Rio Grande Church Gains Mayor’s Support

RIO GRANDE – Pastor Jeff McLeod continues to find a way to hold his drive-in communal worship service in a way that satisfies the restrictions on large gatherings. The pastor wrote to Middle Township Mayor Timothy Donohue May 6, for approval of his social distancing plan. Donohue has no authority to give such approval.
In the exchange, the pastor described a model in which an off-duty volunteer firefighter would supervise vehicles as they enter the church lot from only one entrance point. The cars would be directed to four different rows and parked, so that the vehicles maintain a ten foot distance between side windows. Those in the cars would be from the same family and already living in a common home environment. A radio transmitter would allow the parishioners to hear and participate in the service with their windows closed. No one would be allowed to leave their cars, and no one would be allowed in the church building. Out of car church personnel essential to the service would be limited to less than 10 people and all would maintain social distancing and use PPE.
Donohue responded that the plan sounded “sensible and safe,” but that he had no authority to approve an exception to the state mandated restrictions. He went on to say that, “If it was up to us at the local level, we would allow it to proceed.”
Donohue said he had forwarded the pastor’s request to the chief of police and on to the state attorney general. Absent further direction from the attorney general, a drive-in service of this type would still be in violation of existing restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 individuals.
Donohue indicated that Sen. Michael Testa (R-1st) was also aware of the problem and working “for all our churches at the state level.”
Pastor McLeod said that if he did not see movement on the restrictions regarding church services this week, he would engage in civil disobedience and hold a drive-in service May 17.