Church in Perris told not to gather at parks, or face citation

Updated 9/21/20

On Tuesday, September 1, 2020, the City of Riverside cleared the way for gyms and churches to meet at city parks for workouts and worship legally. The next day, the City of Perris ensured that local churches understood that their City would not follow suit. On Wednesday, September 2, an official letter cautioning "administrative citations" was taped to a Perris pastor's home's front door.

"We simply want to open an outlet for our city to come together and worship in a safe environment," states Pastor Chris Thompson of Perris Valley Community Church. Since the coronavirus pandemic began, his church has met online, with a desire to gather outdoors once per month on a Sunday morning for church service, and once a month on a Friday evening for outdoor worship. The monthly outdoor church service is designed to fulfill the need for fellowship while providing the protections necessary to comply with California regulations on church services.

Just as restaurants are permitted to allow outside dining, churches in California are approved to gather, as long as the service is not held within a permanent structure. Many churches with the capability and resources have mounted tents or coverings in their parking lot and separated chairs to abide by the law. "We are a young church that doesn't own a building or a parking lot. We felt one of our city parks would be a safe place to gather. Unfortunately, the City of Perris does not feel the same way," Thompson says.

Thompson and his church held service at Mercado Park in Perris on Sunday, August 30, and by Wednesday of that week, the Assistant City Manager had a notice taped to the front door of his home. "I thought maybe they would have called and opened up discussion, but rather they fastened a notice to my door while I was actually inside the house. They could've knocked on the door and began a dialog." The notice states that Perris Valley Community Church is "to refrain from conducting public gatherings/assemblies on (sic) city parks. Continued non-compliance of this notice will result in administrative citations."

Through the Summer, the City of Perris themselves has conducted community events including holding, funding, and staffing monthly movie nights. "The last movie night held in August had more people than we have on an outdoor Sunday. People were distanced outside their cars. It was a safe event, just as we hold," the pastor says. The church has asked permission to hold a total of 6 events through the end of the year, insuring that all precautions and best practices for COVID safety that large churches nationwide are using effectively are used to protect the congregants and city residents.

"I understand that our City is facing a difficult time managing the pandemic. But also, like many other cities, Perris must work to balance their resources for the betterment of our citizens," Thompson says. Since the pandemic began, the City of Perris has promoted grants to small businesses, resident rental assistance, food giveaways for the community, and many other programs focused on creating avenues for Perris residence to manage life during COVID. Still, according to Thompson, grace for houses of worship has not been part of any programs that Perris has provided.

"All we're asking for is to be able to use a city park twice a month to invite the entire community to come to church. We have no problem paying any fees. We bring our own insurance, electricity, chairs, and everything we need to provide the safest event possible. We only want to know that we will not receive a citation for holding church in a city park in the City of Perris."

Thompson, who has reached out to all five city council members and the Assistant City Manager, received a call from city staff on Wednesday, September 16. "I was told that this (banning all churches and other groups from using the parks) was the decision of the City Council. I asked for council-members' names who made the decision, but the staff member couldn't remember. I was told that the City can use their property for their events, such as movie nights, simply because it is their property. As of now, there has been no movement or allowance for us to hold a church service at a local park. Our church will get penalized if we do."

The next outdoor church service, scheduled for Sunday, September 27, has been moved to another location. The expense of finding a place, providing shade, and renting bathrooms, will set the church back a few hundred dollars.

"We are trying to be good neighbors with the City. But it's hard maneuvering the policies of a Government body that has had their hand in extinguishing the meeting locations of our ministry now three times in three consecutive three years," the pastor says. "We wish that, as a ministry that deeply cares about the citizens of our community, and one that gives back, we would be recognized as essential, or even existing, to our city leaders. With all the needed and appreciated finance our City has put into COVID recovery, I don't feel that allowing a church to meet at a park twice a month without the fear of a citation is too much to ask."