Note: Since this article was published, a federal court in Kentucky drew the line at drive-in services; and, you can read more about that case here.

As Christians celebrate Good Friday and church leaders make final preparations for virtual Easter services, a novel question has developed over whether or not churches should be allowed to hold drive-in church services.

For example, the mayor of Louisville has banned such services, stating: “”This is not the time to put large numbers of people in the same space. That would just create a tinder box for the virus. It creates way too many opportunities for people to contract the disease.” And officials, from Wilmington, North Carolina (note: this directive was later rescinded), to Los Angeles, California, have issued similar directives. Further, a video circulated yesterday showing the police in Greenville, Mississippi, entering a church parking lot during a drive-in service and issuing $500 tickets to all of the attendees.

In contrast, other officials such as Governor Reynolds in Iowa and Governor Holcomb in Indiana have issued specific guidance allowing such services with some common sense restrictions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Before you read the following, please know that I have encouraged and will encourage churches to temporarily cancel traditional in-person gatherings out of concern for their neighbors and in cooperation with governing authorities. So, here’s the question: should church leaders dedicated to showing the love of Christ to their neighbors, respecting civil authority and preserving religious liberty draw the line at drive-in church? Here are three thoughts, which can all be true at the same time:

#1 Government Officials Are Focused on the Virus

Perhaps there is a government official somewhere sitting in an evil lair beneath a government building thinking (in a maniacal tone), “Hahaha, I am going to use this global pandemic to oppress people of faith.” But, most if not all government officials are primarily focused on trying to flatten the curve so we can switch the economy back on. And, like church leaders, they are leading through their first pandemic. Further (and this is especially true for local officials like the health department official I spoke to yesterday), the flurry of often vague stay-at-home orders and the interplay of state orders and CDC guidelines have left serious questions about how best to keep a community safe. That said, James Madison once defined constitutional rights as “parchment barriers,” denoting the fact that these rights easily fade and can be easily torn. So, it is important to raise concerns about religious liberty even when and perhaps especially when government officials are primarily focused on other issues, like stopping a pandemic.

#2 Drive-In Church is Different than an In-Person Worship Service

Just call me “Captain Obvious.” But, if these services are held with some basic safeguards, they are little different than families sitting together in their living rooms. For example, the safeguards from the Iowa “Guidance on ‘Drive-in’ Worship” include: (1) All persons attending the service must drive up in an enclosed vehicle and remain in that same vehicle during the entire service. Individuals cannot get out of their vehicle during the service for any reason. (2) All vehicle windows, sunroofs, and convertible tops must remain closed during the entire service. (3) No more than 10 people may be in a single vehicle. People in a single vehicle should be limited to members of the same household who have already been in close contact with each other and are not sick. (4) Food, beverages, communion, or other materials should not be distributed before, after, or as part of the service. (5) Offering should not be collected by ushers going vehicle-to-vehicle or other method that requires in-person interaction. If these guidelines are observed, then there is little chance that such services will spread the virus. A good comparison for this is the parking lot at Wal-mart. I have not seen (yet) a limit on the number of cars that can park at Wal-mart as long as shoppers maintain social distancing. That said, government officials are concerned that individuals that participate in drive-in services will not follow these guidelines (and will cite this as the reason for prohibiting these meetings), and church leaders should pay special attention to this. For the legal analysis that applies in this scenario, see this article. On to #3.

#3 Daniel is a Great Example of How to Respond

After Daniel’s exile to Babylon, the Old Testament prophet and statesman faced a dilemma: should he eat the “king’s meat,” which included food that violated Jewish dietary laws? As you know, he purposed in his heart not to violate Biblical commands about his diet. So, given that stand on principle, did he walk up to the government official overseeing the program, stick his finger in his face, and flat-out tell him he was not eating the king’s meat? No. Instead, Daniel personally approaching the government official (who he had a previous relationship with), had a conversation with him and ultimately won a religious accommodation (Daniel 1:8-16). For those pastors that feel led to hold these services but are facing government bans, now is a good opportunity to reach out to government officials with a respectful request for an accommodation. If this does not work, you could seek further redress from a court. But, pastors should carefully weigh whether litigation at this moment does more long-term harm than good for religious liberty.

In conclusion, should we should draw the line at drive-in church? Yes, in the sense that pastors that have previously complied without comment to temporary cancellations, should (if they feel led) raise the issue with local or state authorities and respectfully request an accommodation. If government concerns about spreading the virus can be addressed with some common sense measures, churches should, in my opinion, be allowed to hold drive-in services.

P.S. I went first and shared my opinion. What’s yours? Will you respectfully share your opinion in the comments or send us an email at info@goodcitizen.us?

This article is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is being provided to church and ministry leaders with the understanding that The Good Citizen Project is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, tax, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Laws vary by jurisdiction, and the specific application of laws to particular facts requires the advice of an attorney.