No apology from pastor of Butte County church where 180 were exposed to COVID-19

Pastor Michael Jacobsen isn’t apologizing.

The leader of Palermo Bible Family Church in Butte County said Sunday that he doesn’t need to defend his decision to hold services in person a week earlier — an event at which an estimated 180 congregants were present with someone who had been infected with the coronavirus.

“May I just say to all of our church, you don’t need to defend us. When Jesus went before Pilate, he didn’t defend himself. So I don’t feel the need,” Jacobsen said in a half-hour sermon that was largely devoted to the criticism Palermo Bible has received. Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor who is said to have ordered Jesus’ crucifixion.

“I don’t feel the like the decision we made was irresponsible,” he said.

Jacobsen said he didn’t want to put anyone at risk, and that he’s self-quarantining. His sermon was preached to an empty sanctuary but was broadcast on the church’s Facebook page.

Butte County public health officials criticized the church for holding the service last week, saying it violated state and county stay-at-home orders. The service at the church, located south of Oroville, was held to mark Mother’s Day.

“Organizations that hold in-person services or gatherings are putting the health and safety of their congregations, the general public and our local ability to open up at great risk,” said county public health director Danette York in a news release last week. The church’s Mother’s Day service “comes at a cost of many hours and a financial burden to respond effectively to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19.” The announcement didn’t identify the church.

Butte County officials declined to say Monday how many people have tested positive, or provide details about what specific efforts are underway to track down the various people who attended the church and with whom they might have interacted.

Officials also declined to make an official available for an interview Monday.

“We are continuing an extensive contract tracing investigation,” Lisa Almaguer, a spokeswoman for the county’s health department, said in an email.

Newsom urges caution on large gatherings

Gov. Gavin Newsom reiterated Monday that large gatherings such as church services won’t be allowed for several more weeks. But he did announce more lenient guidelines for letting other counties reopen their economies and the state Department of Health announced that religious organizations could reopen offices for personal counseling.

So far Butte has largely escaped the coronavirus pandemic, reporting 22 confirmed cases without a single fatality. It is one of 24 counties that have received permission from the state to let retailers and restaurants reopen.

In his sermon, Jacobsen confirmed that a congregant had tested positive for COVID-19 but wasn’t feeling any symptoms while attending the Mother’s Day service at the church, which is also known as PBFC Ministries.

“They didn’t do it intentionally,” he said, referring to the congregant. “It was never in my heart to put our church in harm’s way.”

He said he felt compelled to bring his congregation together after two months of lockdown, a period that included Easter. “I’m faulted for having a desire to surround myself with the people of God,” he said.

Dressed in all black and sitting in front of a drum kit, the pastor said he’s received plenty of criticism but isn’t bothered by it.

“Not everybody loves us like God loves us,” he said. “When you strive to lead … when you step up, you’re going to become a target.

“We love people everywhere, even those of you that are right now showing some real negativity.”

His decision to self-quarantine after the Mother’s Day service was done “not out of fear,” he said. “I want to comply (with) the public health department.”

This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 3:00 PM.