Churches push to reopen

More than 260 pastors from across Massachusetts are pushing Gov.

Charlie Baker's reopening advisory board to consider churches as essential and allow them to be in the first phase of reopening currently scheduled for May 18.

THIS DEBATE.MATT, GOOD MORNING.REPORTER: GOOD MORNING.THE ADAMS SQUARE BAPTIST CHURCHAS BEEN IN DEFIANCE OF THESTATE'S ORDER PROHIBITINGGATHERINGS OF MORE THAN 10PEOPLE.OTHER CHURCHES HAVE FOLLOWEDTHOSE RULES TO CHANGE ON MAY18.THOSE 260 CONGREGATIONS WROTEIN PART, CHURCH IS ESSENTIALFOR US.THE WORD OF GOD COMMANDS US TONOT FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLING OFOURSELVES TOGETHER.WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TOTEMPORARILY ADAPT TOEXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCETHE PASTOR OF THE ADAM'S SQUAREBAPTIST CHURCH DID NOT SIGNTHAT LETTER.BUT HE SENT HIS OWN LETTER LASTMONTH TO GOVERNOR BAKEREXPLAINI HIS REASONS FORREOPENING.THE NEW COMPLAINT CARRIES A$500 FINWE SHOULD POINT OUT, THEARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON ALSO DIDNOT SIGN ON TO THE LETTER.A SPOKESMAN TELLS US THEY'RECOMMITTED TO WORKING WITHPUBLIC OFFICIALS ON THE TIMINGOF REOPENING THEIRCHUR