The clergy is urging the government to acknowledge that the COVID-related restrictions imposed on churches were both harmful and illegal, and to confess their wrongdoing.

A collection of pastors, church officials, and other followers of Christianity in New Zealand are seeking legal acknowledgement that their government's enforcement of restrictions on churches during the COVID-19 outbreak was illegal.
The Free To Be Church (FTBC) plans to challenge a decision made by the High Court in Wellington in August, which stated that the government had valid reasons for limiting "overt religious beliefs" according to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act of 1990.
According to Andre Bay, who is the chair of trustees for FTBC and also a pastor at Shore Baptist Church in North Shore, New Zealand, we were recently grouped together with strip clubs, bars, and sporting events as social gatherings, but we have no authority to intervene.
The church was not perceived as a distinct group of individuals who behave based on their own beliefs.
The church was not considered a unique and separate entity. In response to COVID-19 restrictions in their own country, a few New Zealand clergy formed FTBC in September 2021, inspired by a legal triumph in Scotland where the Scottish High Court reversed church closures. The church in California is resisting a $2.8 million fine for violating COVID lockdown orders.
The Rev has written an open letter to the government, which is similar to the one sent to California leaders.
John MacArthur and Grace Community Church presented their theological perspective that government officials should not interfere in religious matters in a manner that undermines the authority of pastors and elders. A pastor from LA sued California over coronavirus lockdown, stating that it was enough. FTBC eventually filed a lawsuit against government officials in April 2022, and the High Court made a decision in August.
They have chosen to appeal based on their beliefs, persisting in their pursuit to recognize that the actions of the government were unjust and to set a legal precedent to avoid a similar occurrence in the future.
The date set for the hearing of their appeal is in August.
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Although restrictions have been lifted, Bay emphasized the significance of acknowledging the "actual spiritual harm" caused by the government's response to COVID-19, which prevented pastors from offering prayers to isolated and dying members of their congregation.
Bay stated that the impact of these limitations on our community and on us as religious leaders is often underestimated, particularly in terms of the emotional and spiritual consequences. This is because we strive to remain true to our vocation.
If the law is stopping you from doing what you think God wants you to do, it can be very challenging. The government's actions in response to COVID-19 have greatly troubled the conscience of Matthew Johnston, who is a pastor at Riverbend Bible Church in Hastings.
Religious freedoms were infringed upon.
According to Johnston, the government's actions caused significant damage to individuals and their relationships, which remain broken even now. He mentioned that the government limited the number of people allowed to gather for worship based on their vaccination status.
From December 2021, religious assemblies in New Zealand were restricted to either 100 individuals who have been vaccinated or 25 individuals who have not been vaccinated.
At a certain point, Johnston mentioned that the government considered making it mandatory for all ministers to get vaccinated, but eventually withdrew the proposal.
A Christian who fled from persecution in China is cautioning us about the possibility of adopting a communist style of governance. According to the individual, this would result in a church that is controlled by the state, where the requirements for dispensing grace would exceed what is stated in the Bible.
Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern acknowledged in October 2021 that the government's actions were leading to the creation of a society with two levels, where access to rights was dependent on adherence to vaccine mandates. This was described as a state obligation.
Logan Hagoort, who serves as a pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Auckland, expressed to Fox News Digital that he found a particular month during the pandemic to be extremely distressing. He described it as "absolutely heartbreaking" from his perspective as a minister.
He shared that two older women passed away, and one of them had very few relatives. She saw him as her son and requested him to visit and pray with her during her final days. Additionally, she did not have any Christian family members.
Hagoort expressed that the hospital had prohibited him from seeing her, and she passed away without any affiliation with Christianity. He described it as a devastating situation.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is being sued again, with allegations that his excessive greed played a role in the deaths of nursing home residents. The following week, another woman, who was described as a strong and devout Christian, passed away.
Hagoort stated that he was not allowed to visit her in the hospital.
She was having difficulty feeling confident about her salvation.
Towards the end of her life, she was facing a lot of difficulties. As a result, I had to make an effort to provide spiritual guidance to her over the phone. Her health was deteriorating, and her son had to hold the phone to her ear as she was unable to do so herself.
He mentioned that the hospital denied his request to visit. He also stated that although many members of his church wanted to mourn together during that period, the funerals held at his church had very few attendees.
He remembered observing individuals arriving at funerals and looking from afar through their vehicle windows, desiring to be present.
A pastor who was jailed in Turkey for his Christian beliefs has stated that the younger generation is not ready for the challenges that lie ahead. He also expressed his disappointment in the government's lack of action towards this issue, calling it an abomination.
Hagoort stated that they did it with the intention of benefiting everyone, but they have never admitted to causing harm to individuals through this system.
I, along with others, continue to carry emotional wounds.
They have never admitted to doing it.
The FTBC clergy members who spoke to Fox News Digital stated that their government's anti-Christian attitude during the pandemic is affecting other areas, regardless of the outcome of their appeal in the case. They have disregarded the issue and moved on as if nothing happened. It is now more challenging to be a Christian.
FTBC's website states that they are concerned about other laws in New Zealand that are related to hate speech and the prohibition of "conversion therapy." They believe that these laws are making it more difficult for Christians to practice their faith in the country.
Numerous churches express concern about the extent of the new Canadian ban on "conversion therapy." These pastors note that Christianity's influence in Canada has diminished, despite its historical significance and the rapid conversion of the Maori people by Anglican missionaries in 1814.
According to Hagoort, a lot of influential people in New Zealand view Christianity's impact as a harmful one due to colonization. The language used during discussions about hate speech reforms and the ban on conversion therapy implied that missionaries disrupted the Maori's peaceful way of life before they were introduced to Christian values.
He stated that the perspective mentioned is a powerful force in society and is harmful to the church. He also provided a link to obtain the Fox News app.