//I will not reopen our church for Trump. I love our congregants too much to risk their lives.

I will not reopen our church for Trump. I love our congregants too much to risk their lives.

Congregants of Middle Collegiate Church in New York City. | Courtesy of Béatrice de Géa

Religious communities don’t need to hold services in a building to stay spiritually connected.

Last week, President Donald Trump declared churches “essential,” and ordered governors “to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now.” Make no mistake: This is a demand that in effect encourages congregations to kill people.

As the senior minister of Middle Collegiate Church in New York City, I am all too familiar with the trauma houses of worship are experiencing right now — the past three months have been some of the most painful I’ve experienced in almost 30 years as a pastor. Separation and isolation inflict tremendous psychic agony on top of already dire circumstances; I so badly want to congregate in worship again.