Fresno church to remain open despite governor orders to shut down indoor services
Cornerstone Church pastor Jim Franklin announced Tuesday evening that his downtown Fresno church will remain open despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mandate to close indoor services in Fresno County and other parts of California due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Making his announcement on social media, Franklin said his church offers people a safe environment to worship, helps them with their mental well being and added that “we’re not going to give up our constitutional right.”
“I believe the church is critical,” Franklin said. “I believe the services we offer are critical.”
Cornerstone, which will offer services Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., has been open since May 31.
The church was closed during the first 2 1/2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic after Newsom ordered churches and nonessential businesses in mid-March to close to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
It has led to contempt by Franklin since, including opposing Newsom’s restrictions to limit services to 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever was lower.
Five months into the pandemic, Franklin made it clear once again that he plans to ignore the governor’s mandate.
“The No. 1 thing as a pastor that I’m concerned about is the welfare of the people in my auditorium — the sheep that I shepherd as a pastor,” Franklin said. “I want to be sure that they are physically safe, that they are spiritually safe, that they are mentally safe.
“And so we want to see if we can do that. And I believe the answer to that is yes. We’ve been proving that over the last several weeks that we have been open.”
As of Tuesday, Fresno County had 8,756 positive cases since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and 91 deaths.
Franklin said his 1,400-seat church has the protocol in place to keep his members safe, encouraging his congregation to practice social distancing and wear masks and not to congregate. And his church is sanitized.
Franklin added that Fresno County has told him that there has yet to be any outbreaks at places of worship.
In addition, Franklin said he believes church services offer comfort and joy, and helps with mental health.
“Right now, when people are looking for hope, church is where they can find hope,” Franklin said. “The needs of the few right now is mental health. We wouldn’t close our hospitals. We wouldn’t close our doctors offices. Why? Because we see those as essential.”
County health leader’s reaction
Fresno County interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra said on Wednesday he agreed that churches provide support for people feeling frustration, anxiety and sadness during the uncertain times of the pandemic, but the state order to close churches is undeniable.
“I know that’s a very difficult situation. ... I think they do provide some mental heath services that do help some people,” he said. “Unfortunately, with the state order saying what it does, that’s going to still hold as a mandate.”
Vohra said he has a meeting planned with faith leaders to discuss what they are allowed to do and how county officials can help churches.
Protests
Franklin further questioned why protests have been allowed but large church gatherings have been targeted for shutdown.
“Right along with our right to worship is our right to assemble — or another way we’d say that is our right to protest,” Franklin said. “If people have the right to protest, why don’t they have the right to gather and worship?”
Franklin went on to address the notion that churches can still hold outdoor services under Newsom’s orders.
“It’s 100-plus degrees right now,” Franklin said. “We’re in the dead heat of summer. And to say we can go outside ... there are many churches that do not have the physical ability to do that even if the weather was right ... it’s not fair. It’s taking away a right. ...
“I believe you’re safer in church — I can say that at Cornerstone with our protocol — than you would be if you went to a big box store or if you went to a restaurant or went to work.”
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 10:12 PM.
