Tag: covid and church

Young people are engaging with religion differently than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are seeking out more conversations with trusted spiritual leaders and having fewer interactions with religious institutions, a religious engagement survey found.

A report released this week from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows hybrid worship is the new norm for U.S. churches — at least for now.

Since Covid restrictions have been lifted – for now - many religious organizations have returned to in-person services and with that also comes a return to Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) and youth religious camps.

A mix of musical expression is likely to continue as congregations navigate the ‘new normal’ of the continuing pandemic with some people fully vaccinated and some not.

It’s been over a year since the lockdown began and organizations had to figure out accommodations to stay safe while maintaining operations. For local churches, they have done their best to follow safety guidelines and adjust to continue services.

One year of unoccupied houses of worship, of virtual services, of online community – I can’t help but wonder how this will forever impact U.S. congregations. I feel honored that I actually get to be part of a research team that gets to study this. It’s aptly called the EPIC project – Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations: Innovation Amidst and Beyond COVID-19.

My hope is that we can continue to make helpful, creative, and necessary changes to our churches because, presently, our worship services exclude many people. I am speaking of our siblings with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities.