El Centro Church decides to stay closed despite state approval

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Church has decided to remain closed despite the state and county allowing churches to re-open.

Senior Pastor Terrence D. Sims of Johnson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church says the safety of his congregation comes first.

“Umm there is just not enough known and I would not want to be the one to have to live with having made a decision that was consequential for our elders, those that are older among us, or our younger ones, our children.”

And for churches that are re-opening like Cavalry Chapel in El Centro new rules are in place. Social distancing is a must.

Churches are only allowed to hold 25 percent of building capacity or 100 people whatever number is lower. 

“If you’ve been with us before you know we have quite a few people coming to the sanctuary and they sit real close together but things are going to be different now,” said Pastor Pete Mallinger. 

Pastor Sims says his decision to remain closed came from wanting to protect an already marginalized community.

“We know that it has a greater impact on low-income communities, people of color I would say people of any hue outside of caucasian and it has a greater impact on large part because of those underlying health conditions but we don’t know if there is hereditary gene structure that might also be factors in why it affects the more but because that community around the church is made up of overwhelmingly 70-80 percent community of color."

Sims says they have been live-streaming worship and his congregation has been very receptive.

“I think the work of the church has never been within the four walls of the building it never has been it lives within the people.”

Sims says he will re-open once the congregation feels safe.