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Currently there are ministers and other church personnel who are struggling to make ends meet since the closure of churches as their salaries are paid from the Sunday collection.
Driving through the Johannesburg CBD on a Sunday it’s a colorful spread of people in different church uniforms rushing to catch taxis while others walk to their places of worship.
This was how we knew Sundays until Covid-19 restrictions came into effect.
Religion forms an important part of the South African society though Christianity is the main religion with over 80% of the population identifying themselves as Christians.
The other main religions in South Africa are Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and African Traditional Religion.
In response to the increasing number of Covid-19 infections, a national state of disaster was declared in terms of the Disaster Management Act on 15 March.
Cabinet implemented various measures including prohibition of gatherings of more than 100 people.
This restriction affected many churches, some churches made a voluntary decision to close to minimise infections.
Others remained open but implemented measures to adhere to the restrictions by allowing less than 100 congregants per service, provided sanitisers at the entrance of the church and also checked people’s temperatures before entering the church premises.
While there was a general understanding and acceptance of the necessity of these measures, there was also unease with the restrictions.
Even for those churches which remained open, some church sacraments like baptismal and offering of holy communion were put on hold.
On 23 March, President Ramaphosa made an announcement that South Africa will be in lockdown for 21 days starting from midnight on 26 March.
One of the lockdown restrictions was that there will be no religious gatherings. This was met with shock by some Christians. Christianity is seen as sacrosanct therefore it was expected that Christians may feel that places of worship must continue to operate to pray for a cure, to pray for the sick and to pray for each other.
However, it became apparent that in order for South Africa to "flatten the curve" social distancing must take place even in the church. This dealt a heavy blow for Christians especially because the lockdown started two weeks before the Easter weekend.
Easter is an important event in the Christian calendar.
In most churches the Easter service has more attendees than the Christmas Day one mainly because during the festive season people go on holidays, they visit families and some just see it as a time to have fun.
But Easter is a solemn time and thus generally Christians want to be in church.
In the midst of the mixed emotions of shock, anger, relief the focus was also on the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), the largest Independent Church in Africa.
The ZCC holds their annual pilgrimage during Easter. The pilgrimage attracts millions of worshippers who visit the Holy City of Moria.
A government delegation visited the leadership of the ZCC and held discussions about Covid-19 and related matters.
Until the official announcement came from the church, there was still uncertainty about whether the pilgrimage will proceed.
Then the church issued an official statement informing the members that they must not visit Moria at Easter until further notice. It became apparent even to those who thought it is business as usual that this Easter is the first of its kind.
South Africa has been in lockdown for over a month. We have moved from level 5 to level 4 but still churches are closed and they will still be closed for the foreseeable future.
The main role of the church is to bring people to God, to encourage spiritual growth, pray and worship together but churches also fulfil other roles like helping members who are in distress.
Other churches provide meals to the Sunday School children and also provide social relief to the poor members of the church and surrounding communities.
The closure of churches though necessary has affected people in myriad ways.
Without the church there are no baptismal services, it may seem like a small matter for some because at some point churches will be functional again and baptismal services will continue but for some it feels like a nightmare.
Churches are seen by some as a place to socialise where they catch up with friends and fellow Christians, some people thrive on attending church services and endless church meetings.
For such, church is a central part of their lives and they feel lost when they are not actively involved in church matters. Some long-lasting friendships started at church some couples first met at church and they went forth to marry and have families.
It is understandable that just the mere thought of not being able to go to church can sink a church loving person into depression.
Even though it is commonly known that the church is just a building because we are the church, the living body of our Lord Jesus and we are everywhere but there is a special comfort which can only be found by being at church.
As some Christians deliberate on whether it was right for the government to close churches, let us remember that a church gathering became the epicentre of Covid-19 in Bloemfontein.
Five tourists who had attended the church gathering tested positive for Covid-19.
When news broke about the cases, the church arranged for all who attended the gathering to be tested and over 60 people tested positive.
Social distancing is a necessity in the fight against Covid-19, even in the church.
The closure of churches has an adverse effect on the finances of the church leaving many of them in dire straits.
Currently there are ministers and other church personnel who are struggling to make ends meet since the closure of churches as their salaries are paid from the Sunday collection.
Traditional churches mostly rely on Sunday collections to run the operations of the church whereas charismatic ones who preach the prosperity gospel rely on Sunday collection and tithes from members.
The latter may be in a better off position financially.
Some ministers have resorted to desperate online pleas for money from their congregants making them promises of salvation and other worldly promises which they will not be able to fulfil.
As some Christians yearn for the reopening of churches only time will tell how many churches will survive post lockdown.
- Nancy Msibi, Project Manager Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. She writes in her personal capacity.
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