(ChurchLeaders) A Pentecostal pastor in Maine is speaking out about a COVID-19 outbreak that health officials link to a gathering at his church. After conducting contact tracing, Maine authorities say 60 coronavirus cases are now associated with an early-October fellowship event held at Brooks Pentecostal Church (BPC), located in the small town of Brooks, Maine. They’ve connected cases from that event to cases that emerged in four local public schools as well as a long-term care facility.
In an October 20 Facebook post, Pastor Matthew Shaw expresses “sadness over the resulting sickness that has been spread by the virus,” adding that “the origin of the virus is unclear.” Five days later, in a Facebook video Shaw expresses “regret” and apologizes to the community—but then clarifies that the apology applies to supporters of the church, not to people who have an “agenda” against it.