Released: Thursday, October 22, 2020

Thank you to all those who were part of the One Voice for Liberties Conference! 

We continue to receive great reports from the ONE Voice for Liberties Conference. It was a blessing to see the many who came and were themselves blessed! We deeply appreciated those churches and individuals who gave to make this conference possible. For those who still desire to give toward the conference, you can do so at www.vaib.org or send a check made out to “VAIB” and mail it to PO Box 6686, Ashland, VA 23005. Please add the notation “Conference” in the memo line. As a nonprofit, all donations to VAIB are tax deductible, and a financial statement is available from the Virginia Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs.

It’s been a joy to hear the praise reports from so many churches over the last months! Most pastors report good attendance (about eighty percent or higher of pre-COVID attendance numbers) and steady giving throughout the crisis. I want to express my deepest appreciation for those churches who continue to give in support of VAIB’s mission.

Back on the Road

After months of being at home, Carol and I are ready to be back in churches! So far, only a handful of churches have scheduled meetings for this fall. We’re starting now to fill our 2021 calendar. Depending on how long the General Assembly session lasts, we should be available beginning April 11. Contact the office now to ensure you get the date you want. You can contact me at ealiff@vaib.org or 804-789-1278.

Legal Resources Related to COVID-19

Some of you may be aware of a legal case out of Culpeper in which an agreement was reached by a judge with Governor Ralph Northam. Four men were suing over the restrictions on churches in the governor’s latest executive order 67. The judge ruled that restrictions on churches with attendance under 250 would only be through executive order 63, meaning that only the mask requirement applied inside churches. However, the responsibility was on the individual and not the church insofar as enforcement. VAIB is thankful for this agreement but is disappointed there was no clarification given for churches over 250 in attendance, as I believe some relief should have been applied to those churches as well.

What should a church or Christian school do if there is exposure within the church to COVID-19? Do they need to close? Legal counsel for VAIB wants to be sure you do not cross a legal line. You can contact me or find help at ncll.org/COVID-19.

In Conclusion

Whatever the results of the election (and it may be weeks before final results are known), the work of VAIB continues. Your investment in VAIB continues to provide the resources to keep our voices heard at the Capital. It’s better to be proactive than reactive. Preventing a problem is better than trying to fix a disaster. By working together, with one voice, we can maintain our religious liberties for future generations.

Sincerely,

Rev. Eddy Aliff
Executive Director

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