Well, we are right now in week 12 of the coronavirus crisis and the reopening of our society, as many of, is gathering steam. This past week, the reopening began to reach churches here in California. And it did so at a quicker pace than previously expected. After our president ordered all churches to be opened immediately in his announcement last Friday, our governor held a press briefing in which he said, and I quote, I have deep reverence for parishioners that want to reconnect with their community.
And to their faith and be able to practice accordingly, we're just a few weeks away from meaningful modifications that will allow that to happen, unquote. Guys, that was 9 days ago and our governor was talking about reopening churches being a few weeks away. Well, 3 days later, on Monday of this past week, our governor made an announcement allowing churches to reopen and to gather immediately so long as they follow state. And county health guidelines, we should not fail to appreciate what a dramatic leap forward this is that God has brought about for churches throughout our state since the new federal, state and county guidelines have been published, church leaders throughout.
The state of California have been combing through these guidelines and making a variety of nuanced decisions at this point. Some of these churches are meeting today and seeking to adhere to the guidelines that have been given to them. Some are meeting today and they're picking and choosing. Which guidelines they will follow, ignoring some of the guidelines and seeking to follow others.
Some churches are not meeting this Sunday, but they plan to meet next weekend, and others plan on continuing doing online services, and they'll just wait until the present guidelines are relaxed beyond their current level. These are not easy days for church leaders, and I know that church leaders around our state and our nation could use your prayers. I want to take a few minutes to explain to you what the Cornerstone elders have decided to do. But before I do that, I want to very quickly give you 5 principles that have guided us in our decision....
