Name: James River Church responds to complaints about crowded, unmasked Christmas services
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James River Church responds to complaints about crowded, unmasked Christmas services

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OZARK, Mo. (KY3) - OZARK, Mo. (KY3) - James River Church responded Monday to complaints after social media images show little social distancing and few masks at its Christmas celebrations over the weekend.KY3 received dozens of emails about the social media images.One man, who filed a complaint with the Christian County Health Department agreed to speak with us.“This is not OK. I want to get my life back to normal. Seeing images like that make me so angry,” said Cody Shackelton.He says he was disappointed to find out that thousands of people gathered for a Christmas celebration at James River Church in Ozark.“I can go back to Facebook, make another snarky post if I want to. I wanted to do something more impactful,” he said.He called the health department Monday.“The stress that this is going to put on our local hospitals just for people to have an hour long show basically, some entertainment,” he said.Steve Edwards, President and CEO of Cox Hospital said, “If there’s a time to need faith, it’s right now, so I get that. I think that we have to realize that the disease doesn’t care about our religion.”He reminded the community about the dangers of large gatherings during a pandemic.“If you’ve got gatherings that are enclosed, indoors, not masked, that’s a super spreader event. It’s, very frankly a super spreader event. We’ve seen those in the country. We want to avoid those. There’s ways to congregate and go to church safely,” he said.James River Church sent us video of an announcement they played before and during the event.The message said, “In order to keep people safe and in compliance with city ordinance we are asking everyone to wear a mask, unless you have a medical exemption, while you’re here in the building or on campus.”Many parishioners of the church tell us that the images circulating online don’t tell the full story. They say most people were complying with COVID-19 guidelines.Shackelton is just urging everyone to follow those rules.“I have complete respect for people who are wanting to be in person and be at those together with others. Have the in person services but do it safely,” he said.The city of Ozark, Mo. is under a strict masking ordinance. City leaders Monday extended the same ordinance through April 30. Under the ordinance, everyone over the age of 11 will be required to wear a face covering when in public spaces in the city limits of Ozark. Exemptions are made for those with a medical condition, mental health condition or any disability that prevents wearing a face covering, and those who are hearing impaired and people communicating with individuals who are hearing impaired.Representatives of James River Church released this statement to KY3 News.“We take seriously the safety and health of those who attend our services. We have strongly encouraged masking and social distancing each and every weekend during this challenging season. For the Christmas services, additional services were added to further provide for social distancing. Going forward, we are committed to doing a better job of encouraging and maintaining the procedures necessary to keep people safe and secure.Throughout the pandemic, in addition to encouraging masking and social distancing, we have done the following at each service to keep people safe:1. Take temperatures at the door2. Fog-sanitize our auditoriums3. Multiple times per day sanitize the children’s areas and the common areas4. Provide masks to everyone who attendsOur heart at James River Church has always been to minister to people in our community. During this pandemic we have helped thousands of people with food, financial assistance, counsel, and spiritual encouragement. Most of all we want people to know that God loves and cares for them.”The city of Ozark released this statement:The City of Ozark has received calls into our COVID hotline with concerns regarding the lack of masks at a local church service. Each call received on the hotline number is handled in the same manner, we reach out to the business/organization and begin with educating them on the mayoral order. We have followed our procedure on this instance.James River Church also operates a church in southern Greene County. Springfield-Greene County health leaders ahead of the events, reached out to the church to urge distancing protocols and to request them to require masking, even where not required by ordinance.“I was shocked and deeply saddened to see photos from the James River event over the weekend.” said Springfield-Greene County Health Director Clay Goddard. “I can’t see those photos without also thinking of the images we’ve all seen of the impossible circumstances our hospitals are battling every day. Hosting a giant event without distancing or masking is irresponsible and insulting to the people on the front lines of this crisis, most especially the health care workers who are overwhelmed. An event of this magnitude, indoors and in such close proximity, combined with case numbers where they are and our hospitals full, could be devastating. By and large, our local churches have been great examples of staying emotionally connected while protecting one another in this pandemic—this example does not do those congregations justice”To report a correction or typo, please email Copyright 2020 KY3. All rights reserved.

OZARK, Mo. (KY3) - OZARK, Mo. (KY3) - James River Church responded Monday to complaints after social media images show little social distancing and few masks at its Christmas celebrations over the weekend.KY3 received dozens of emails about the social media images.One man, who filed a complaint with the Christian County Health Department agreed to speak with us.“This is not OK. I want to get my life back to normal. Seeing images like that make me so angry,” said Cody Shackelton.He says he was disappointed to find out that thousands of people gathered for a Christmas celebration at James...

James River Church responds to complaints about crowded, unmasked Christmas services

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