A Pa. pastor plans ‘Woodstock-like’ Easter worship service defying coronavirus precautions: reports

A Pittsburgh-area pastor says he will hold an outdoor ‘like Woodstock’ Easter service to protest coronavirus social-distancing guidelines.

Evangelist Jonathan Shuttlesworth of Revival Today ministry has protested the arrest of Rodney Howard-Browne in Florida for holding worship services and violating county orders to limit gatherings and stay at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a video posted on March 30, Shuttlesworth said, “If they are arresting preachers now for having church then I am going to start dressing like an outlaw so I look good for my mugshot.”

Shuttlesworth referred to Howard-Browne as, “my best friend, possibly my only friend in the whole world.”

According to Fox29News, Shuttlesworth said, “We’re gonna hold an outdoor Easter blowout service. Not online. A national gathering. You come from all over, like Woodstock. And we’re gonna gather and lift up Jesus Christ.”

On March 31, Shuttlesworth, on his “Check the News” program on YouTube talked about the Easter service he is planning. Shuttlesworth said he is seeking a property where he can hold an outdoor event for a large number of people and will announce the location at a later date.

“We are going to have a huge Easter service so stay tuned. It has to be somebody that owns private property that can hold a lot of people,” he said.

Shuttlesworth mentioned being in central Pa. in 2011 for a worship service that he said was held at Haar’s Drive-In in Dillsburg. Shuttlesworth said that 2011 event was planned for Celebration Community Church but was moved outside because of the number of people attending.

“That was actually the breakthrough of my ministry,” he said.

There is no indication that the Easter event could be held at Haar’s.

Shuttlesworth said he also is conferring with security and lawyers.

Shuttlesworth said that government orders to not hold in-person church services are a violation of the First Amendment.

KDKA post a story about the plans, which Lt. Gov. John Fetterman reacted to on Twitter.

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