It was with sadness I read the letter submitted by "Old Christian woman" - Disappointed with churches" (The Herald, September 3).
I do feel her frustration but would like to inform her that church leaders have acted with wisdom and compassion by observing the government's call to restrict church attendance to 50 people to protect the vulnerable.
It would have been recklessly irresponsible of churches to ignore the restriction given the contagion.
Church doors might be closed, but churches throughout our city and country have responded magnanimously to the needs of Covid-19 victims.
While the institutionalised church is not our connection with God, the buildings are assembly points of fellowship, co-operation, and mutual spiritual forums of engagement with others of the same conviction.
The church, as the body of Christ, has responded to the plight of the poor in a way that previous generations have not.
“Old Christian woman “might be right about some clergy retiring to their “ivory towers” and leaving their people to pay the bills and church dues.
In the paraphrased words of Henry Kissinger. “It’s 10% of unscrupulous, get rich preachers who give the 90% of faithful pastors a bad name.”
Church attendance is a believer’s choice and some choices may have grave consequences (pun not intended).
I salute church leaders who have used platforms such as Facebook, Zoom and online services to reach the faithful and some who even offer drive-in church services.
It’s good to spend time at home with you Bible and prayers.
This will sustain your spiritual life, though it may render your witness as a believer irrelevant if you isolate yourself in your hermitage.
