The Impact of COVID-19
on the American Church
Conclusions and insights from a yearlong study of over 1,000 pastors and leaders
conducted by:
"We assumed that churches in states with less severe restrictions would have experienced better outcomes. This is not what we found. Instead, our research indicates that most churches struggled or closed their doors because they failed from within."
Aaron M. Hill | Editor
ChurchSalary
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Read news, articles, and opinion pieces about this landmark study.
New research shows most ministers under 34 saw job responsibilities change and worried about their mental health.
Even in states where regulations were severe, most congregations moved on quickly.
New research shows disagreement over COVID-19 politics, health concerns, and a break in habits drove changes in attendance.
15 Percent of churches laid off staff in COVID-19. Many are still looking for work.
A CT analysis of federal data shows that ministries received about $7 billion in forgiven PPP loans, with about a third of US churches receiving funding.
For some, pandemic firing prompted turn to secular employment.
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Compelling Stories and Insights
Listen to the results from the report, featuring interviews with experts from Arbor Research as well as pastors.
Podcast
Listen to pastors and researchers discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the American church.
Many of our assumptions about the pandemic's impact on American churches are incorrect or incomplete. What actually happened? And why talk about this now?
Pandemic challenges and battles, especially the loss of presence, inflicted deep and lasting wounds on pastoral leaders.
To survive COVID-19, leaders were forced to adapt at a relentless and unpredictable pace.
The pandemic revealed spiritual immaturity, simmering polarization, and unexpected resiliency.
Why did some faithful congregations shrink in size and giving, while others witness explosive growth?
Pandemic disruptions spurred many churches to minister outside the walls of the church.
Lasting damage was inflicted not by restrictions imposed from outside the church but by politicized conflicts inside each congregation.
Stories from the pandemic remind us that hope abounds even in the most difficult circumstances.
How did the pandemic impact different demographics disproportionately and why?
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