Weeks without collection plate leaves many churches starved of funds

The coronavirus pandemic is the type of rocky economic environment that leaves many people turning to their churches for support. But many churches, like many people, simply survive paycheck to paycheck.

"The average church depends on giving members who give gifts and tithes every single Sunday," said Rev. Dumas Harshaw Jr., pastor of First Baptist Church on South Wilmington Street in Raleigh.

Like many church leaders, Harshaw is delivering sermons on Facebook following state orders that prohibited mass gatherings to limit the spread of the virus. His online includes a reminder to donate.

"Churches do depend on their financial resources Sunday after Sunday," he said.

While some churches have endowments, Harshaw said he thinks 80 to 90 percent of churches operate off their Sunday offerings.

Jennifer Copeland, the executive director of the North Carolina Council of Churches, said that while services inside churches may be on hold, churches' services in their communities go on.

"We know that many – most – of our congregations that are engaged in direct services, particularly food insecurity services, are still doing everything they can to meet that need," Copeland said, "which is why it's imperative for people to continue giving as they are able.

"People can still write a check and put it in the envelope and lick a stamp," she added.

The Council of Churches is posting daily messages online to give comfort and hope to people in a troubling time – something Copeland said she can imagine getting worse.

"I also think, sadly, one of the things that will happen is churches will have to lay off some of their staff," she said. "It's hard to justify keeping staff around who aren't doing ministry because they can't do it, not because they don't want to do it."

Copeland and Harshaw said churches will survive the pandemic, as they have other crises before.

"We will get through this. One way or another, we will get through this," Copeland said.

"I have faith, and that faith reassures me that this too shall pass," Harshaw said.