community about the continuation of large services on Sunday and Wednesdays.
Bailer noted that while her office understands the church is exempt from state-issued orders barring mass gatherings, Butler County public health officials highly encouraged Solid Rock Church to discontinue large services and practice social distancing.
“Bringing together a large number of people during a pandemic increases the pace at which the virus spreads, overwhelming our hospital systems, posing a significant risk to members within the congregation,” Bailer’s letter said. “A majority of the religious institutions in Ohio has taken the strong stance of eliminating in-person services while continuing to meet their congregations’ spiritual fulfillment through digital sermons.”
Solid Rock Church also broadcasts its services live on its website.
Many churches in Ohio have heeded the state’s “Stay at Home” and other public health orders to prevent the community spread of COVID-19 through mass gatherings such as worship services.
The Butler County Health District issued the letter because the Warren County church, located at 903 Union Road, is within the Monroe city limits, and the city is served by the Butler County Health Department.
The church issued a statement saying, “As Christians we are charged by Jesus Christ to obey the laws of our land. Therefore, if the laws of our nation should ever change with respect to our First Amendment right to assemble, thereby restricting us from having our church doors open, we will willingly comply.
“If there has ever been a time in the history of our world when we all need God’s help, it is now. For that reason, we believe that the doors of Solid Rock Church should remain open. It is in these times of crisis that the church should play a critical role as a place of refuge … A place where anyone can come to pray, to worship, and to find healing and hope.”
In an email sent to Monroe City Council members last week, City Manager Bill Brock said the city received several calls and social media posts about the church being open.
“Religious freedoms are constitutional rights,” Brock wrote. “While this is a question for legal counsel, my impression would be that we would not be able to enact legislation that would prohibit such gatherings and I would imagine that it is because of this legal challenge that the Governor has not done so thus far.”
Last week, one resident sent Monroe City Council an email complaining about Solid Rock Church “operating at full capacity before and after the executive orders were issued.”
“They have taken to gloating that their First Amendment rights protect them. While religious entities are protected under essential businesses, they are most certainly in violation of the maximum number we of people in a space. Please, for the sake of public health, for the sake of our lives, do something about this.”
For example, the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati in West Chester Twp. is live-streaming its Friday worship service via YouTube as members pray from home.
“It’s not the same as being at the Islamic Center,” said Noor Mustafa of the center. “But it’s a way for our community to feel we’re together.”
Tri-County Assembly Church of God in Fairfield is also using YouTube and Facebook to live-stream its Sunday services as in-person services at the church are cancelled.
The Roman Catholic bishops in Ohio have canceled Sunday Masses and other public celebrations of the liturgy through Easter. Some parishes are celebrating Mass on their parish YouTube channel and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is also live-streaming Mass every day on Facebook and YouTube.
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