My confident self was all masked up when officials at the door drew to my attention that I produce a Vaccine Passport otherwise no entry.
At first I thought they were talking about the Covid-19 Contact Register. Not. I was not the only worshipper who turned up unaware. Some others who either possibly did not have their Vax documents or are not jabbed found themselves barred from accessing the building to take part in communal worship.
Mind you, across Australia there are church services that take place in some public buildings, community halls and even school facilities every week. I am not sure if the new rule is specific to such gathering or whether the rule also encompasses church buildings.
Clearly after learning about this I had the option of just coming home and doing an online service. But decided online is for another day. So I stayed outside the building to faintly catch something of the Sunday Sermon although the worship music was clearer.
During this pandemic, I have not had a problem wearing masks even when not mandated. I have also not been troubled by the need for social distancing. Not that any measures are a panacea. At the same time it is shocking that Governments are mandating who can enter and participate at a communal church service.
I also happened to Google an article on the subject that may be relevant for readers whether you are pro or against vaccinations being linked to communal worship.
This seems historically a critical unfolding of relations between church and state (philosophical terms). As I process, I felt I need to scribe the moment. And scribe it from experiential and personal perspective.
As for the sermon listening from a distance, I heard of the Ancient Israelites as they returned from Babylon to rebuild a temple in Jerusalem. Luckily worship songs could be heard outside. I joined in one of the worship praises: “I have never walked alone. I have never been abandoned…You are my inheritance”. That, had a good spiritual touch it lifted my spirit. .
Although this mandate is clearly driven by the WA State Government, however as the Australian Federal election looms, I suspect increasing numbers of church goers could be interested in knowing the Federal Morrison Government position on freedoms around worship especially taking account of the current legislative proposals under discussion.
Other Articles:
Renae Barker, Will COVID Vaccinations be mandatory for places of worship https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/Article/2021/October/Will-COVID-vaccinations-be-madatory-for-places-of-worship
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