Bishop who held in-person services defying the social distancing guidelines dies of coronavirus

A Virginia bishop who previously defied social distancing measurements to avoid mass gatherings died after testing positive for coronavirus.

The 66-year-old Bishop Gerald O. Glenn, of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church, confronted the idea of nationwide isolation guidelines. Sadly, he lost his life over the weekend to the deadly virus. The church elder, Bryan Nevers, announced Glenn’s death on the congregation’s Facebook page:

“The first thing I asked God is, ‘Why?’ The bishop has touched our lives in so many ways.”

Bishop Glenn’s wife, the 65-year-old Mother Marcietia Glenn, also tested positive for COVID-19, as their daughter Mar-Gerie Crawley claims.

Previously, Crawley has stated that her father was on a ventilator. As Distractify reports, she wrote in a Facebook post:

“It becomes very real to you. I just beg people to understand the severity and the seriousness of this, because people are saying it’s not just about us, it’s about everyone around us.”

Furthermore, Mar-Gerie explains that her father had diverticulitis, so it wasn’t unusual for him to get fevers. She continues:

“The next day he was very lethargic, so my mom decided that evening, once his breathing became labored, she took him back [to the hospital] and at that point they kept him. They did the COVID-19 test on him and we got it back that day and it was positive.”

Bishop Glenn’s tragic death comes after he openly defied the social distancing restrictions that warned American residents to avoid nonessential mass gatherings.

Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam stated on March 17 that the people need to follow the federal guidelines and avoid gatherings of more than ten people.

On March 22, the New Deliverance Evangelistic Church’s bishop reportedly preached to a group of a ‘few dozen’ at an in-person service. There, Bishop Glenn claimed:

“I firmly believe that God is larger than this dreaded virus.”

As The New York Times reported, the bishop was incredibly devoted to his work, and he was willing to keep preaching unless he’s been jailed or hospitalized.

On the following day, the Virginian governor issued an executive order banning all public and private gatherings of 10 people or more. On April 4th, Bishop Glenn’s daughter revealed her father’s diagnosis.

In the post announcing the bishop’s death, the church asked its followers to allow his family to grieve in peace.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Bishop Gerald O. Glenn, the Founder, and Pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church on Saturday, April 11. at 9:00 p.m. Please be in prayer with us for Mother Marcietia Glenn, our first family, and the NDEC church family. We ask that you respectfully allow our First Family to grieve in their own way.”

Pastor Joe Ellison Jr from Richmond, Virginia, shared that he has always admired the late Bishop Glenn.

“He made me realize that I could be an outstanding pastor, outstanding husband, an outstanding father most importantly, an outstanding leader. The last thing he said was, ‘I love you son… Love your family… and I’ll see you soon’, not knowing that would be the last time that I would talk to him.”

On April 12th, after Bishop Gerald O. Glenn’s death, Sen. Mark R. Warner released a statement, saying:

“Bishop Glenn was my great friend for more than 20 years. He was an extraordinary spiritual and community leader, and we will all miss him very much.”

Senator Tim Kaine, also of Virginia, shared his condolences on his Twitter account:

My heart sinks as I learn this morning that Bishop Gerald Glenn, pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church, died yesterday from COVID-19. He was a friend and pillar of Richmond faith community. May all do as much for so many.

— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) April 12, 2020