In December, we informed you of updates to the 2020 Parochial Report form, intended to reflect the changes and challenges that parishes have faced during our year of pandemic. Starting today, and in the weeks ahead, we’ll highlight some of the most notable updates in this Parochial Report “QuickTip” series.
QuickTip #1: Recording PPP Loan Forgiveness
If your parish’s Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan was converted to a grant in 2020 – meaning that your application for loan forgiveness was approved by the Small Business Association (SBA) prior to the end of the year – include the forgiven amount in the “other operating income” on line 5 of the Stewardship and Financial Information section. (Also include the loan amount – whether forgiven in 2020 or not – on line 22.)
QuickTip #2: Responding to Narrative Questions
The 2020 Parochial Report asks parishes to provide narrative responses to three questions regarding the pandemic’s impact on parish life. Parish leaders (clergy, vestry, and staff) are encouraged to collaborate on these responses. So be sure to schedule time during upcoming vestry and staff meetings to discuss the questions, or develop some other means of collecting input that can be used in crafting your parish’s responses.
If it would be helpful, use this worksheet (opens in Word) to draft responses, which can then be copied and pasted into the online Parochial Report form.
QuickTip #3: Recording Online and In-Person Services
The 2020 Parochial Report asks parishes to record separate counts of online and in-person services.
- If the only people gathered were those involved in leading and streaming the service, and the entire congregation joined online, count the service as an online service.
- If anyone else was present as a congregant only (even just one or two people), count the service as an in-person service.
- No service should be double-counted as both online and in-person.
See page 9 of the Workbook & Instructions for the 2020 Parochial Report for more information.
Remember, the deadline for filing 2020 Parochial Reports is March 1. File online at https://reports.dfms.org.