Doors to remain locked at Trinity Bible Chapel for now

A Superior Court justice has ruled doors at Trinity Bible Chapel will remain locked for the time being.

The order was first issued April 30, meaning the church was not able to hold in-person services on May 2.Justice John Krawchenko upheld that order on Thursday.

Lawyers for the Ministry of the Attorney General and the church were in court via Zoomto provide an update on both the pandemic situation and the position of both parties.

"It's clear there are no changes in circumstances, either the pandemic or the position of the respondents, that would require any modification to my previous order," Krawchenko told the court.

The doors were locked on May 1 afterthe Ministry of the Attorney General sought a civil contempt of court order after the church held services on April 25 in contravention of the current stay-at-home order and the Reopening Ontario Act.

Krawchenko said the order to lock the doors will remain in effect until a sanction hearing for the church is held, or until the province allows churches to hold gatherings at a 30 per cent capacity.

Currently, weddings, funerals and religious rites are capped at 10 people, whether the services are held indoors or outdoors.

The church said it wants access to the building to do maintenance work. Krawchenko directed the two parties to work that matter out.

The church and six church elders have previously been fined $38,000 after being found in contempt of a court for holding in-person church services.