Courts: No Current Order Barring Grace Church From Indoor Worship

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — Grace Community Church scored a temporary victory in their fight for indoor worship. Los Angeles County Superior Court sided with the megachurch Thursday afternoon, stating there was no current court order requiring the church to discontinue Sunday service.

Jenna Ellis, a lawyer representing the church in their ongoing legal battle, joyously received the ruling.

“We are pleased with the outcome today," Ellis said. "Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff correctly found there is no court order prohibiting Grace Community Church from holding indoor services. LA County continues to harass and target Pastor MacArthur. Having failed to get a court order to shut down the church they have sought three times, they’re going to try again by hauling us back into court. Ironically, LA County said in its application for contempt that, ‘Grace Church cannot thumb its nose at the court when decisions don’t go its way,’ yet that’s precisely what LA County is now doing themselves. We will simply continue to defend our client’s constitutionally protected rights because church is essential.”

Thursday morning in court, county attorneys asked that the church be sanctioned as much as $20,000 for violating the county health order. Attorneys for the church requested more evidence as to why indoor worship was prohibited, and the judge scheduled another hearing on Friday for the county to present the evidence.

Grace Community Church and Pastor MacArthur initially sued Los Angeles County and the State of California over shutdown orders in the wake of the coronavirus. The megachurch pointed to large-scale Black Lives Matter protests as evidence that they should be allowed to gather and worship, and said they were being unfairly targeted.

However, numerous health organizations have stated indoor settings, especially those with air conditioning, can facilitate the spread of the virus more easily than open air environments. The CDC cites large gatherings as highest risk for the spread of the coronavirus, and recommends all such events be cancelled to minimize transmission.

Governor Newsom ordered all churches within counties on the state's monitoring list to cease indoor worship on July 13, as COVID-19 cases surged higher than officials had anticipated after beginning to reopen California.

"As a consequence of increased positivity rate, increased hospitalizations and ICUs, based upon the foundation that we laid on utilizing this dimmer switch, today we are announcing additional actions as it relates to our stay-at home order," Newsom said in a press conference at the time of the announcement.

Late Saturday night, the California Court of Appeals announced the church could not gather indoors until both sides could state their case in a September 4 hearing. Despite the ruling, Pastor MacArthur and Grace Community Church held their usual service, calling it "good news" that the church was not following coronavirus safety guidelines.

"The good news is, you're here, you're not distancing, and you're not wearing masks," he said. "And it's also good news that you're not outside, because it's very hot out there. So the Lord knew we needed to be inside and unmasked."

For their part, the county says they're trying to work with Grace Community Church to come together on a solution that works for everyone.

"Meanwhile, the county continues to extend its hand to Grace Community Church with a standing offer to share educational awareness and practical guidance for conducting services outdoors in ways that prioritize the health of their congregation as well as the broader community," the county said.

City News Service and Kenan Draughorne contributed to this report.