Church members ticketed for attending parking lot church

Parking lot services have become one way for people to attend church services during the COVID-19 outbreak. Worshipers drive to the church parking lot, stay in their cars and tune to a radio station. The services are usually conducted on a stage set up on the parking lot so the members can watch as they listen in their vehicles.

On Tuesday, the City of Greenville passed an ordinance that not only closed all churches to in-person services, it also made it a misdemeanor to hold drive-in services.

“Because of recent COVID-19 cases specifically linked to church gatherings, it is vital that Mississippians not attend in-person church services at any church or other type of facility. Services, weddings, and funerals are leading to greater COVID-19 transmission,” wrote Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons in the ordinance, adding, “Churches are strongly encouraged to hold services via Facebook Live, Zoom, Free Conference Call, and any and all other social media, streaming, and telephonic platforms.”

While the majority of churches are complying with the emergency order, some of Greenville’s pastors decided to hold parking-lot services despite the ordinance. Greenville is enforcing the ban by giving attendees $500 tickets.

A video surfaced Thursday of police ticketing a church member in the parking lot of Temple Baptist Church while the preacher’s voice is heard over the speakers. The officer approached the vehicle and gave the him an opportunity to leave. When he decided to stay, the officer asked for his license and wrote a ticket. The officer was not wearing gloves but was wearing a mask. The church member mentioned that the pen the officer handed him to sign the ticket and the ticket book were possible ways to spread the virus. One online commenter noted, “By enforcing the code the police endangered the person more than just sitting in his car.”

Another video today shows the same type of event with officers threatening to ticket church members in Greenville at another church. “This is going on in Greenville. All these police. King James Bible Baptist Church on April 9th, 2020,” said an obviously upset Pastor Charles E. Hamilton Jr. Turning the camera on himself he said, “Hey children of God, this is real!”

Despite the commotion, no attendees were issued tickets.

The incidents have made national news.

Gov. Tate Reeves weighed in on the topic in a Facebook post Friday saying “If you send police after worshipers trying to social distance, you are going to have Mississippians revolt.”

Earlier this week, Greenville Mayor Simmons held a conference call with the city’s pastors, reports Pen and Pulpit. Of the approximately two-dozen pastors on the call, only four spoke against the ordinance. As of this writing, the ordinance has not been lifted or changed; however, at least some of the tickets have been suspended, and congregants will not have to pay the fine.

Pastor Hamilton said he will continue to defy the ordinance, saying he will hold services on Sunday.

The Alliance Defending Freedom filed the lawsuit Friday on behalf of the Temple Baptist Church.