Sydney, June 22, 2020: Large Christian churches and other major religions have applied for the JobKeeper scheme to fund clergy salaries, after the government belatedly opened it up to religious practitioners.

The Catholic, Anglican and Uniting churches, as well as the Great Synagogue in Sydney, have confirmed hundreds of religious ministers across NSW are receiving the JobKeeper Payment of $1500 a fortnight, to plug a “dramatic” shortfall in income caused by the pandemic lockdown.

The suspension of religious services meant no collection plates or other donations connected to a service, while public health orders also shut down community hire of church property for events.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia in Sydney, Lakemba Mosque, and two pentecostal churches Hillsong in Baulkham Hills and Horizon in Sutherland Shire either declined to answer questions or did not respond.

Not-for-profit organisations including churches are eligible for JobKeeper if their income has dipped 15 per cent, while businesses with a turnover of up to $1 billion must show revenue has dropped 30 per cent. Above that threshold, businesses must show a 50 per cent decline.

In late April, the government announced changes to explicitly allow religious practitioners, who are not always considered “employees”, after lobbying from the Catholic Church and others.

The Anglican Diocese of Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and the south coast, estimated 60 per cent of its 270 parishes were eligible for JobKeeper. However, spokesman Russell Powell said it was up to individual parishes to apply and he did not have figures on how many had taken it up.

The Anglican Diocese of Newcastle applied centrally for JobKeeper on behalf of its 59 parishes, which all met the criteria.

Peter Stuart, the Anglican Bishop of Newcastle, said JobKeeper had been “essential” to allow priests to keep providing spiritual and pastoral care during difficult times.

“We have no doubt that without JobKeeper, many staff (clergy and lay) across the Diocese would have been required to reduce their hours or stand down,” Dr Stuart said.

In the Uniting Church, it is up to individual congregations to apply for JobKeeper if eligible. There are 500 across NSW and the ACT but not all have a minister.

Reverend Simon Hansford, Moderator for Uniting Church NSW and ACT, said “many” ministers would be on JobKeeper because of the churches’ “dramatic” fall in income during the pandemic.

Clergy in both the Uniting Church and the Anglicans have an ordinary income higher than JobKeeper.

Meanwhile, Catholic priests are paid a small cash stipend reportedly about $1500 a month – about half the amount of JobKeeper – with much of their remuneration in the form of non-taxable allowances for housing, food, health insurance and other living expenses.

Last week the ABC revealed the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta had 41 priests on JobKeeper. As the payment was roughly double the priests’ usual stipend, the Diocese reportedly asked for priests to donate the excess back to the church.

However, the Diocese said in a statement it never asked for the excess money back, though “clergy were free to make a voluntary contribution to the clergy support fund, if they chose to do so”.

It is illegal for employers to demand employees hand over any portion of JobKeeper, even if they are being paid more than usual, but it is not illegal to suggest a voluntary donation.

A spokeswoman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, which is separate to Parramatta, confirmed its priests were also receiving JobKeeper but it was structured so it was not a pay rise.

“The difference between the allowance and stipend goes towards covering the costs of their housing and living expenses during this period of no revenue,” the spokeswoman said.

The Archdiocese did not clarify whether it had reduced living allowances to make up the difference or if it had asked priests to donate “excess” payments.

Justice Stephen Rothman, president of the Great Synagogue of Sydney, said the organisation had a 30 per cent fall in income and was claiming JobKeeper for seven employees including a Rabbi and topping up to their ordinary salary. A second Rabbi was not eligible because he was not a permanent resident.

Synagogues are independent from one another and Justice Rothman said most are corporations with boards rather than not-for-profit organisations.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hundreds-of-priests-receive-jobkeeper-payment-as-church-income-flatlines-20200619-p554ev.html