- A new report out in the New York Times

claiming Sunday worship services

are "a major source of COVID-19 cases".

It found 40 churches connected

to around 650 cases of the coronavirus,

but where does that numberstand in comparison?

Joining us to talk about this

and how churches are handling COVID-19

is Doctor Ed Stetzer.

He is the Billy Graham Chair of Church

Mission and Evangelism at Wheaton College.

Doctor Stetzer, as always great

to have you back on the broadcast.

Sir, what do you think of this article

in the New York Times?

Is there error in their claims?

- Well, I don't know.

I mean they claim 650.

I think the challenge is, to use the term

that that's a major cause ora major spread of COVID-19

when we have three million cases.

They talked about 40 churches, 650 cases

since the beginning of the pandemic.

Let me say, I'm onewho's been super cautious

about churches regathering.

I've got resources andwritten on the subject widely.

I'm not in a rush.

My church isn't meeting,

but to say churches are a major spread

when 650 cases out of three million,

that's kind of not the languageI'd use in the headline.

- During this pandemic, as you know,

there's been a lot of outcryfrom Christian leaders

about social distancing restrictions

discriminating against churches

as many governors didn'tallow services to take place,

but kept other essential businesses open.

Is this NYT article just another example

of bias or targeting of churches?

- Well, when I wrote anarticle and I responded to it

in Christianity Today is that

this was a headline in search of a story.

The story actually tellsthat a third of the cases

related to churches werefrom one church in Oregon

that didn't follow protocols.

And what I would sayis, there's good quotes,

there's good information in the story.

The framing of it is the problem.

Churches have been significant partners

working with governments, local, county,

and state health departments,and are not culprits here.

They're partners here.

And I found the framingof the article unhelpful.

Is it a result of bias?

I don't know.

You know, editors pick headlinesrather than the reporters.

What I would say is it framed the story

in a way that was unhelpfuland I think untrue.

Here's another way you could frame it:

only 650 cases traced to churches

among three million people with have been

diagnosed with COVID-19in the United States.

Churches are doing well,they're being cautious.

Pastors love their people justlike health departments do

and they're making wisechoices, by and large.

- Yeah, real quickly last few seconds,

what would you advice be to churches

who are open and those who are attending?

- I would say follow socialdistancing protocols,

follow cleaning protocols.

There's lots of resourcesonline now how to do that.

Make wise choices as you regather.

- Yeah okay, terrific.

Thank you so much asalways Doctor Stetzer.

Thank you for coming.