Many dioceses evade pandemic year cash crunch -- at least for now : New Westminster

Notes: "The diocese has been about to provide $1.73 million in financial support to its parishes, says Shailene Caparas, director of finance. Assessments were cancelled for five months, while the diocese paid salaries of priests in parishes, with less than $750,000 in consolidated trust. Parishes were also authorized to draw up to 20 % of their funds out of the trust. In the fall [of 2020], the diocese added $132,000 of support for technology grants for livestreaming needs, and it underwrote the cost of Zoom licenses for the pandemic's first six months. 'We also initiated appeals and offered recommendations to the federal government to ensure our parishes would be eligible for the available government subsidies', Caparas says. The pandemic has also moved the diocese into exploring how to 'serve God's mission with our finances -- in lieu of envelope giving, almost all parishes not have the online giving option'. In 2021, salaries for clergy and lay staff will be kept at the current level. Before the pandemic, the diocese decided to increase its commitment to the national church and has maintained that through 2020, despite the financial challenges it is facing". [Complete text of article.]

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease) - Canada; COVID-19 (Disease) - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Anglican Church of Canada. Diocese of New Westminster - Finance; Caparas, Shailene; Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS); Online worship - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Zoom - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Electronic church giving - Anglican Church of Canada; Online giving - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada