Updated: COVID rules partly eased for churches in WA state. For weddings and funerals too

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to more accurately reflect Washington state changes for indoor church services.

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Washington state has eased part of its COVID restrictions on indoor church services following a federal appeals court decision.

Indoor attendance must still be limited to 25% of a church’s capacity but the maximum limit of 200 people is now recommended rather than required.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s office made the change after a ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in a Nevada lawsuit.

The state still is recommending church service attendance indoors remain the smallest number possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Other state COVID restrictions such as social distancing and mask wearing remain in place for churches.

There are no limits on the number who can attend outdoor services, though the state continues to recommend a maximum of 200.

In the appellate court’s ruling last week, the court sided with Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley in its suit against Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and the state over restrictions limiting religious gatherings to 50 people.

In a letter to the court, the church pointed to casinos being able to operate at 25 percent capacity with no numerical limit — with the potential of serving thousands at a time.

“It’s clear that Nevada prefers commerce over religion,” said the brief.

The three-judge panel responded by referring to a Supreme Court ruling in November that compelled it to reverse the lower court’s denial of an injunction barring enforcement of attendance restrictions.

In a Supreme Court case, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and two Orthodox Jewish synagogues sued to block a New York order restricting attendance in worship services.

“The court has finally made it clear that the government has a duty to respect the First Amendment and it can’t treat churches like second-classes citizens,” said Garry Leist senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley Garry in a Facebook video.

Singing, weddings, funerals

Inslee’s announcement this week still restricts indoor singing by congregations and and choirs, and emphasizes social distancing between family groups, as well as wearing face coverings.

Solo performers are allowed at services, as long as face coverings are worn or removed only when playing an instrument. Soloists and congregations are permitted to sing with masks at outdoor services.

The music guidelines also were extended to wedding ceremonies, receptions and funerals to ensure it aligned with other guidance.

The ruling comes just before Christmas, a sacred holiday to Christians where followers celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Still, despite the ability to hold limited services indoors, a number of churches continue to hold online services.

Kennewick First United Methodist Church, for example, posted it is not having any in-person services and planned online worship only during the holidays.

The church created a children’s Christmas program by recording participants individually, then editing the content into a video posted on the church’s YouTube channel.

This story was originally published December 22, 2020 at 2:04 PM with the headline "Updated: COVID rules partly eased for churches in WA state. For weddings and funerals too."