Churches exempt in city mandate

Chicago | A requirement that many public venues in Chicago check the vaccination status of patrons ages 5 and older started January 3, but it does not include churches. Airports and office buildings are also exempt, but many dining, entertainment, and recreation venues will require customers to provide proof of vaccination against Covid-19. Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot cited the rising cases of Covid resulting from the Omicron variant. “The last thing in the world that I want to do is...announce that we’re shutting our city back down. That would be devastating,” Lightfoot said. “But again, it really depends on the unvaccinated.”

Churches gathering for worship were excluded from the requirement. People with religious objections to vaccination will be required to show a negative Covid test instead of a vaccination card at the mandated public venues.

– info from Chicago Tribune

Former pastor pleads not guilty on four counts

Decatur | Former pastor Joseph M. Krol pled not guilty to a charge of grooming a minor. His plea, entered Dec. 2., came six weeks after his arrest at his home in Dawson. Krol was pastor of Rochester First Baptist Church at the time, but the charge was in connection with his ministry at Galilee Baptist Church in Macon County.

Krol was accused of encouraging a minor to engage in sex-related activities in a series of texts that began in July, about the time he left the Macon County church to accept the pastorate in Rochester.

Rochester First Baptist Church suspended Krol as pastor immediately after his arrest on Oct. 15. Then, within a week, the congregation voted to terminate his employment.

Krol also pleaded not guilty to three charges in addition to grooming, including obstruction of justice. His next court appearance is scheduled Jan. 7.

Krol’s wife is employed by the Illinois Baptist State Association.

IBSA has made resources available to both churches as they have sought to minister in light of the charges.

IBSA continues to urge all Illinois Baptist churches to screen potential volunteers and staff in accordance with Illinois Department of Children and Family Services guidelines and the background check system offered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In addition, IBSA informs churches about the Illinois mandatory reporting regulations through online resources and in-person training sessions. Messengers to the Illinois Baptist State Association Annual Meeting made protection of vulnerable people a top priority in 2019, at the same time the Southern Baptist Convention adopted similar measures. Procedures for screening of church employees and volunteers that revealed previous convictions were already in place at the time.

The SBC added encouraging the sharing of information about credible accusations among its churches to its procedures, with a heightened emphasis on acknowledgement of victims and ministry to them.