(WXYZ) — A legal fight is pitting some religious leaders against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over the state’s stay-at-home order. Very strong feelings from a Southfield minister are being shared with us today. She’s a part of that lawsuit against the governor.
“We have to physically distance people 6 feet apart. That means what we’d have to do is instead of having our usual service, we’d have to have multiple services.” says Minister Andrea Simpson from Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield.
Simpson represents a membership of 6,000 churchgoers. She says prohibiting in-person services violates the First Amendment right to free exercise and assembly. She also says, masks and gloves can easily be used together with social distancing.
“Having the many thousands that we have, we would have to cut that down considerably which we are prepared to do and want to do so we can minister to the needs of our people.” Simpson said.
In a lawsuit filed in federal court, she aims to join others including the state’s House speaker in opposing the rule. However, the governor is defending her decision telling us it falls within her power, and takes into account the latest “science and epidemiology.”
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