Mapleview Church: The Politics of a COVID-19 Outbreak
On Friday, October 29, 2021, Mapleview Church learned of a positive Covid case at their Monday meeting for young adults called “The Young Life” or “TYL.” Immediately, an email was sent to all people in attendance stating that all should “consider being tested as soon as possible, in accordance with the best practices and guidelines suggested by our local Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.” Since the initial case attended TYL on October 25th, the group has cancelled all meetings so that people can isolate themselves. On an end note, the email asked that readers would “take a moment to pray over the health and wellness of our young adult community.”
On Thursday, November 4, 2021, The Simcoe Muskoka health unit declared that the Church had an outbreak of Covid with an unconfirmed number of cases. In an article by the Barrie Advance, it is claimed that one complaint was reported on November 2nd stating that there was noncompliance with distancing and mask use in the church. However, all Church services have had socially distanced seating since the pandemic began and a sign indicating the mask mandate is posted at the entrance of the church. Additionally, the church provides a basket of masks outside the Worship Arena for anyone who has not brought one. Pastor Jay Davis confirmed in an email to the Barrie Advance that a couple of volunteers at the Church’s socially-distanced Trunk or Treat Halloween event had tested positive for the virus after the event and were responding with proper care and distancing. Pastor Jay also asked reporters to inquire that the community might pray for the church, but the article did not include this.
In a Facebook post by Maplview Community Church on November 5, 2021, Pastor Jay responded to the article above stating that they appear to be suggesting that the church has “purposefully ignored safety” protocol. The pastor also corrected the article stating that there was no Hay Maze at the Trunk or Treat event and that, although there have been safety complaints, by-law officers have confirmed on all occasions that the church has been in compliance with safety regulations.
In direct response to the outbreak, the church also decided to cancel the indoor Sunday Service on November 7, 2021, and instead opted to have a drive-in service. For the drive-in service, church-goers would have parked their cars and tuned in to the church’s radio station to hear the sermon. This would ensure that no one could transmit the virus, but they could still gather. The Park and Praise was instead surprisingly cancelled at the request of the health unit. Pastor Jay stated that he would “honour their expertise” and have the Sunday Service be strictly online as a live stream.
During the live stream on November 7, 2021, Pastor Jay said:
I just feel awful regarding all the situations going on and I don’t know how to convey to you my sorrow that any of you have to go through these sufferings. I do trust the Lord that He’s going to help us get through it at this time. These days have been so challenging. For 20 months, we’ve been able to keep at bay the Corona Virus. We’ve worked hard at making sure it was a safe and secure place, that everybody that came through the doors since March of 2020 would have both the freedom and the opportunity to love Jesus in all the ways they could. [...] We will continue to keep the Church shut for this next following week as well. [...] It’s been the most challenging week in the 25 years we’ve had at Mapleview. Believe with me, trust with me, hold on, do not despair, do not give up, do not let yourself get angry or bitter or resentful. Make sure you’re not feeling any guilt or weight if something occurs or someone that you brought to church is somehow impacted. God has a purpose and a plan through this all. He will see us through. [We] love you so very much; keep praying, keep believing.
In accordance with the words of Pastor Jay, TYL also posted that their meetings at the church will be cancelled until it is safe to proceed. The policies and practices within the group will also be under review to ensure the safety of everyone. Scott Burton, the Young Life leader, stated on Instagram that they would find a way “to make Monday nights a safe and meaningful space for people to discover faith and the way of Jesus.”
So, why are mainstream news sources framing the Mapleview Community Church outbreak as some sort of intentional negligence? While all news sources, including this one, are subject to a degree of bias, there appears to be an overwhelming intentional disclusion of what the church is doing, and has done, to foster a safe space for others. Moreover, there are very apparent choices being made about what to include and cut from the words of Church leaders who are commenting on the situation.
Amidst an apparent fourth wave, is it truly possible to attempt to holistically blame one Barrie church for rising numbers? CTV Barrie, in a now-deleted Facebook post, suggested that Mapleview Church was responsible for the fourth wave. Meanwhile, schools have opened up to in-person, restaurants welcomed back guests, and Thanksgiving and Halloween were recently celebrated. Perhaps it may be suggested that bias against religious organizations stems from the ideological notion that the Church, generally speaking, receives unfair advantages despite a long history of corruption. Or, indeed, it could be that Christians themselves are largely associated with extremist conservative anti-vaxxers. Maybe it has nothing to do with Christians at all and, instead, the problem is that using a group as a scapegoat for something bad has always garnered more views and public interaction in the media. By pushing a narrative that a church knowingly spread disease throughout the public instead of stating that a few members have tested positive and the church is taking all possible measures to prevent further spread, news articles get significantly more clicks, comments, and shares.
It would be unrealistic to suggest that all reporters should maintain a completely neutral stance when sharing critical information. However, is it not our duty as an authority on sharing information to at least attempt to not fuel hatred? The mental torment that has accompanied the Covid-19 pandemic has left many desperate for an answer as to why this isolation feels so neverending; articles that point to a scapegoat make it easy to distribute blame and answer the question. It is not so simple to say that one church has caused the fourth wave, even if it makes us feel as though we have clarity. Of course, once people feel like they have a source, then they feel they can shut it down and create a solution. In truth, the virus is most likely to become endemic, which means that it will never fully be irradicated. We cannot blame any one group for extending the prominence of the virus without causing divides in our community; what we need is a sense of togetherness. As Mapleview Community Church works to make their building a safer place for all, we must simply stay smart: wear our masks, isolate when necessary, and get tested at any exposure.