A Winnipeg church with campuses also in other Manitoba cities as well as Alberta, says that it will offer religious exemptions to attendees for COVID vaccines.

In an email sent to their mailing list for both their Calgary and Winnipeg churches, Springs Church says they will give vaccination exemptions.

"With the vaccine mandate deadlines fast approaching, as a church, we have made the decision to provide Religious Exemptions to our attenders if they think that may help them with their employment," the letter reads.

"We want to remind you that these Religious Exemptions may not apply to all employee situations or be accepted by all employers."

The wording aligns with Alberta's vaccine mandate that was first going to go into effect on October 31 and has since been extended to November 30, but the email went to both congregations. 

"Currently, for those eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination there is no exemption for religious reasons. At this time, we are only permitting a medical exemption under very specific circumstances," a Province of Manitoba spokesperson says.

Manitoba's Health Minister's press secretary says "our government encourages all eligible Manitobans to get vaccinated to keep each other and their community safe," in response to the Springs letter. 

"We continue to believe that the overreach our government is taking with our freedoms will be challenged and come to an end. With Remembrance Day coming soon we need to remember the many lives that were lost in fighting to keep our country free, we cannot let our freedoms end."

Mennonite Church Canada announced earlier this month that they would not be issuing any religious exemptions, saying vaccinations are part of the command to love your neighbours.

We have reached out to Springs Church for comment.

In the winter, Springs Church in Winnipeg challenged the closure of in-person church services, hosting drive-in services. They went to court and lost, but the Public Health Orders were updated a short time later to allow for drive-in events.