Church in Woolwich, Ont. ruled in contempt, elders charged for holding Sunday service

Trinity Bible Chapel in Woolwichtownship, just outside Waterloo, Ont.has been found in contempt of court after opening for in-person services last Sundayand exceeding pandemic crowd limits set under the Reopening Ontario Act.

Church representatives appeared in Kitchener's Superior Court of Justice Wednesday morning.

Lisa Bildy, a lawyerfrom the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms representing the church, said the church did not oppose the finding of contempt.

"We did not make submissions as to the question of whether the church was in contempt of the earlier order.The evidence was clear that they had held a service last Sunday," she said in an email to CBC.

"While the church is not challenging the contempt proceedings, it is planning to challenge the earlier order to enforce compliance on the basis that the restrictions against gathering for worship services are unconstitutional and contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms," she added.

The church on Lobsinger Line has been ticketed twicefor exceeding capacity limits during the provincial lockdown. Church officials were chargedon two separate occasions for in-person services held Dec. 27 and Jan. 3.

Under provincial pandemic rules, only10 people are allowed at an indoorreligious service or ceremony. The church can hold drive-in services where people remain in their cars.

Elders, pastor charged

Bylaw officers attended the Sunday service, and today seven people werecharged by the Region of Waterloofor hosting it.

"Six elders, including the pastor [Jacob Reaume], and the Trinity Bible Chapel corporation,"have been charged "under theReopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Actfor hosting a gathering exceeding the number permitted," officials said in a statement to CBC.

The region has also charged an elder and Reaume for attending a gathering of more than ten people.

Commenting on the contempt case, a spokesperson for the region said in the statement, "We are satisfied with this outcome but cannot comment further since the sentencing phase of the contempt proceeding is still pending."

"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."

Bildy said sentencing on the contempt case will occur next month.