They had church at Calvary Baptist in Baltimore County, Maryland on Sunday.
Pastor Stacey Shiflett made sure the congregation practiced social distancing guidelines and those attending signed waivers of liability making sure they understood the severity of the virus. Their website is filled with helpful information.
By all accounts it was a good day – until the following day when the church received a threatening letter from the Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services.
“Calvary Baptist Church is hereby ordered to cease and desist from holding further gatherings in contravention of Executive Order 2020-005,” the letter read.
The health department said that the Christians were free to worship online, but not in person and doing so would violate local ordinances.
“This letter is a warning that Calvary Baptist Church could be subject to a fine of up to $5,000 should the church again hold any services that violate Executive Order 2020-005,” the letter stated.
Pastor Shiflett addressed the issue during a Facebook video – calling the letter “intimidating.”
“In their opinion, watching a baseball game video in your basement is the same as going to one,” the pastor said.
The pastor pointed out that they are simply not satisfied with doing church by teleconferencing or by zoom.
“We want to go back to church the way God intended, the way our Constitution intended,” the pastor said.