A Junction City Church pastor says he will will hold services despite Governor Laura Kelly’s order banning gatherings of 10 or more.

Pastor Aaron Harris of Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City tweeted saying that the Governor’s order is unconstitutional.

“The Kansas Supreme Court’s decision does not validate the governor’s order. The legislative council may not have had legal authority to revoke it, but it is still unconstitutional,” said Harris.

“We’ll be having services tomorrow. I hope and pray that our local LE (law enforcement) will respect the constitution,” he continued.

Republican Legislative leaders say they tried to block Kelly’s order because it would carry possible legal penalties and even an arrest if a church holds service.

“The question was never whether people should gather in church during these times. The answer to that is clearly no. The question was whether people should be arrested and jailed for going to church. The Governor believed they should be. We think that goes too far,” said Speaker Ron Ryckman (R-Olathe), Majority Leader Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita), and Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch (R-Ottawa) in a joint statement.

Several have replied to his tweet criticizing his decision.

“Are the grocery stores okay? What about fast food? Will you be equally upset if I get the virus and unintentionally spread it to your friends at Walmart? (Not one of the six cases in Geary County have any connection to churches.),” he replied.