J.C. Church, serves as Lead Pastor of Victory in Truth Ministries based in Bucyrus, and is also the National Director of Ministry Engagement for the Family Research Council. Pastor Church joined a group of one hundred North Central Ohio clergy who want the "Ohio Department of Health Director's Stay at Home Order" to expire on May 1st.

"We are in economic meltdown. We have to keep in mind that nearly seventy-five percent of the deaths attributed to COVID-19 have been to persons over the age of seventy. When the Stay at Home Orders were issued, social ills like the Opioid Crisis never went on lock down," says Pastor Church.

A open letter sent by the one hundred clergy to Governor DeWine thanked him for his "proactive efforts to protect health and safety," and added that they believed the Governor's leadership has been "directed by Almighty GOD."

The open letter also stated, "Unlike other governors, you (DeWine) have respected the First Amendments rights of citizens, notably for those persons of faith."

While the Ohio Governor has set himself apart from other Governors by exempting congregations from the Director's orders and classifying them as essential, the clergy believe extending the orders will not be in the state's best interests.

According to Pastor Church, "Restrictions of constitutional rights by the government during crisis must be temporary and the least burdensome approach to achieve a compelling interest. We cannot forget that a crisis is never a time to destroy constitutional liberty."

The clergy point out that when the initial "Stay at Home Order" was first issued to when the extended orders are set to expire on May 1st will be a period of forty days. The number "forty" in the Bible generally represents the season of trials and testing. 

Barring an unforeseen escalation in cases, the clergy are requesting the Governor consider transitioning Ohio to a new season, by allowing the orders to expire May 1st. The clergy also included a suggested roll-out protocol for congregations to follow in their open letter. 

Another co-signor of the clergy open letter authored the roll-out protocol for churches which has received accolades from a local health department.

"Jill Hartson from Ashland County Health Department has been very sympathetic to the constitutional rights of the faith community and we thought it wise to have dialogue with her," says Pastor John Bouquet of Savannah Bethel Baptist.

Another co-signor of the clergy open letter authored the roll-out protocol for churches which has received accolades from a local health department. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

"Jill Hartson from Ashland County Health Department has been very sympathetic to the constitutional rights of the faith community and we thought it wise to have dialogue with her," says Pastor John Bouquet of Savannah Bethel Baptist.

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