Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Governor Opens Churches

Governor Tate Reeves announced the opening of churches at his daily Covid-19 briefing.  The press conference is streamed below.




* Governor Reeves issued the following statement on churches.

Today, Governor Tate Reeves released social distancing and sanitation guidelines for in-person worship services to safely resume across Mississippi.

Consulting with Dr. Thomas Dobbs and our state health officials, Governor Reeves developed guidelines for worship leaders and their congregations to join together to practice their faiths while continuing to help protect public health and flatten the curve.

"I’ll just say this as a personal point. My family is likely going to continue worshiping from home for a while. The church is not a building. We can honor our Lord and keep our neighbors safe. You don’t need to rush back. We do want to provide a playbook for how to do it safely, when pastors determine the time is right," said Governor Tate Reeves.

The guidelines include steps to prepare houses of worship, plan for logistics and worship programming, and direct staff and worship leadership on social distancing protocols. You can view the full guidelines for in-person worship services here.

Governor Reeves made the announcement at today's press briefing, which you can view on our Facebook page here.

Churches and places of worship were deemed an essential business or operation and were never instructed to close, though they were encouraged to offer services online and remotely to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 


 




26 comments:

Anonymous said...

No thanks Harry!

Anonymous said...

He dodged the question, but I wouldn’t be expecting sports in the fall with fans in attendance. There is no way to set the stands up to ensure adequate distancing and thousands of screaming people is a recipe for a super-spreading event.

Anonymous said...

Our congregation continued to meet secretly as persecuted Christians have done for two millennia.

Anonymous said...

as he said...he’s not going back for a while...

Anonymous said...

This is such partisan bulls!t. Popeyes is WAWWWAAAAYYYY better and everyone knows it.

Anonymous said...

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

Anonymous said...

2000 idiots coughing on each other at Wal Mart, but a small Church congregation can't meet to worship while following "guidelines" ?



Anonymous said...

What guidelines that the governor has proposed would stop a small church congregation from meeting? The only thing I see is following the 6-foot distance between families if the small church is packed with congregants.

Of course there are some optional things that are being recommended against like having a choir, sharing a cup during communion, don't pass an offering plate, etc., none of which would prevent you from worshiping whatever deity you choose.

Anonymous said...

Regardless of one's view of church, this should make you queasy. Governors opening/closing churches, and restricting assemblies of people in groups. Mayors who regulate legal gun usage. Social media deleting posts/videos against their preferred norms.

The US Constitution is being shredded.

Anonymous said...

955 - either you have not kept up with facts, or you just like to stir up s×*t that doesn't exist.

Reeves has said from Day 1 that he wasn't closing churches, that he didn't have the legal constitutional authority to close churches; but that he strongly recommended to the leaders of churches throughout the state to consider modifying their services in a manner consistent with guidelines for other gatherings.

He left the decision up to the individual churches because in his opinion the government can't regulate the practice of religion.

Now your issue with the possession of a firearm and the Mayor of the City of Jackson is another story altogether - he either truly doesn't understand his lack of authority to try to restrict such an action, or doesn't care. Or more probable - Both.

Anonymous said...

@ 8:22
Again, it's simple... if your not comfortable with it stay at home. The states that are opened are experiencing major drop in COVID cases and are doing much better than experts anticipated. Just stay home if your worried. I've never seen a group of people want to oppress others bc they aren't comfortable with it. Unreal.

Anonymous said...

Churches are one of the best ways to spread the virus and have fatalities:

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6920e2.htm?s_cid=mm6920e2_w

Pray people don't go.

Anonymous said...

I would have put this guideline on page 1, not buried down in page 4, along with the restriction to 50% access:
"MITIGATE EXPOSURE BY IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES –
STAY AT LEAST 6 FEET FROM PEOPLE NOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, DO NOT
HUG OR SHAKE HANDS, AND FOLLOW OTHER CDC GUIDELINES FOR SOCIAL
DISTANCING".

Anonymous said...

