With 35 congregation members and a Spanish-speaking congregation for a tenant, Rev. Franklin Lowe is hoping and praying Cliftondale Church of the Nazarene can survive coronavirus.
“We haven’t made a bank deposit since March 8,” said Lowe.
Worship buildings closed their doors when coronavirus triggered social distancing precautions almost a month ago. The faithful now tune in remotely for online services instead of dropping money onto collection plates and clergy scramble to find new ways to bring in money to pay the bills.
Lowe has waived rent for Cliftondale Nazarene’s tenant congregation and he is sending church members a letter asking them to make a contribution or “tithing” to sustain church finances. He anticipates the church will have to dip into financial reserves to pay the bills.
Our Lady, Star of the Sea in Marblehead is open for prayer from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. But social distancing suspended offertory collections Catholic parishes rely on for financial support, meaning the church’s 12 staff members are working reduced hours.
The Rev. Ronald D. Coyne sent letters to 1,800 registered parishioners three weeks ago.
“I asked them to support us as best as they can. So far, it’s been a wonderful response,” Coyne said.
Coronavirus has caught clergy in a bind. Even as they struggle to sustain finances to support worship, including building expenses, utilities and staff salaries, they know their congregations include people who have lost jobs or shuttered businesses.
East Coast International Church pastor Kurt Lange said his 500-member Lynn congregation has, to date, dodged coronavirus’ financial bullet.
“We projected 300 people would lose their jobs. So far, it’s been a dozen,” Lange said.
He said East Coast shifted quickly to remote worship last month, offering 52 worship services, meetings and participation groups online every week and initiating remote giving to support church finances.
Rabbi Richard Perlman said Temple Ner Tamid’s congregation includes people who have lost jobs and endured business closings. The Peabody temple has applied for federal small business assistance.
“Hopefully, that will soften the blow,” Perlman said.
Centre Congregational Church in Lynnfield has also applied for federal money in an effort to keep providing income for two dozen church employees and Tower Day School faculty.
The school operates on church property and Rev. Nancy Rottman said Centre relies on congregation members’ pledges and school tuition revenue.
Lowe and Coyne said smaller churches are not going to survive the blow coronavirus has dealt to church finances. Coyne said offertory collections are as vital to parishes as tuition is to colleges. Many small churches, said Lowe, are located in big expensive-to-maintain buildings that were once filled with worshippers.
St. George Greek Orthodox Church congregation members realize the Lynn church is having a tough time financially with coronavirus dropping contribution levels below what they were in 2019.
“People are responding positively. One family sent $2,000, another, $250. The bottom line is people love their church,” said Father George Tsoukalas.
Before coronavirus hit, First Church in Swampscott, Congregational shared its sprawling building with groups that rented it for meetings and catering. Social distancing limitations ended that income source, for now, and the church launched an “e-giving platform.”
“So far, people have been generous, but I expect a decline because people are losing their jobs,” said Rev. Ian Holland.
He will meet with congregation members in May to evaluate church finances with an eye on expenses versus congregation contributions. St. Mary’s Church in Lynn is also supplementing traditional offertory giving with electronic donations.
“But people are facing financial challenges,” said the Rev. Brian L. Flynn.
Lowe said Cliftondale Church of the Nazarene’s financial health will depend on the congregation members’ financial well being.
“We’re fortunate no one has been laid off so far,” he said.
