Colorado governor updates public health order, allowing churches to remain open
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Governor Jared Polis has updated a public health order following a KRDO NewsChannel 13 Investigation into a Colorado Springs church that defied the order by continuing to hold services.
The order now says Houses of Worship can remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic if they practice extreme social distancing.
Now the Colorado Springs Fellowship tells KRDO it will keep its doors open while following the new order.
The compliance comes after a KRDO investigation revealed the church remained open despite the governor's order banning gatherings of 10 or more.
"We will comply, but please understand our position. That this is something, church is, for many people their whole life," Vice President of the church board Lamont Banks said. "They come and they get spiritually fed and spiritually talked to and encouraged. Because everybody is going through something different in their lives.
Banks said church leaders never intended to break the rules but wanted to make sure their religious rights were not infringed upon.
He said the church will inform members of social distancing requirements.
"Hold ourselves accountable from the leadership down. Hold ourselves accountable to make sure we do the necessary things that we must to do to keep this a safe place and a refuge for those who come here," Banks explained.
The church leadership also plans to encourage anyone who is concerned about attending services to stay home.
"If you are sick, if you aren't feeling well, stay at home so you don't spread what you have," church board chairman Cliff Stewart said.
The ministry said now more than ever people need to on to their faith.
"You have to take comfort and a higher power and we at Coloorado Springs Fellowship believe God is that higher power," Stewart said.
The Governor's Office released this statement to KRDO on Thursday regarding the public health orders:
"The order is clear and we ask everyone to follow. It's important to remind people that this executive order is the law and voluntary compliance is key to success. Our goal is to save lives and in order to do that, we need to do it together."
