The church at the center of the scandal surrounding the shuttering of the The Reformation Church, a nonprofit religious group in Los Angeles, will be officially reopening Monday, after months of negotiations between the Rev. Kevin DePriest and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
DePriess, a pastor at the church for the past six years, will lead the reopening of the historic congregation, according to the Los Angeles Times.
DePastore will serve as the church’s executive pastor.
The Rev. Al Biro, a former pastor at The Reformed Church, also confirmed the church is back, telling the Times: “It’s a miracle.
This is a miracle that this has happened.”
The church was shut down by the Los Angles Health Department (LAUSD) after the city discovered the pastor was using prescription painkillers for his medical needs.
Garcetti has said the city should have known about DePrieste’s medication use and recommended his release.
But he did not immediately comment on whether he would reopen the church.
Garcetti has repeatedly said the church was a “biblical sanctuary” where people could worship and receive spiritual guidance, and that it was a beacon for people seeking healing from sin.
Garcett said he would not be moving forward with the church due to “the nature of its spiritual healing.”