9:55pm Best post ever.

Liquor stores are essential? Churches not? Unbelievable that U.S. citizens just rolled over and did what the totalitarians told them to. Hopefully they won't march en masse right into gas chambers if directed to do so.

Cynical Sam said...

The governor didn't open churchs; our Constitution did that. Tater Tot doesn't want to do anything contrary to what Trump suggests so as not to lose his support in the future.

Anonymous said...

Tate had a degree from Millsaps, its easy street from here on out.

Anonymous said...

all joking aside- when you gather please do not sing as a congregation or have a choir. it’s been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that if someone is positive (and not know it) and they sing, the virus is contained in droplets that can spray out 12 ft from their mouth and linger in the air for two hours. singing is done with more “force” and unless you have an N95 mask on while singing, the droplets propel...

Anonymous said...

@8:39 You can't use facts when dealing with religion. A lot of these people believe God is going to protect them from the virus so it is their duty to continue as if nothing has changed. And no, I'm not being snarky. The church my wife attends has a music minister who is convinced that vigorous singing is a requirement to show their devotion and to cut it back shows doubt that God is looking out for them. You can't get through to people like that no matter how many facts you show them.

Anonymous said...

@8:39am Please stop promoting fear....and start promoting freedom as the Constitution dictates.

cholly said...

3:04 reading is fundamental. 9:55 never mentioned Tater, he said governors. You better believe we have some governors in the US that have closed churches and other freedoms of assembly in this post-constitutional world.

As 3:04 agreed, Lumumba styled nuts are issuing edits on legal gun use. The social media assault on free speech is chilling.

Anonymous said...

If churches were never closed, why are these guidelines being issued NOW. And why do the guidelines refer to "resuming" in-person worship and beginning with a "phased approach". It's just political BS to say churches were not closed. I know of no minister who believed they were free to hold worship services, and if Tate is just trying to say "It wasn't me," then shame on him. Furthermore, even if you believe that any of these "guidelines" are beneficial--I don't, other than that vulnerable persons should not attend--imposing or attempting to impose this type of regulation on churches IS an effort to limit and regulate religious freedom. But hey, never let a crisis go to waste, right Tate.

Anonymous said...

It is of great concern to me that our Governor doesn't feel that he and his family need to attend church. There is a HUGE difference in having church at home and having church AT CHURCH. no one should ever be allowed to dictate when I can go to my chosen house of worship or not - neither should someone who claims to be a Christian, discourage others from attending church services. If Governor Reeves doesn't put God a the top, our State is in serious trouble.

And I am not "holier than thou" or whatever. But most government officials who claim to be Christian OR are Christian attend church with their families. So don't go to Walmart, or Whole Foods or ANYWHERE if you cannot attend church. That is my thoughts and my opinion - but we all know what they say about that.

Let the negative replies to my comment begin. I don't care.

oh and btw - i voted for Tate...even knowing what I know. So don't start with that junk.

Thanks,
A concerned Citizen

Anonymous said...

10:46. ever watch tates church broadcast? they focus on him when he's there..which isnt much..

Anonymous said...

I am a Christian and I don't attend church.

If you are "judging" just how Christian a person is by their church attendance, I think you need to reconsider your own relationship with God.

The building is not the church and the church isn't Christianity.

God is not going to protect you from the spread of the virus just because you walked into a building.

Anonymous said...

If your preacher or priest or pastor doesn't care enough for his " flock" to arrange to preach outdoors or by video. You might be following a charlatan.

Jesus didn't have a building. He also said Peter would be " the rock", not go find rocks to build temples to Him. Wouldn't it be awful if Jesus meant to rely on good shepherds of his flock instead of more temples?

And, if you can't find ways to worship and be inspired without a choir to entertain you or passing the plate especially in this beautiful spring we're having, you might not be much of a believer.

Anonymous said...

I watch the Galloway Church broadcast just to see if Tate is there.

I saw him one time.

He did say he wasn't going back.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.