Read the announcements from Bishop Fisher

Chronological Updates:

June 10, 2020

Letter to Clergy & Wardens: Worksheet and Guide for A Journey By Stages

While the Bishops’ Pastoral Directive, A Journey by Stages , provides specific guidance about how to operate as congregations during this time, that document was issued as just that: to guide Episcopalians across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in our two dioceses. Yet context matters. This letter and the COVID-19 Congregational Checklist are intended to provide further support to our congregations in the work that lies ahead. Of course there will be unusual circumstances and special situations. We hope that many of these issues will be addressed by local clergy, in consultation with lay leaders and the shared wisdom of deanery clergy. We are entering into a time where we need to rely on your experience, wisdom, and the gifts you have been given.

Nothing in these guidelines supersedes guidance from the CDC, MA DPH, or your local Boards of Health. The goal is to provide more detailed guidance as a follow-up to A Journey By Stages to help you make faithful decisions as local Christian communities.

While the length of this document and the magnitude of the work ahead of us may seem daunting, we recommend that you use the following worksheet as you engage with parish leadership in conversation, decision making, and preparation. Engaging the worksheet together can help provide direction forward and shape conversations. The finished product will be what’s submitted to your dean for further conversation and approval.

Your colleagues in ministry,
The Rev. Dr. Richard Simpson, Canon to the Ordinary
The Rev. Vicki Ix, Canon for Communications
The Rev. Aileen DiBenedetto, Dean of the Worcester Clericus
The Rev. Peter Swarr, Dean of the Hampden Clericus
The Rev. Michael Tuck, Dean of the Berkshire Clericus
The Rev. Tanya Wallace, Dean of the Franklin-Hampshire Clericus

• Read the full letter here
• A Journey By Stages — Part 2

June 10, 2020

Resources from the June 10, 2020 Financial Town Hall (Zoom meeting) with Canons Steve Abdow and Susan Olbon

• Director’s and Officer’s Coverage
• Letter to rectors, wardens, and treasurers about remote giving options
• Coronavirus: Safety Tips for Religious Organizations
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Benefits
• PDF of slides from the Financial Town Hall

May 18, 2020

Bishops Issue Guidelines for Resuming In-Person Worship

This evening we are sharing guidelines for returning to in-person worship. I have worked with Bishop Alan Gates and Bishop Gayle Harris of the Diocese of Massachusetts so that the Episcopal Church in the Commonwealth can walk together in these days. The canons and deans of both dioceses have been an integral part of this work, and I am particularly grateful for the leadership of Canon Bill Parnell of the Diocese of Massachusetts and our own Canon to the Ordinary, Rich Simpson, throughout this process.
While the Governor’s plan goes into effect tomorrow, I remind you all that no congregation may return to in-person worship before July 1, and only when the criteria for readiness have been met, affirmed by the deans and approved by diocesan leadership.

Following the Governor’s announcement this morning, the Boston Globe reports that several epidemiologists have said that “a second wave of infection is possible, likely even. They noted that a return to church and worship services could be especially problematic.” It is reported that several large outbreaks in other states have originated in churches. Gathering is still not safe. Our first priority remains the health and well-being of our communities. We must be deliberate and comprehensive in our preparations. Our deans are developing a checklist specific to our congregations that will be part of preparing for Stage 2. This checklist will be sent to rectors and wardens as soon as it is complete.

I continue to be grateful for your faith in this time of pandemic. We have continued to be the Church in new and hopeful ways. I bid your prayers for those who have died from this virus and for all who grieve them. Doctors, nurses, essential workers are living icons of God’s love for us, and they need our prayers especially. Jesus’ mission of mercy, compassion and hope continues with passion and creativity. It is good for us to imagine gathering again as God’s people. We will undertake this journey in stages trusting that God goes before us and beside us

The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher

Bishop

April 20, 2020

Paycheck Protection Program Loan

We have good news to share with you. The federally funded Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides payroll loans available to not-for-profits, including churches, to cover compensation and employer-paid health and retirement benefits for eight weeks.

For payroll purposes, the IRS recognizes the Diocese as the sole employer of all of our congregations’ employees. Because of this we were able to successfully apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan on behalf of all our congregations with a single application.

This loan will turn into a grant at the end of the eight-week period if employment and compensation levels stay within 90% of where when we began. We are confident that the total payroll and employee count for the diocese as a whole will remain as it was when this started and the loan will become a grant. We will use figures for all the congregations combined and not for each individual parish so don’t worry if there has been a small change in your staff. Having said, that, however, the next two months is not the time to reduce staff; this Act is meant to provide not only individuals but local communities with some level of economic security in precarious times.

All employees who receive a W2 from the Diocese are covered, including preschool employees and clergy. The intent of this loan program is to help organizations keep their employees whole over the next few months so that the organization remains properly staffed and can continue to operate as the crisis subsides. The goal is to keep people employed for the long run. We are proud that you have been able to maintain staffing levels and we want you to be able to continue that while we discover what our ministries will look like going forward.

The payroll and benefits for the week of April 20 will go out to employees as it normally does, but your bank accounts will not be debited by the Diocese.

This funding from our government, along with the forgiveness of your April and May assessments to support our common ministry will give all of our congregations some relief from the financial pressure we are experiencing. To say this is highly unusual would be an understatement. Please take this time to review your budgets and financial projections for the period following these two months. Canon Steve is available to assist you.

