Beech Tree News Network

“THIS VEHICLE’S LICENSE PLATE NUMBER HAS BEEN RECORDED.”  This is part of an ominous message that was left Sunday on vehicles of those attending Easter service at a local church.

A uniformed state trooper was present on Easter morning - Sunday, April 12 - at Brooklyn Baptist Church in north Butler County, according to Pastor Tony Embry.  This is the latest round of tug-of-war between an order prohibiting mass gatherings issued by Governor Andy Beshear and various church congregations around the state.   The order prohibiting mass gatherings, including church settings, was issued last week by Gov. Beshear due to the COVID-19 outbreak and it has been criticized by some as a step too far in the battle against the virus that has currently infected  2,048 Kentucky residents; 104 have died due to complications caused by the illness. The local nursing home - Morgantown Care and Rehabilitation - has also reported several cases.    

Embry, 51,  said there was only one officer present at his church and he stayed outside and did not interrupt the service, which numbered ten people on Sunday.  

“I appreciate him handling it the way he did,” said Embry, who recently celebrated his one-year anniversary as pastor at Brooklyn Baptist Church.  

Kentucky State Police issued the following statement on Monday regarding their role in enforcing the order by Governor Beshear:

"In an effort to protect the lives of Kentuckians, yesterday, April 12, the Kentucky State Police responded to several complaints regarding mass gatherings across the commonwealth. The response from KSP was to ensure that those participating in these gatherings were following proper CDC guidelines in order to help stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19). Forty-two complaints were made, but KSP found only one mass gathering that was not being held in accordance with CDC guidelines and state orders. Informational fliers were distributed on 33 vehicles and no enforcement action was taken on the part of KSP. Vehicle information on which these fliers were placed was recorded.    -Sergeant Josh Lawson KSP Public Affairs Commander"

The material placed on vehicles goes on to state that under Kentucky law (KRS 39A.990) it is a Class A misdemeanor to violate an emergency order.  According to previous statements by government officials, those in violation of the prohibition against mass gatherings will be reported to the local health department and will be required to be placed in quarantine for 14 days.  

Governor Beshear has repeatedly maintained that actions like these are necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to keep people safe.  

The pastor has found himself a source of controversy since he decided to keep the doors of his church open during the COVID-19 pandemic despite aggressive measures taken by the governor prohibiting these types of gatherings.  

For Embry, it’s a matter of faith  - both in God and in the U.S. Constitution - that has prompted him to take this course of action.  Also, he described a testimony from an individual who visited his church a few weeks ago when churches were ordered to cease having in-person services as another reason for his belief that the church doors should remain open for those who choose to attend.  

“If we had come together as the church of the living God then we could have prayed this thing away,” said Embry.  “God unites, the devil divides.”

Nevertheless, Embry said he has taken some precautions amid the pandemic, including holding services outside the actual church building - including on Easter Sunday - at least until it started raining.  He said a distance of approximately seven feet was between each chair - a distance that was maintained once the service moved inside.        

Embry indicated he is not trying to force anyone to do anything but felt like it was important to keep the church open for those to come.  

  “I’ve encouraged anyone to stay at home if they feel like it,” said Embry.  “We are not endangering anyone.”   

Embry, a truck driver by trade and a father of four ranging in age from 19-29, said his faith in Jesus Christ is “essential” to him.

“God has delivered me and my family through a lot,” said Embry, who stated that both his mother and sister died in late 2019 just before Christmas.  “Me and the Lord are in this together and my deacons and congregation support what we’re doing. We have young Christians and new converts who need us to be there.”  

Regarding the enforcement of stay-at-home orders, the pastor suggests that churches are being singled out.  

“There are all kinds of other places with way more people around but nobody is writing down their license plate numbers,” said Embry.  

The governor’s order, as well as one by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer that sought to prohibit churches from even conducting drive-thru or parking lot services, has sparked a constitutional debate among many across the state with some prominent political leaders pushing back against those actions.  

A church in Bullitt County has also been in the crosshairs of government officials - Maryville Baptist Church - and its pastor has been ordered to quarantine for 14 days because he was at a gathering (church service) of more than 10 people.  

Another congregation, On Fire Christian Church, filed a lawsuit challenging the Louisville order.  A federal judge agreed with the church.  

U.S. District Judge Justin Walker, in his ruling, said the following:   

“On Holy Thursday, an American mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter.  That sentence is one that this Court never expected to see outside the pages of a dystopian novel, or perhaps the pages of The Onion,” wrote Judge Walker.

He continued, “The Mayor’s decision is stunning. And it is, ‘beyond all reason,’ unconstitutional."

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron also weighed in.  

“Directing a uniformed presence at church services to record the identity of worshippers and to force a quarantine, while doing no such thing for the people gathered at retail stores or obtaining an abortion, is the definition of arbitrary,” said Cameron in a tweet over the weekend.  

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell was also critical of the Louisville mayor’s plan, writing that “During Easter and Passover, the government should not flatly prohibit religious gatherings that comply with CDC guidelines unless it has no other choice to stop COVID-19.  I believe the government has means to stop the spread of COVID-19 short of a flat ban on gatherings of people in vehicles for religious purposes.”

U.S. Senator Rand Paul said, “Thank God for a judge who understands the First Amendment prevents the government from prohibiting the free government exercise of religion.”  

Although Pastor Tony Embry feels like his actions are one solid ground with the Lord and the U.S. Constitution, taking this stand has not been easy.  He also indicated that his actions were taken in response to the governor’s order and that he has no problems with any local officials.  

“It’s been hard on my family and people have said terrible things about me,” said Embry.  “But, I have to be strong for my congregation.”

Embry, who lives in Butler County, said he has received almost no support from fellow pastors or local churches for his efforts to keep his church open.  

“There are few standing with me,” stated Embry.  

Nevertheless, Embry said he plans to stay the course and continue to open the church doors at Brooklyn Baptist for his congregation to safely gather.  

What if he is served with papers by the health department to self-quarantine?  

“I’ll tell them to take their paper, go back to Morgantown, and leave my family alone,” said Embry,  “But, I will pray for them.” 

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