Thread by @RelMedCentre

In our first briefing of 2020, we're discussing the financial impact of covid-19 on religion.

Thanks to our guests and to @seatrout for facilitating

'It's easier to stop thinks happening than the get things to happen [in Church of England]' - @BishManchester

'What classes of churches do you feel the Church of England can no longer afford?' - @seatrout asks

'I don't think it's about a retreat from the countryside' says @BishManchester, explaining which Churches may need to close

Could have 'a new way of doing Church, we can still have services in those communities' - says @BishManchester of places like the east of Manchester, where many buildings closed

'If I had a list of what sort of church is most likely to close, I'd say mid-victorian building that's lasted well over a century and a half but the physical structure is tired and there isn't the community around it that there was' - @BishManchester

'Possibly the most iconic mosque in Britian, Regent's Park Mosque, are running a fundraising campaign to say 'we are short of funds' because the mosque has been closed this year. This is a striking example [of the financial impact]' - @drusamahasan

'I've not heard of any online prayer services at all' - @drusamahasan emphasises how difficult it is to transfer prayers online but establishes that community services seem to be increasing

Harmeet Gill, @sgsssouthall: 'most gurdwaras are decentralised.'

'We've faced an increased demand for our services', Harmeet, @sgsssouthal, says. 'Many of the smaller gurdwaras have struggled because they rely on weddings etc, which generate a large proportion of the income'

Harmeet, @sgsssouthal,: I don't believe any gurdwaras have closed yet, but they are considering viability, particularly in smaller towns

'We're working on giving people the opportunity to donate online. I do believe we will survive on God's love, He fed thousands with a couple of loaves and fishes' - Dr David Palmer

Dr Palmer: 'Been hit from a number of angles, I don't think finance is the real driver, it's the maintaining community and finances are part of that'

'How can an organisation that follows Christ’s example of poverty hold more than £8billion in its “piggybank” and how can an organisation with £8billion in reserves suggest that it is running out of cash?' - asks @AndrewGraystone

'Is it possible that God is telling you that He wants a smaller, poorer Church?' asks @AndrewGraystone

@BishManchester says the Church does give to the poor, but in a long term and sustainable way

The Regent's Park Mosque appeal is ongoing: 'Not a huge amount raised - my sense is that the Muslim public know that it's always been funded by the Saudis & other Muslim-majority governments, and don't see why they should bail it out.' - says @drusamahasan

'does @BishManchester expect churches to close and number of clergy to be reduced?' asks @harrietsherwood

'Churches have always been closing. What Covid does is accelerate some of the pressures that were already existing in the system' - @BishManchester

'I've no knowledge of work going on about reducing any Diocese...;

There are two schools of thought: more but smaller diocese or fewer but larger diocese

@BishManchester

'If reducing Diocese is the answer, you have to ask what is the question? Is it about efficiency, is it about pastoral care...? - @BishManchester

Bhervinder Singh, @SCUKofficial, tells the zoom about how gurdwaras have been affected - 'with weddings being cancelled or rescheduled, that was a massive [financial] difference'.

Bhervinder: When we asked whether gurdwaras saw income returning to pre-Covid levels, most thought they would have a healthy financial forecast this year, though 15-20% were still nervous due to the increased unemployment and challenges in their localities - @SCUKofficial

'Places of worship don't just physically feed people, they spiritually feed people as well' - says Bhervinder Singh, @SCUKofficial

This is the first of our four week series about how covid is impacting religious institutions.

Next week @tswyatt takes the chair - join us!