Impact of COVID-19 on UMC Local Churches Study (Phase II)
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Note: to view larger versions of the charts included below, click on the images directly.
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In late March, United Methodist Communications conducted a Phase I study to assess the initial impact of COVID-19 on United Methodist congregations. A summary of their Phase I findings can be found
here
. A Phase II study was conducted in late April to more comprehensively assess how the pandemic is affecting United Methodist congregations at this more advanced stage of the crisis. Below is a summary of their key findings.
Pastors appear more confident and resilient in facing the coronavirus crisis
. They describe themselves as hopeful (42%), calm (34%), resilient (28%) or encouraged (26%). Only 13% say they feel stressed 13%, 12% anxious and 10% frustrated.
The upbeat attitude may reflect improved church “performance”
. 48% indicate average worship attendance is up compared to pre-crisis times. Churches have adapted to social distancing mandates, embracing online services. 76% offer online services, with only 2% canceling all worship activities. 67% of those with online services started them since the crisis. Churches are making concerted efforts to reach members that are not digitally connected. This is primarily via telephone calls, 92%, conference calls, 24%, and phone trees, 24%. About half, 53%, use snail mail, and 15% use safe-distance house visits. 5% say they are conducting outdoor worship.
Similarly,
churches have adapted to the financial aspects of the pandemic, moving to address giving and budget shortfalls
. 31% describe church finances as not a concern vs. 15% in the Phase. While 51% say giving is down vs 76% in Phase I.
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Most churches are adopting activities related to the pandemic
, such as making masks (53%), delivering supplies to shut-ins (58%) and the homeless (40%). Additionally, 9% are providing encouragement to “essential” workers, and 3% are providing child care to these workers.
Top priorities among these pastors are member care (74%), worship (63%), communicating with members (47%), keeping the community connection (26%) and technology (24%).
Overall,
Phase II results shows a very adaptive United Methodist Church, capable of finding creative solutions of conducting ministry and supporting members
. Generally, respondents have a very positive outlook, with some caution as they look forward to the next phase of the pandemic. For example, managing mourning will be an issue when we come together again.
Methodology: Online survey fielded April 16-21, 2020 among convenience sample of 970 pastors and lay leaders from UMCom internal database (24 questions / 1 open-ended / 6 minutes).
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Please direct questions to:
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Research & Resources: U.S. Religion During COVID-19
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One-Click Information on 25 Denominations
The
ARDA
website offers new
landing pages for denominations
. Data already available on the ARDA website is now pre-sorted for twenty-five large denominations: Membership numbers for states, counties, and metro areas; trends in membership or clergy numbers over time; maps of congregations searchable by address or zip code. Church researchers and planners can access data about their denomination without additional searching or sorting.
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Distanced Church E-book
A new e-book from Digital Religion Publications, an imprint of the Network for New Media, Religion and Digital Culture Studies, offers an international dialogue from religious practitioners, church leaders, theologians, and media scholars on how the COVID-19 pandemic has forced congregations to close their doors and move online. The book includes an essay from Faith Communities Today Chair Scott Thumma that reflects on technology use findings from our 2010 and 2015 FACT surveys.
Access “The Distanced Church: Reflections on Doing Church Online” for free.
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Recent News and Research for Faith Leaders
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- A Congregation That Spans the U.S.-Mexico Border - The Christian Century (April 9, 2020)
- Americans are Divided by Religion on Who Should Get Critical Care if There is a Shortage of Ventilators - Pew Research Center (April 24, 2020)
- An Impromptu Drive-through at a Sikh Temple to Feed Neighbors Now Helps Thousands Daily - Los Angeles Times (April 24, 2020)
- At Virtual Family Chapel, the 'Spiritual But Not Religious' Find Community During Pandemic - Religion News Service (April 24, 2020)
- Church Giving Down More Due COVID-19 Than During Recession, Survey Shows - Religion News Service (April 22, 2020)
- During Ramadan in Isolation, Muslims Get Creative to Preserve Community - Religion News Service (April 23, 2020)
- Few Americans Say Their House of Worship is Open, but a Quarter Say Their Faith Has Grown Amid Pandemic - Pew Research Center (April 30, 2020)
- Few Protestant Churches Met in Person for Worship Services in April - LifeWay Research (May 1, 2020)
- Hospital Chaplains Try to Keep the Faith During the Coronavirus Pandemic - The New York Times (April 11, 2020)
- Most States Have Religious Exemptions to COVID-19 Social Distancing Rules - Pew Research Center (April 27, 2020)
- Pandemic Prompts Prayer at Home, Online through America According to Latest Pew Study - Jewish News Syndicate (April 2, 2020)
- Pastor-Sharing: For Clergy, a Holy Hustle and Labor of Love - The Christian Science Monitor (April 14, 2020)
- Virtual Worship is Older Than You Think - On the Media, WNYC (April 15, 2020)
- 'We Hope Normalcy Will Not Happen All of a Sudden': Hindu Leaders Have an Inclusive Message for All Americans During the Coronavirus Pandemic - MarketWatch (April 29, 2020)
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