Reverend Staphorst: ‘Churches do not have an exceptional position’ | Inland

The church announced on Saturday that it would allow fewer visitors. There are also fewer psalms in the House of God. A mouth mask is not mandatory. “People are concerned about their health, their business, their job, others have lost loved ones to death in the past. When it becomes known that in a congregation six hundred people go to church while the stadiums remain empty and the catering industry also has to take a big step back, that at least frowns and raises the question: Where is the church is busy with? letter sent in at the Stentor.

The pastor also points out the “large retail chains, hardware stores, concert halls, museums, amusement parks and event halls” that are open. “Many hundreds and sometimes thousands of people still congregate there. In that respect, churches are not in an exceptional position. ”

No dictatorship

“Going to church is a way for those who do so to confess the faith together with others and to listen to the preaching and interpretation of the Word of the Living God. Throughout history, even when it was forbidden in some dictatorships, Christians gathered together to pray with one another and honor and serve God and call for repentance. ”

The scribe of the church in Staphorst, A. Bouwman, cannot indicate exactly how many people can attend the services in the new set-up. According to him, the congregation has adopted the advice of the national bureau of the Restored Reformed Church and the number of visitors “substantially scaled down.”

With regard to singing, the consistory has also followed the advice by reducing the number of psalms at the services. “Everyone present can sing regardless of their age,” says Bouwman. The church has had a report drawn up on the ventilation and air exchange and according to him they more than amply meet the standard. “With the number of people who can now come and sing, the chance of contamination is 0.0 percent,” Bouwman assures.

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