Two Anglican Church of Canada dioceses have announced ways they will be helping parishes during the coronavirus pandemic.

To assist with churches struggling financially during COVID-19, the diocese of Toronto and the diocese of Central Newfoundland have announced a time of jubilee, the Anglican Journal reports.

"A time of jubilee is about more than financial relief or being forced to respond to a crisis," explained Central Newfoundland diocese bishop John Watton.

"We are entering a time of prayer, visioning, decision making and acting with faith."

The jubilee period will cancel parish allotments temporarily. A letter posted to the diocesan website last month announced the allotment would be suspended for the months of April and May. The parishes will also not be required to pay the costs of clergy remuneration, including clergy stipend and housing.

Bisop of the diocese of Toronto Andrew Asbil made the announcement, saying the decision comes as a result of many churches struggling to cover their monthly allotments and payrolls.

The jubilee costs will amount to around $3.6 million for the diocese, Asbil says.

Steps have been taken to raise the necessary funds, Asbil says, including extending the diocese's line of credit and seeking loans of $2 million each from two diocesan funds, as well as a $46,000 loan.

"The Church is called to witness to God's goodness in times of need," Asbil says.

He added how he hopes parishes will use this time of jubilee to be creative and generous with each other, as everyone is affected by the pandemic.

A similar declaration of jubilee was made in a letter on April 6 by Bishop John Watton for the diocese of Central Newfoundland. Watton says parishes will not be required to remit assessments to the diocese in the months of April, May, or June.

The financial jubilee was originally intended to allow parishes to begin using new forms of ministry. While this is no longer their designated use, Watton says in his letter that he believes the funds can still lead to the planting of seeds.

"While this reallocation of funds is not being done as we might have hoped this Jubilee allows funds to remain in parishes and creates a new pathway for a new vision in a time of testing and trial," says Watton.