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A church leader at the center of Auckland’s August coronavirus cluster and the second lockdown says science has a place in society, but it wouldn’t do things differently next time.
Speaking to Stuff on Sunday, Kelly Vogel rejected claims that Mt Roskill Evangelical Fellowship was secretive and said Auckland should loosen restrictions and move to alert level 1.
The fellowship trustee said the church was widely misunderstood and unfairly described, but that was the price to pay for following God’s word in a society where many others did not.
JASON DORDAY / Things
Members of the congregation were seen cleaning the Mount Roskill Evangelical Fellowship church buildings in Auckland after five people associated with the church tested positive.
“We believe that God is in complete control.”
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But Vogel said science had a place in society and that the fellowship’s beliefs could be compatible with official guidance on Covid-19.
“There is a place for science, as there is a place for the will of God.”
Auckland’s August cluster linked to the suburban community emerged last month and became the largest in the country by far, reaching 176 cases on Saturday.
Health Minister Chris Hipkins said last week that some close contacts from the church subgroup had not previously been disclosed, including a student who recently tested positive.
The church was investigated late last month following allegations of prayer meetings that took place during the Level 3 restrictions.
“Well I’m not really sure what we would have done [things] differently, ”Vogel said.
“We really don’t know much about science. We really don’t know too much about politics. “
Jason Dorday / Stuff
Covid-19 App QR Codes inside Mt Roskill Evangelical Fellowship on Wednesday.
Vogel, the first church leader to speak widely in public, said the church was obviously discriminated against and had been the subject of unfair comments.
Of the Auckland group, 62 percent of the confirmed cases on Sunday were Pacific peoples and 22 percent were Maori.
A former church member said last week that members of the Stuff fellowship did not associate much with outsiders.
Vogel rejected claims that the fellowship was secret.
“Depends on what you want to say [by] ‘reserved’. We have never been reserved when it comes to the gospel. “
The church leader was asked what he said to the people who blamed the fellowship for the group and the second closure.
“That is totally up to them, but it is probably because they have been misinformed.”
The Health Ministry said Sunday that 98 percent of the congregation had already been tested, as had 98 percent of people who attended a bereavement event related to the spread of the group.
Vogel understood that part of the remaining two percent was waiting for results.
“They are old people and they are sick people. Some of them are not 100 percent. They are quite advanced in years. “
Health officials confirmed Sunday that Mt Roskill Evangelical Fellowship had actively encouraged all members of the congregation to be retested for Covid-19 and comply with other public health councils.
Vogel said that the grant will continue to comply with the instructions of the Ministry of Health.
“The government’s job is to lead the country, protect its citizens.
“We try to do our homework and we let the government do its homework. God has appointed them. The Bible has made it very clear that we must be submissive to them. “
But Vogel said that didn’t mean the fellowship would always go along with the government, especially if official instructions went against what he believed to be God’s word.
“We put our trust in God,” Vogel said. “Our responsibility is to preach and teach the gospel.”
When asked if the challenges of Covid-19 had tested his faith, Vogel replied: “It is not so much that our faith is tested. These things are just tests of life.
“It is more of an inconvenience for us, but we understand our responsibility. Our primary responsibility is to preach and teach the gospel. “
Vogel said remote church service gatherings that comply with large gathering bans are likely not sustainable.
“There are many ways to teach and preach, but for us, we believe that fellowship with people is absolutely essential.”
The government is expected to decide on Monday whether to move the alert levels.
Vogel believed that Auckland could go down to level 1.
“We should go straight to level 1. That’s what we have to do.”
He said it was useless to keep waiting.
The fellowship also owned land northwest of Auckland on Shelly Beach, where some residents expressed discomfort last year over a proposed camp, and concerns last week about possible visits.
“We have our own manager who used to own the farm. We know that none of our members have left, ”Vogel said.
“We don’t want to spread it out there.”
