TACOMA, Wash. — At a “drive-in Easter service,” OURCHURCH 253 had planned to follow social distancing guidelines. Churchgoers would have stayed in their cars and listened to the sermon on the radio.
But that's not going to happen, after OURCHURCH 253’s drive in service was canceled. Like many churches this Easter Sunday, they will have to adjust to new rules meant to slow the spread of coronavirus.
“We thought like many churches around the country that doing a drive-in would be a safe, sane, common sense way of dealing with it,” said Senior Pastor Dean Curry.
Drive-in religious services are not allowed under the governor's stay at home proclamation. The church had planned to hold the service outside Washington state's jurisdiction, in the parking lot of the Emerald Queen Casino, owned by the Puyallup Tribe.
But the tribe canceled the event, said Curry, who blamed the governor's guidelines.
“I think it’s prejudicial against people of faith. Apparently, you can stand in line around a shopping center with a full parking lot on Good Friday, but if I wanted to have a service today, I would be prohibited,” Curry said.
Michael Thompson, communications director of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians told KING 5 that the cancellation of the service was a mutual decision with the church, in consideration of people's health. Thompson said there was no intervention by the governor.
The the drive-in's cancellation comes as many churches turn to online services ahead of Easter Sunday.
For instance, Champions Centre Church, which has multiple locations in Washington, is now only doing services online.
Lead Pastor Kevin Gerald went from preaching to 2,000 people to preaching to an empty room.
“So right now, I’m speaking out into an empty dark auditorium where there’s just a couple of camera people there. So, it’s different,” Gerald said.
The online format pushes for more focus on faith, according to Gerald, but he adds the governor should do more to allow for freedom of religion.
“I expect that people are going to have more uninterrupted opportunity to focus on the meaning of Easter and what it really means to them and be with their families,” he said. “But it would a make it a lot easier for individuals and people if we knew, they knew, what I am doing is something that is not violating the laws of our land, or what our governor is asking us to do.”
Curry believes the cancellation won’t stop the celebration of Easter.
“Thankfully no matter what the government does we get to worship wherever we’re at and I hold that in my heart, and I hope everyone does,” Curry said.