Awaken Church conducts panel discussion with

Awaken Church members gathered in a panel discussion with Pastor Arthur Pawlowski from Calgary’s Street Church, Alberta. (Photo taken from the Awaken Church’s Facebook page)

Awaken Church led a Panel Discussion with Pastor Artur Pawlowski from Calgary’s Street Church in Alberta on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Balboa Campus.

The church’s Facebook page posted that Pawlowski was arrested and charged for "holding an illegal face-to-face gathering" on Easter Sunday in 2021.

Awaken Church invited members to attend, as announced on its Facebook post.

Holding Church Gathering amidst Pandemic

The CBC News Canada reported on May 11, 2021 that Pastor Pawlowski was arrested on May 8, 2021, Saturday. He was charged for opening the Calgary Church to a large indoor meeting. As further revealed, members did not wear masks despite the pandemic.

Besides, the news announced that the pastor was advocating and joining illegal gatherings.

In the said report, at that time, it was vital to lessen the spread of the virus. It protects all Albertans from the continuous growth of COVID cases in the area.

Meanwhile, they noted that the 48-year-old pastor obliged a court order. Alberta Health Service and police offices had taken legal actions against the people behind the illegal meetings. They indicated that they were breaking the COVID-19 public health regulations.

According to the same news report, Pawlowski was released from custody three days after being arrested. Then on May 17, 2021, he appeared in court, as the news added.

Awaken Church against Public Health Rules

Similarly, San Diego Union-Tribune reported on Nov. 28, 2020, that Awaken Church San Diego also faced a cease-and-desist order on July 17, 2020. It is due to hosting indoor meetings in resistance to public health orders prohibiting mass gatherings.

The San Diego County public health officials released a statement that there was an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at Awaken Church on Balboa Avenue.

As further revealed, Awaken Church became a concern of the county public health authorities. The church has large gatherings where only a few attendees are wearing masks. The report stated that the church continuously violated the county health laws.

More importantly, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that churches have gone to court. They dispute state public health orders forbidding face-to-face religious activities. As further noted, the rulings agreed with governors in California in May and Nevada in July.

The same news noted that the U.S Supreme Court had five to four votes to support the banning of religious masses. The website said that Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and three liberal-leaning justices agreed on the said proposal.

They mentioned that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in New York imposed this law.

Anti-Political Organizing

In recent news from the Voice of San Diego website, Awaken Church has been the focus of a new movement of “conservative activists.” It was reported on May 16, Monday.

They said some church leaders and supporters became regular attendees at public meetings. They added that the church worked with political groups, recruiting “like-minded conservatives” to manage the office.

As further reported, Awaken Church has played a significant part in the new advocacy of conservative activists. They fought against public officials. The report mentioned that leaders and supporters of Awaken Church regularly attended the County Board of Supervisors meeting.