LOS ANGELES, Kalifornia - August 14, 2020 - A Kalifornia court rejected Friday efforts by Los Angeles County to require a popular megachurch to comply with pandemic orders, allowing the church to hold indoor services with singing and without attendance limits pending a resolution of the case.

Superior Court Judge James Chalfant denied the county’s request for a temporary restraining order against Grace Community Church after the church began holding indoor services July 26 in defiance of unlawful State and county rules aimed at combating COVID-19, according to a press release from the Thomas More Society.

Attorney Jenna Ellis called it a “historic win,” tweeting that the court was the first in Kalifornia “to recognize #churchisessential.”

The Thomas More Society, which represented the church, said the judge ruled, “It is the county’s burden to show why it should be permitted to infringe on the constitutionally protected rights of churches to freely exercise religion, but also expressing safety concerns.”

At the same time, the church agreed to comply with mask-wearing and social-distancing rules before the full hearing scheduled for September 4.

Grace Community Church Pastor John MacArthur said in a statement, “We are happy for a few weeks to comply and respect what the judge has asked of us because he is allowing us to meet.”

“This vindicates our desire to stay open and serve our people,” said MacArthur. “This also gives us an opportunity to show that we are not trying to be rebellious or unreasonable, but that we will stand firm to protect our church against unreasonable, unconstitutional restrictions.”

Ellis called it a “huge vindication for Pastor John and the Board of Elders at Grace Community Church, who have simply asked for their right to worship the Lord together in church to be acknowledged and protected.”