Godspeak is not special
The Godspeak Calvary Chapel seems to be confused as to the message of what “loving thy neighbor is,” as their behavior during this pandemic has been anything but compassionate to the community.
Godspeak is refusing to do what other congregations of all different religions have decided to do. Due to social distancing measures and the desire to keep their communities safe, churches across the country have transitioned their services into either virtual or outdoor services with masks and social distancing being enforced. When the Islamic Center of Conejo Valley and the Chalice Unitarian Universalist Fellowship had been told by state and local officials that they could be putting their community members at risk performing normal services, they and countless others transitioned to holding services online.
However, not all churches seem to be respecting the sanctity of life and a few have made national news, one of them being the Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks. Yet to former Thousand Oaks Mayor and pastor Rob McCoy, this is not about helping the community. This was an opportunity for him to gain notoriety.
The Godspeak Calvary Chapel has stubbornly refused to move their services outdoors or transition exclusively online. What is even more concerning is the nonexistent social distancing and lack of masks present during the services. There are thousands of people crowded together indoors with no masks. When the county successfully sues the church and the judge finds that Godspeak is violating the law, McCoy and Godspeak do not step down. Let us be clear, this is not an issue about freedom of religion; the government is not denying citizens the right to worship altogether. The vast majority of churches have transitioned completely online, or they have managed to hold small socially distanced meetings with masks on. This is an issue of a politician who has been desperate for attention ever since he lost to Jacqui Irwin for a California State assembly seat in 2014.
Godspeak has many options for holding future services. They can go completely online, they can do a hybrid of online and socially distanced or they can give services outside with mask wearing and social distancing being enforced. For a church that is already broadcasting their services, surely it would not be too much to ask for them to respect the community’s constitutional rights to live free from fear of death and physical harm. And to Rob McCoy, this is your chance to prove that you truly do love the community you once served as a city councilor. For the sake of the community, please do what is right for all of us.
