Pastor not practising what he preaches

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This article was published 22/12/2021 (1283 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Anti-mask, anti-lockdown pastor Tobias Tissen has been caught going against the gospel he’s been preaching to those opposing public health orders and mask mandates, straying from the message he’s been sending for more than a year.

The Carillon spotted Tissen, 27, at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport on Dec. 11 with fellow congregates wearing face masks and waiting to board a flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Tissen, a pastor with the Church of God (Restoration) south of Steinbach, was observed following all public health orders during the flight to his destination, and during his return trip eight days later.

Asked about the nature of his trip, Tissen said he was attending a pastor’s conference with fellow members of the church.

According to their website, the Church of God (Restoration) has six congregations in Mexico.

Asked about the requirement to be fully immunized against COVID-19 in order to travel by air, Tissen said the airline he used, WestJet, grants religious exemptions.

“I don’t see how [the government] can force everybody to take this vaccine because people have strong religious convictions…and they’re gonna have to acknowledge it,” he said outside the airport upon returning to Manitoba.

He added while, at some point, everyone needs to wear a mask, he takes a stronger stance on vaccines.

In order to travel by air, the federal government requires passengers provide proof of vaccination in an effort to curb COVID-19 transmission. As of Nov. 30, all passengers aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated with few exceptions.

Federal legislation, and WestJet policy, states travelers can board an aircraft without being fully immunized under some circumstances.

“While there are allowances for medical and religious exemptions that meet the Government’s prescribed criteria, these requests are required to be submitted a minimum of two weeks in advance of travel to request a medical exemption, and three weeks in advance of travel to request a religious exemption. Submitting a request for an exemption does not mean that it will be approved,” Morgan Bell, WestJet’s media and public relations manager, said in an email.

Tissen has repeatedly defied public health orders and encouraged others to do the same, citing religious and constitutional liberties.

He has also spoken at anti-mask and anti-lockdown rallies across Manitoba, and held church services in contravention of gathering limits, resulting in fines for violating public health orders.

In October, he was arrested on an outstanding warrant stemming from repeated offences, the most recent ticket coming from a May 15 rally he attended in Winnipeg decrying mask mandates. The charges have not yet been tested in court. The church has public health orders charges pending before provincial court.

While his bail conditions do not prohibit him from traveling, he is barred from contacting five individuals including Chris Saccoccia, a popular figure in Canada’s anti-mask movement.

A professor of theology and ethics said Tissen’s flip-flop on following public health orders is a case of not practising what one preaches.

“I imagine he might make an argument along the lines of it was necessary to get there…it doesn’t mean he’s in favour of them,” said Robert Dean, associate professor of theology and ethics at Providence University College in Otterburne.

As for religious exemptions, Dean said Christians were arguably at the forefront of past vaccination campaigns, noting they were strong proponents of inoculating against smallpox.

Misinformation on the internet and Mennonites’ historic distrust of government have contributed to a rise of conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine stances, Dean speculated.

“A Christian theological understanding of freedom is that we’re most truly free when we’re free to love and serve God and our neighbor, but you don’t give me anything that restricts me in any way,” Dean said.

“We’ve confused the concept of freedom with the freedom of the possible.”

Tissen was one of three individuals and seven churches to challenge the constitutionality of public health orders in a court case that began in May. The group claimed public health orders went against Canadian’s constitutional freedom to gather.

In an October decision, Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal ruled the restrictions were justified given the severity of the pandemic.

Outside the airport, Tissen was asked what his congregation would think of his decision to mask up to board a flight.

He replied that if a story was published there would be online backlash “of likes you might not be aware of.”

Alex Steigerwald, Tissen’s defence lawyer, declined to comment Monday.