Coronavirus could force churches to close. Some have turned to the government for help
As churches struggle to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, thousands have turned to the U.S. government for relief.
Across the country, congregations have transitioned to online and drive-in worship services as COVID-19 spreads. But empty churches mean people aren’t giving as much in donations, according to Reuters.
It’s possible that the financial constraints will force faith centers to shut their doors, the news outlet reported last month.
“It would not surprise me at all if 5% of churches close over the next year,” Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, told Reuters.
Smaller faith groups, like Rev. Rickey Scott’s congregation of 175, may have the most trouble surviving the coronavirus pandemic, The Washington Post reported last month.
Scott, leader of East St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church in Mississippi, has “cut all of his staff” and moved services online, where some worshipers may not be able to see them, newspaper reported.
“It’s like a father who can’t do for their child,” he told The Washington Post. “Like if God sent Jesus to Earth but couldn’t do nothing for him. There’s nothing I can do, and that’s one of the worst things a father can say to a child.”
Seeking government relief
LifeWay Research says it surveyed Protestant pastors and found 40% had “applied for government assistance offered through the CARES Act or the Small Business Administration,” according to results published last week.
“This was very helpful to us,” Paul Ott of Texas’ Grace United Methodist Church said of his congregation’s $52,000 loan, according to NPR. “[This year] was not going to be a good year for us. We knew we were going to be in real trouble.”
But some pastors of predominantly black congregations told the news outlet they had trouble getting money through the federal government.
Of at least 12,000 Catholic churches that sent in applications, about 9,000 were approved for the Paycheck Protection Program, which is designed to help businesses keep employees on board, CBS News reported Thursday. More than 200 synagogues also got loan money, the Jewish Federations of North America told the news organization.
Not everyone has been on board with churches being able to apply for coronavirus-related relief.
“Emergency #coronavirus #SBAloans are meant to help small businesses pay their employees during this economic crisis – not channel taxpayer dollars to private religious institutions,” the Interfaith Alliance wrote April 3 on Twitter.
Alison Gill of American Atheists says she’s not against churches getting money but is opposed to those loans being forgiven, Deseret News reported on April 10.
“What we’re asking for is that the portion used for inherently religious activity like clergy salary be required to be paid back,” Gill told the newspaper.
For its programs, the U.S. Small Business Association says faith groups are considered nonprofits and must use 75% or more of loan funds to pay workers.
“SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities,” according to its website.
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Coronavirus could force churches to close. Some have turned to the government for help."
