Region charges six elders including pastor at Trinity Bible Chapel
Posted Jan 27, 2021 10:30:00 PM.
In-person church services above 10 people at Trinity Bible Chapel may be on pause for now.
Nine charges were issued Wednesday by the Region of Waterloo in response to the continued congregation of people at the Woolwich church.
The Region charged six elders including Pastor Jacob Reaume under the Reopening Ontario Act for hosting a gathering exceeding the number of people permitted.
The Trinity Bible Chapel corporation was also charged.
The pastor and one elder were also charged Wednesday under Ontario Regulation 82/20 for attending a gathering of more than 10.
For individuals, the minimum fine is $10,000, with the maximum at $100,000. A corporation can be fined up to $10 million upon conviction.
“The Region is aware that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice made a finding of contempt today against Trinity Bible Chapel and the other named respondents,” said spokesperson TJ Flynn in a release to 570 NEWS. “We are satisfied with this outcome but cannot comment further since the sentencing phase of the contempt proceeding is still pending before the Court. The Region understands, as part of these contempt proceedings, that the Trinity Bible Chapel and the other named respondents agreed not to hold further indoor religious services contrary to the Order of the Court leading up to the sentencing hearing.”
570 NEWS has reached out to the Attorney General to confirm that the church will not be holding gatherings above 10 people for the time being.
Lisa Bildy, the lawyer representing Trinity Bible Chapel released a statement to 570 NEWS about the court filing.
“We made submissions that the church was prepared to refrain from holding in-person services until the current state of emergency was over (Feb. 9),” the statement reads.
“We will be back in court shortly after that for the penalty phase of the proceedings. The Crown was asking in their contempt motion for an order that the sheriff lock the doors of the building, which would have left them unable to access their building for any purpose.”
