The Northwest Bible Baptist Church opted not to resume Sunday services this past weekend after the Kane County state’s attorney notified the Elgin church he would be enforcing the governor’s stay-at-home order.
Church officials had announced earlier this month that they intended to resume services on May 17 despite the state order prohibiting religious gatherings of more than 10 people.
State’s Attorney Joe McMahon sent a letter to the 9N889 Nesler Road church informing them he would enforce Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order, an action upheld by court rulings against two other churches that chose to violate it.
“If a conflict occurs, this office is prepared to carry out its statutory duties and move to enforce compliance with the executive orders,” McMahon wrote.
Pastor Keith Gomez, in a message he posted on Facebook Friday, told congregation members he had “absolute disdain and hatred” for the postponement but felt he had no other choice than to cancel the Sunday services.
“Their willingness to enforce Governor Pritzker’s illegal mandate against the local church is mind-blowing, and it is obvious that the forces against the church have eclipsed the gravity of this pandemic,” Gomez said in his post.
Jeremy Dys, the attorney representing the church, responded Saturday to McMahon’s warning.
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“The arrival of your letter less than 48 hours before (the church) was to resume services is deeply disappointing,” Dys said. “Our client took the extraordinary measure to inform you, Governor Pritzker and (Kane County) Sheriff (Ron) Hain of (the church’s) intentions two weeks ago, inviting you to discuss this issue with us and our client by May 8, 2020.
“In that time, you did not respond, Sheriff Hain informed our client (and the press) that he would not initiate enforcement against (the church) absent a court order, and Governor Pritzker stopped short of suggesting he would seek to enforce his executive order(s) against NWBBC,” Dys said.
Church officials had said the services would be conducted with safety measures in place, including mandatory mask usage, reduced seating, temperature checks and a request that seniors stay home and watch the services online.
In his letter, McMahon said he appreciated the “number of laudable steps” the church planned to take.
Gomez said it was best to postpone Sunday’s services so they could “achieve a greater long-term victory.” A “plan is in place” to pursue legal action and church officials will decide this week if they are going to pursue it, he said in his Facebook post.
“All along, we have said that we want to win this war to protect our religious liberty, to establish a precedent so that these illegal actions will never be taken against our churches again,” Gomez said.