As the pandemic slowly begins to loosen its grip in the United States, the economic reality is still having an impact across the Florida Conference.
Like many businesses, restaurants and schools, United Methodist churches are maneuvering and making adjustments to contend with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. Some have emerged with a few battle scars but are regrouping. Others are still struggling.
To meet the needs of those churches still trying to recover, the Florida United Methodist Foundation is teaming up with the Florida Conference for its largest one-time financial relief assistance program ever.
“This will have the clout to make a real difference to a significant number of churches. No doubt about it, this is a God thing.” — Rev. Mark Becker, Florida United Methodist Foundation
The foundation is providing a $250,000 grant that will be matched by the conference. The combined $500,000 will be distributed to churches in need this fall, with the conference’s district superintendents determining the recipients and the amounts they’ll receive.
The grants aren’t meant to save churches on the brink of closure. Instead, they’re designed to give a boost to those directly affected by the pandemic.
“What we’re looking at are those churches that had to dip into their reserves to stay on track,” conference treasure Craig Smelser said. “Things are starting to look up, but once you fall behind, it might be hard to catch up. We could provide that little help they need.”
With just over 600 churches and ministries in the conference, Smelser estimates between “one-fourth or one-third” are not as financially secure as they were before the pandemic.
Collaborating to meet needs
The idea for the emergency relief came from conversations between Smelser and the Rev. Mark Becker, the foundation’s president.
The Rev. Alex Shanks, assistant to Bishop Ken Carter, also gave his input after talking with pastors about the challenges of dealing with lockdowns, a drop in giving, keeping members engaged virtually, maintaining ministries under trying circumstances and the slower-than-expected recovery.
“Alex told me that a year into this, some churches were still hurting,” Becker said.
In March 2020, the foundation responded to the COVID crisis by giving churches with outstanding Development Fund loans an option to pay interest only for three months.
With no end in sight to the pandemic, the relief was extended until the end of the year and then beyond to churches that requested additional time. That gave 66 churches an estimated $1.49 million in cash on hand to cover lost revenue.
Churches also applied for and received loans from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, but it became apparent to conference leaders that more needed to be done.
Becker presented the idea for the matching emergency financial relief at the foundation’s board meeting March 20.
“This way, we all had skin in the game,” Becker said. “Our board could not have been more gracious about the proposal. The foundation is in partnership with the church, and it’s hard to be partners with an entity that is struggling or failing. It’s our role to help them be what they are called to be.”
This isn’t the first time the two organizations have worked together to meet needs. From 2015 to 2019, the foundation and conference partnered through the Passing the Torch Fund to provide debt relief, scholarships and renewal leave grants to clergy. That included a one-time $5,000 grant — split between the foundation and conference pension board — each June to newly ordained clergy.
The foundation’s commitment to the five-year initiative was $1 million. Going forward, the foundation will continue to provide $5,000 to new clergy and other assistance as funds are available. In 2020, $65,000 was given to 13 clergy at ordination.
Smelser says it was a “very pleasant surprise” when the foundation approved the emergency funding. Each partner will draw from their reserves for their half of the initiative.
The conference plans to have the guidelines in place for the special grants by early summer. Then the real work will be in the hands of the district superintendents, who are charged with identifying the churches that need the funding and setting the grant amounts.
Smelser says the distributions should begin by fall.
Ministry in a different world
“This is an example of the conference and foundation listening to what is happening to local churches, and how they can help,” said the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Weems, district superintendent of the South East District. “It’s a wonderful and unexpected response.”
And a vital one, she says. Of the 65 churches she oversees from Delray Beach to Key West, she estimates about 30 percent are suffering some level of financial distress due to COVID-19.
In selecting the recipients, Weems says she will follow the guidelines and reflect on her conversations with pastors and parishioners. Her decision will also consider how the financial gift can make a long-term difference for the church.
In her 25 years in ministry — including the last six as a district superintendent — Weems said this is the most difficult time for churches.
“It’s not just about finances. It’s also about technology. It’s about property issues. It’s about adjusting to changing demographics,” she said. “Without the pandemic, the church as a whole had enough challenges. This put a whole new burden on existing ones.”
Providing a virtual option for members has been one of those new challenges. Prior to the pandemic, some had never ventured into that territory.
When it became imperative, they had to find the resources to make it happen.
“The virtual church is not going away. And technology will change as time goes on,” she said. “That’s an expense that might not have been in the budget. Now, they have to fund the staff and equipment to stay relevant.”
Becker gives credit to pastors and their staffs, who are charged with “rewriting the book” when it comes to finding solutions and moving forward during this unprecedented time.
“Some of them are still recovering from surviving the Great Recession,” he said. “They got their feet back on the ground, started gaining momentum, and now this.”
Becker admits the amount of emergency funding between the foundation and the conference was “a lot more” than he originally thought it would be.
“This will have the clout to make a real difference to a significant number of churches,” he said. “No doubt about it, this is a God thing.”