ACDP South AfricaVerified account

The ACDP fought to allow economic and religious activity with clear health and hygiene limits, from day 1.https://twitter.com/atkinsmike1/status/1266046533172187137 …

Can you link here any prior communication that shows concern for restaurants or salons?

You'll find all our statements in favour of opening the economy, here or FB or website

For the purposes of discussion here (and gaining understanding is a great reason to engage on Twitter), it would help to have the link here. The objection is that churches are jumping the queue in terms of gatherings, when others are more "essential".

All are essential in their own ways to their own audiences. The churches essential service transverses them all. We lobbied for them and the church - no elbowing or jumping the queue. We're elated churches are now recognised and are pushing for the others to be too.

But you are setting subjective criteria for "essential".

One thing #LockdownSA has taught us all is to discern more precisely what really is essential. What many previously thought was essential dwindled, as other essentials rose. But through it all, the churches social role as an essential service remained - always has, always will.

In my view, there is a false equating of "the church", and church services or meetings. Much can be accomplished via telephone, and practical ministry, care and feeding could continue without gatherings. The message to the world is: our wishes are more important than yours.