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Pastor Larry Maddox studied the city's restrictions on public gatheringsdue to the novel coronavirus and in responsemoved his Sunday worship outside to comply.
It didn't take long for at least one neighbor to call the police about the public gatheringand then notify the News-Leader.
Did the pastor break the law?
He doesn't think so, and I can't tell.
Clarification will be needed soon.Easter and its tradition of outdoor sunrise services is right around the corner— April 12.
Here's what Clay Goddard, director of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department said Tuesday when asked directly about Maddox's decision:
"It is a big distinction in my mind between going for a walk with my spouse and my dog versus congregating together. It is a tough issue. I can understand that people in times like this need their faith. I certainly don't discourage that.
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"But I am also realistic in realizing that when we get together it is hard for us to remain 6 feet apart. So my advice to the community is let's find alternatives to that using technology.
"Let's find other ways that we can stay connected through our faith together. We have opportunities that they did not have in 1918 during the Spanish Flu. We have incredible technology that we can use."
Maddox, in his 60s, 20 years ago founded New Growth Ministries in north Springfield.
It's a small stone church at 1375 N. Marion Ave.— at the intersection of Marion and West Lynn.
It would be easy for me to condemn Maddox.The church I attend and so many others have weighed thisdecision whether to continue to meet in person — indoors or outdoors — and have decided not to risk the lives of parishioners, particularly those old and infirm.
Flock needs spiritualsupport
Maddox came to a different conclusion— one that would look far less benign should we discover that one of his flock caught the disease on Sunday at church.
"With all that is happening and all of the fear of coronavirus, people are in need of spiritual and emotional comfort," he tells me.
"We needed to figure out a way to stay in compliance," he says. "Let's do what we need to do for the people and for the Lord."
Goddard also said:
"We are not asking that you have to do this forever. We are asking for short-term sacrifice so that in the long term we can get out of this quicker and get back to living our lives.
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"I am not somebody that wants to tell people that they can't get together or practice their faith. But realistically, if we are going to get ahead of this thing, we have to make sacrifices.
"I have told the stories of my mother. She has been at church her entire life. Barely ever missed a Sunday. She has missed the last three. She is doing that because she realizes that maybe a little bit of personal sacrifice is important to get us through this.
"It has not been easy. It has been tough on her.
"We have regular conversations about it. Let's find ways we can do those sacrifices. A little bit of short-term pain can pay benefits for this community in the long run and get us through this difficult situation faster."
In his Sunday sermon, Maddox tells me,he talked about the pandemic.
He preached that we should be casting our eyes on God "because he cares for you."
He tells me he doesn't know how many people attended the outdoor service. In large part, that'sbecause many attended in their vehicles.The church has a large side lot with trees, grass and gravel.
Others pulled out chairs and sat at least 6 feet apart in the shade and balmy weather.
Typically, pre-virus, 35 to 40 people attend the service.
He acknowledges that the number definitely was more than 10 on Sunday.
Springfield Mayor Ken McClure declared a state of emergency that began March 26 for 30 days. It ends at 11:59 p.m. April 24.
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It prohibits any public gathering of 10 or more people except for day care facilities and other daily operations deemed essential.
The ordinance allows "outdoor activity, provided the individuals comply with Physical Distancing Requirements as defined herein, such as, by way of example and without limitation, biking, walking, hiking, or running."
Here's the clause that exempts churches:
"Religious activity to support distance and/or virtual services provided fewer than 10 persons are in attendance."
It seems that the city's intent was for worship services to move online, not outdoors.
Police spokeswoman Jasmine Bailey confirmed that an officer responded to a complaint about the worship service and that no citation was issued.
The officer did note, she says,that "attendees were outside and several feet apart."
In general, Bailey says, businesses are complying with the stay-at-home-order to close.
This is what Chief Paul Williams tweeted Monday:
These are the views of News-Leader columnist Steve Pokin, who has been at the paper eight years, and overhis career has coveredeverythingfrom courts and cops to features and fitness. He can be reached at 417-836-1253, spokin@gannett.com, on Twitter @stevepokinNL or by mail at 651 Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65806.
