Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Faith Leaders Back Karbassi's Proposal to Reopen Churches
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
May 21, 2020

Share

Get ready to return indoor church services. A Fresno city councilmember is joining with faith leaders to figure out a way to get churches open ASAP.

District 2 representative Mike Karbassi is asking for a special council meeting. He wants to air a proposal allowing places of worship to reopen under social distancing rules.

On Thursday, Mayor Lee Brand announced an end to Fresno’s COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders effective Tuesday, May 26.

Churches, however, are not permitted to conduct indoor services. Drive-in services, however, are allowed following a legal victory last month by the California and Virginia-based Center for American Liberty.

Life Bridge Community Church

Kevin Foster of Life Bridge Community Church says, “LifeBridge Community Church values the safety and well-being of our congregation and of our great city.”

Foster outlines some of the differences he foresees in a post-pandemic reopening: “New methods such as hand sanitizing stations, reserving a seat in advance, wearing of masks, and contact-less greeting. We will be using ‘air high-fives’ in place of hugs and handshakes.”

Foster says it’s only fair.

“We’re asking that the same consideration that is applied to restaurants and retail stores, in regard to opening, be applied to churches as well,” he said.

Sikh Association of Fresno Gives Thumbs-up

“For centuries, if not longer, religious congregations have played critical roles in providing and supporting social and spiritual services within our communities,” said Gurpreet S. Maan of the Sikh Association of Fresno.

Maan added that there are elements of the Sikh faith that cannot be done online.

As a result, Maan said, “We are seeing a rise in the mental health and commotion in the community.”

Downtown Fresno Church Plans May 31 Reopening

Cornerstone Church Senior Pastor Jim Franklin announced this week that he will welcome his congregation back to his downtown Fresno church on Sunday, May 31.

“These doors, the doors of our churches across our city and across the state, should be, need to be and must be opened,” Franklin told ABC30.

More than 1,200 pastors in California signed a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom this week saying they would reopen May 31.

Attorney Robert Tyler said some pastors represent multiple churches. He expects as many as 3,000 churches across California could have in-person services on May 31.

“This letter was not sent for the purposes of asking for permission,” he said.

The letter came one day after the head of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division told Newsom in a letter that his stay-at-home order discriminates against churches and places an “unfair burden” on them.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno State’s Ag College Is Growing. A New Corporate Sponsor Will Help Them

DON'T MISS

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

DON'T MISS

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

DON'T MISS

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

DON'T MISS

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

DON'T MISS

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

DON'T MISS

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

DON'T MISS

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

UP NEXT

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

UP NEXT

Derek Carr Explains Mysterious Retirement. He Didn’t Want to ‘Just Take the Saints’ Money’

UP NEXT

Fresno Rainbow Pride Marks 35th Year with Saturday Parade and Festival

UP NEXT

New CA Bill Would Streamline Solar Conversion for Dry Farmland

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Fermin Solorzano

UP NEXT

Kings River Conservancy Names New Leader, Plans to Expand Public Access

UP NEXT

Sunnyvale Pitmaster Smokes Fresno BBQ Competition for Golden Ticket to World Championships

UP NEXT

Judge Denies Release in Caleb Quick Killing. Defense Cites Alleged Assaults by Victim

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

15 hours ago

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

15 hours ago

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

16 hours ago

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

16 hours ago

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

16 hours ago

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

16 hours ago

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

18 hours ago

Derek Carr Explains Mysterious Retirement. He Didn’t Want to ‘Just Take the Saints’ Money’

19 hours ago

What Do Valley Leaders Say About Trump’s Threat to Yank High-Speed Rail Funding?

19 hours ago

Were Cuts in Rooftop Solar Payments Legal? CA Supreme Court Hears Arguments

20 hours ago

Fresno State’s Ag College Is Growing. A New Corporate Sponsor Will Help Them

The nonprofit supporting Fresno State’s ag specialty college unveiled its first corporate sponsor Thursday supporting students and tea...

14 hours ago

14 hours ago

Fresno State’s Ag College Is Growing. A New Corporate Sponsor Will Help Them

15 hours ago

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

15 hours ago

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

15 hours ago

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

15 hours ago

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

16 hours ago

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

16 hours ago

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

Webster, GV Wire's Adoptable Pet of the Week, June 5, 2025
16 hours ago

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend