LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A virtual town hall hosted by Louisville's mayor brought together leaders from different faiths to discuss support against holding in-person services over Holy Week. Of those not included in the live virtual discussion on Wednesday morning, was another Louisville pastor still planning to hold a traditional Easter service. To congregations who meet, Governor Andy Beshear gave a warning that they "can probably expect to see us" and "we'll be taking additional steps" to prevent it from happening. 

"If you are the leader of a congregation, if you are charged with protecting your flock, don't do something that will mean that there are fewer people at Christmas than the service you want to put on now because they have died. So, we'll be taking additional steps and those that want to openly claim that they're still going to be doing these things knowing that they're going to be putting people in harm's way, can probably expect to see us," Beshear said in his latest coronavirus briefing on Wednesday evening. 

Earlier, Spectrum News 1 spoke with Pastor Dr. Wilbur Browning, Sr., who leads Centennial Olivet Baptist Church in Louisville. He's planning on holding an Easter service, although he's asking the elderly or those with compromised health and underlying conditions to stay at home. 

"I do believe that it's a personal conviction of those who are of the faith to make the determination when it comes to matters of The Church. And we believe that there is still a separation of church and state. So, that's kind of where our position is. We're not doing this in any acts of civil disobedience. This is not what that's about," said Browning. 

Browning added that his congregation is small, there are handwashing and sanitizing stations, and there is social distancing. 

"But we believe that it is our covenental duty and privilege in God to gather together to worship. So, that's what we've chosen to do. We have not neglected responsibility for looking after our congregation's health or well being," he said. 

Mayor Greg Fischer hosted leaders of the city's faith community on the day Passover begins.

Rabbi Robert Slosberg of Congregation Adath Jeshuran remarked on how the holiday is usually celebrated, "all my memories regarding Passover of being surrounded by family and friends- a typical Passover gathering has 18 to 20 people at our home. At the synagogue, we were scheduled to have a Passover Seder, the ceremony and meal for 250 people."

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, the Archdiocese of Louisville, also supported Fischer's plea not to gather, saying: "Catholic social teaching at its very bedrock is the common good. And so, we have no difficulty justifying our efforts to protect people, especially the most vulnerable." 

"It like, gets me in my heart just to say that because we want to come together as a community and as a people. We want to hug on eachother, we want to celebrate our faith traditions together. But we have to be smart," Mayor Fischer said. 

During this time, pastors with The Salvation Army of Louisville are offering 'pastoral care' counseling services for the ministers struggling to cope with all the changes due to coronavirus. Maj. Dean Moretz tells them to "seek new ways to minister."

"Of course, we've been moved outside of our comfort zone. That brings up an uncertainty in our heart and the desire for us to want to minister to them. Most pastors that I've talked to have their own congregation. They want to minister to their own congregation," says Moretz.