Despite visit from Vice President, Iowa faith leaders urge against in-person services

From Iowa-

DES MOINES -- With Vice President Mike Pence slated to visit Des Moines Friday to reopen churches for service, 21 denominational religious leaders will continue to urge Iowa congregations to refrain from in-person worship.

The faith leaders had made similar recommendations when Gov. Kim Reynolds lifted a ban on in-person worship due to COVID-19 concerns on April 28.  

The Rev. Ian McMullen, General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Northern Iowa, and the Rev. Lorna H. Halaas, Bishop of the Western Iowa Synod, ELCA, were among the Western Iowa denomination leaders to sign statements that was released on Thursday.

Other faiths included The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, Catholic Diocese of Davenport, Southeastern Iowa Synod-ELCA, Northeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA, Christian Church in the Upper Midwest, Mid-American Baptist churches of Iowa and Minnesota, Church of the Brethren, Ecumenical Connections of Iowa, Presbyteries of Des Moines and North Central Iowa, Presbytery Missouri River Valley, Presbytery of Prospect Hill, Presbytery of East Iowa, John Knox Presbytery, and Central Plains Mennonite.

More here-

https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/briefs/despite-visit-from-vice-president-iowa-faith-leaders-urge-against-in-person-services/article_e60dd983-8cae-52e5-87b3-cf0f153e666a.html