We are in uncharted waters now and will need to use our creativity and know-how to make plans to continue our ministries at the very time that the world’s needs are so great. Our neighbors need us to be the Church more than ever, and we were made for times like this! By the time we get to the fiftieth day of Easter, the Feast of Pentecost, we pray that the Holy Spirit will be helping us to get clearer about what it means to do the work God has given us to do in this time and place, and always with God’s help. May we look more and more like resurrection and not just resuscitation. To do that, our budgets going forward should reflect our plan for ministry both locally and globally.

May the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up and what was old is being made new. As we move through our fears and step into faith, may we see this as a time of revitalization and not merely of survival, for our diocese and for each and every congregation.

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April 2, 2020

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act impact on the congregations of the Diocese of Western MA

The federal government is providing the country with $2 trillion in financial relief and support. There are a number of options for employers to choose from as to how to apply for and receive aid. Employers can only choose one option.

The Paycheck Protection Program (one option in the CARES Act) offers loans to not for profits including churches for two months of payroll expense. The loan is forgiven and becomes a grant if eight weeks after the loan originates the employee count is the same as it was at the start of the loan. The intent is to get organizations through two months so they are in a better position to successfully operate afterwards, and to keep people employed.

Since we do payroll for the entire diocese under one tax ID, for payroll purposes the IRS considers all employee to be employed by the Diocesan office. We believe that parishes would not be successful seeking payroll relief on their own since their tax IDs are not recognized by the IRS.

Therefore we are in the process of submitting ONE APPLICATION FOR THE ENTIRE DIOCESE. Parishes should not seek relief through the CARES Act on their own. We have a strong relationship with our SBA Lender bank. We have received counsel that this is a realistic path. Our bank tells me they will be ready to accept applications on Monday.

Please utilize existing resources to keep your employees whole while this unfolds. If it goes how we hope it will be a great benefit to our ministries.

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March 26, 2020

We understand the financial pressure congregations are facing these days. This afternoon Diocesan Council voted to suspend the collection of Common Ministry assessments for a period of two months. Assessment payments for April and May have been forgiven. We will cancel those two scheduled EFT withdrawals. 

If your congregation is making ends meet and you are able to continue supporting our Common Ministry, we will gratefully accept all or some portion of your assessment. Your contributions will be used to support other congregations. You may send a check, if this feels right. Regardless, we offer this suspension to enable you to continue God’s mission locally.

CHURCH PENSION GROUP PAYMENT DEFERRALS:

Church Insurance will be extending payments for 90 days beyond the effective/due date before cancellation. You may receive system generated notices during the extension.  Please call the Church Insurance billing department at 1-800-819-2984 if you have any questions or receive a notice.  

The Episcopal Church Medical Trust is providing a 90-day extension on employee benefit premiums for health insurance.

The Church Pension Fund is providing the same extension on pension assessments.

STEWARDSHIP:

We encourage you to ask the members of your congregation to continue to financially support their church to the extent they are able, especially those among us who have pledged support for this year.

You will need to encourage remote giving which can take place in three ways:

1. Members mail their pledge payment to the church office
2. Schedule automatic payments through your bank’s online banking service (recurring payments are the most reliable and helpful way to fulfill your pledge)
3. Provide online giving capability on your website through an established giving platform for either one time or recurring giving.

Tithely
A recommended online giving platform is Tithely. They offer a discounted to members of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship of which all congregations of the diocese are members. They provide excellent support as a rule. There is no additional fee at all and you can get set up very quickly.

The Tithely TENS rate for credit card transactions is 2.75%+30c per transaction. Normally they are 2.9%+30c.   

Other giving platform options can be found here.

GREATER CHURCH:

The Episcopal Church is publishing updates. 

Episcopal Church Foundation has a list of COVID-19 response resources that they will continue to update. 

The MA Council of Churches has a tremendous list of COVID-19 response resources.

FROM THE TRUSTEES:

Here is a copy of the letter that Mick Kalber, Executive Director of the Trustees for the Diocese sent out a week ago:

Hello Everyone,

In these uncertain and troubling times, I am passing along some information to you and your congregations regarding your Trustees funds.

As you recall, the Trustees’ spending policy calculates its quarterly disbursement based upon the average ending market value of the Fund over the past 20 quarters.  The relatively good news is that the 1Q 2020 ending market value, while expected to be dramatically lower, will be largely offset by the previous 19 ending market values.  Thus, the disbursements you will receive the end of April are expected to be only about 1% lower than the disbursements you received last January.  I want to allay your concerns of a dramatic reduction of your 1Q 2020 disbursements.

Diocesan House closed today for the foreseeable future, with only some members of the staff coming in occasionally to perform tasks they cannot do remotely.  Thus, to expedite any Trustees requests you may submit, please communicate electronically – not using the U.S. Postal Service.  I am working remotely and will respond to emails and voice mails: mkalber@diocesewma.org / 413-417-2339.

Don’t hesitate to call me with any questions you may have.  I’ll do my best to minimize any service delays.

Mick

POTENTIAL PARISH ACTIONS:

Here are a few ideas about other ways to manage cash flow:

OPERATIONS

• Make sure the thermostats are reduced to be consistent with the reduced occupancy of the building.  Consider turning off the furnace/hot water heater when it is warm enough and usage allows.
• Make sure the building is buttoned up – windows, doors.
• Minimize electrical usage – turn off all lights, unplug appliances.
• Revise cleaning intervals consistent with space usage

ADMINISTRATIVE/FINANCIAL

• See if you can preserve cash by changing utilities payments to budget plan
• Consider if any changes need to be made in the arrangements allowing creditors to withdraw amounts from your checking account without further authorization.