The #51Church Initiative

Last Updated 8/1/2020

Oklahoma City, OK: Wilmont Place Baptist Church is hosting its #51Church initiative in response to recent national abuses related to mandates on churches in response to COVID-19 safety measures. On Sundays at 6:00 p.m. on the steps of the Oklahoma capitol building, Wilmont is inviting all Christians for a peaceful open-air worship event to bring to light the growing government oversight of churches, mosques, and temples.

Most Churches, like other social groups, have worked hard to minimize the spread of Corona and to care for members and guests. Yet, undue restrictions with questionable justification such as the limit of singing and restricting bereavement visits, have placed an undue hardship on caring for the sick, fearful, and vulnerable. Such disregard culminated in the Supreme Court decision on July 24 to uphold Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak's decision to limit churches, regardless of facility size, to 50 people while businesses such as casinos and movie theaters were only limited to 50% capacity. Without a published explanation of their justification, the U.S. Supreme Court set a precedent that churches can be uniquely managed through government oversight.

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#51Church Event FAQ's

When
Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m each week for an unspecified number of weeks

Where
Oklahoma State Capitol Building (South side), 2300 N Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73105*

Program
A worship service of singing, praying, and preaching by evangelical leaders in Oklahoma

Why?
We wish to (1) make Christians aware of unnecessary government overreach in some states and at the federal level, and (2) to call on all Christian groups to begin living their faith in public so the world can be influenced by the essential contribution of of the Church. Please read our resolution below for more information.

Who Can Come?
Anyone of any faith (or none), political affiliation, or opinion. We ask all who attend to respect the sacred nature of our worship to the Christian God

What Should I Bring?
You can stand or sit if you bring your own lawn chair. We recommend a mask for the comfort of others. Please socially distance as possible. And if you have a Christian Bible, we hope to bring words of encouragement from passages you will enjoy reading on your own.

What does #51Church mean?
In light of the Supreme Court ruling to allow Governor Steve Sisolak's mandate for Nevada churches to limit attendance to 50 people, #51Church emphasizes the divine command and opportunity for churches to gather as their conscience dictates. #51Church values the recommendations of medical professionals and government officials tasked with the health and safety of Americans. Yet, churches must be free to exercise a religious conscience, weighing these recommendations against a divine calling. We look forward to the day our Nevada brothers and sisters can gather with 51 or more people without fear of government intervention.

Is #51Church a Church? Can I be a member of #51Church?
#51Church is not a church, but rather an initiative of the church. However, the #51Church initiative should encourage you to be actively engaged in your place of worship. Given some decisions being made in the political landscape, this is the time for believers to unite together. The place God has given us for unity is the assembly of the local congregation of believers. We recommend that you engage with your church by attending regularly, giving generously, serving faithfully, and praying aggressively.

Can you explain your blue and orange #51Church logo?
In our logo you will recognize two authorities established by God, government (Romans 13:1-7) and the church (Matthew 16:13-20). Both are by design and oversight of God. God's presence superintending these groups is represented in our logo with the universal Christian symbol for the Trinity. The work of Christ, symbolized by the cross, can be found both over all (in blue) and within all (in the orange background). You will note that neither the government nor the church are superior to the other. Rather, both are equal in God's plan and thereby intended to cooperate under His headship.

Can I find this on social media?
Yes! Be sure to follow https://www.facebook.com/51Church to see announcements, pictures, and updates from our Sunday night events. Pray about joining us!

Isn't this a legal First Amendment issue that should be left to the courts?
Certainly, the violations are in clear disregard of the First Amendment to the US Constitution as admitted by U.S. Supreme Court justices Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Alito. However, even without support by those in the legal community, #51Church believes that churches should appeal for freedom of religious expression. Theologically, Churches are answerable to government authority as part of their obedience to God. Yet, when government leaders are in disagreement with the biblical mandates of God, Churches are reminded that their sole allegiance is to God alone. For #51Church, this is primarily a faith matter that has been a struggle by Christians in both free and repressed government systems around the world for at least the last 2000 years. Christians convicted about their worship gathering would have to sin against God to adhere to the government mandates.

Are there restrooms available at the Capitol?
We believe the Capitol building closes at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. You should plan for Capitol grounds restrooms to be unavailable.

* The Oklahoma capital building was chosen as a backdrop to serve as a model for other state and church relationships. The Oklahoma State Capitol building represents the enduring and faithful partnerships that government and church should share. #51Church would like to demonstrate with such a backdrop an appreciation for Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma legislatures in their resolve to allow freedom of worship in Oklahoma, even during the chaos of a national pandemic. This site serves as an example of what we wish for churches in other states to experience in their local contexts.

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#51Church Resolution

We have crafted the official statement below to provide clarity of purpose.

WHEREAS, The local church is an entity that remains visible within our national culture with a divine mandate, and

WHEREAS, the Church, the body of Christ, unites all born again believers under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
 
WHEREAS, The body of Christ strives to submit to the divine authority God has given to those in government, and
 
WHEREAS, The Supreme Court decision in Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Steve Sisolak, Governor of Nevada, and the precedent it set, requires the body of Christ to defy our conscience and sin against God, and

WHEREAS, Oklahoma Governor Stitt and the Oklahoma Legislature have resisted attempts to inequitably restrict houses of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
 
WHEREAS, The local church is a necessary ministering-agent during times of national crisis bringing resources and hope to scared and hurting communities.
 
Now, therefore, be it
 
RESOLVED, That the body of Christ wants to stand with other believers in their persecution, and further
 
RESOLVED, That the church is calling on all local, state, and national governments to recognize the authority of God over them, and further
 
RESOLVED, That we are requesting the Supreme Court and all those with legislative power to care for churches equitably, and further
 
RESOLVED, That if God be pleased to help us endure, a peaceful and public gathering for worship in the public forum is intended to publicize and communicate the inalienable rights and commands granted by God for His people to honor Him above all other authorities, and finally

RESOLVED, That such a peaceful and public declaration should be received favorably by local, state, and federal government entities within the borders of the United States of America.

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How to Contact Our Initiative Leaders

You can reach our team leaders and point personnel by emailing 51church@wilmontplace.com. We will respond to you within one business day. Examples of reasons to contact #51Church:

• Something happened at a #51Church event you believe we need to know about.
• You want to schedule an interview or public statement.
• You have questions about your church or group attending a #51Church worship event.
• You would like to financially sponsor #51Church or persecuted Churches.

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National Background

Sample articles have been chosen from popular mainstream news sources to help educate the Church and bring awareness to the growing problem. Mainstream media sources were chosen because some believe right wing news sources are biased. An attempt to demonstrate the news from more broadly accepted news sources adds credibility to the reporting of First Amendment violations.

California bans places of worship from singing and chanting - Max occupancy of 25% or 100 people. (CNN)

Nevada churches restricted to 50 people while casinos and other business to 50%. (Washington Post)

NFL Players restricted from inside activities, including churches above 25% capacity. Praised for rally attendance.  (NBC Sports)

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About Wilmont Place Baptist Church: Wilmont Place Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist church of 150 active members on the south side of Oklahoma City. Text-driven expository preaching, Bible-teaching, personal growth, and community evangelism define the culture and direct the activities and events of the congregation. The church is working through a formal revitalization strategy in which members become family and the community becomes ministry. You can reach Wilmont online at www.WilmontPlace.com.

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