The Financial Impacts of Covid-19 on United Methodist Churches in North Carolina

A Qualitative Study of Pastors' Perspectives and Strategies

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4233757
AutoresD E Eagle (0000-0003-4909-9497, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Drive, 27708, Durham, NC, USA, autor correspondente), Erin F Johnston (0000-0002-3335-9496, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Drive, 27708, Durham, NC, USA), John Headley (0000-0002-2058-4467, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Drive, 27708, Durham, NC, USA), Anna Holleman (0000-0002-4893-7463, Duke University)
Ano2022
Volume64
Fascículo2
Páginas399-420
Data de publicação2022-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoReview of Religious Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2211-4866 • E-ISSN: 0034-673X
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s13644-021-00474-x
PMID34658446
OpenAlexW3206097457
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas7
Referências citadas13

Background In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, churches in the United States were forced to stop meeting in person and move to remote forms of worship and congregational life. This shift likely impacted congregational finances, which are primarily driven by individual donations. Initial research has suggested that there is a great deal of heterogeneity in the financial impact on congregations, but there has been scant research examining how pastors and congregations are managing finances during this period. Purpose This research examines the impact of COVID-19 and its associated restrictions on congregational finances and the strategies pastors used to adapt their church's finances to the health restrictions. Methods We conducted in-depth, qualitative interviews with 50 pastors in the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences of the United Methodist Church appointed to 70 congregations. Using applied thematic analysis, we analyzed transcripts at both the pastor and congregation-level to identify similarities and differences in financial impact, financial strategies, and pastor experiences during the pandemic. Results Most congregations reported small decreases in giving that were offset by federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and other grants from the denomination. Some congregations, mostly urban and fairly large, reported significant increases in giving, while several other, predominantly small congregations, reported their church's finances had been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Even in cases where the net impact of the pandemic was small or non-existent, pastors were forced to adopt a host of new strategies to manage finances. In general, small and large congregations experienced and responded to the financial impact of the pandemic very differently.and Implications. Conclusions This research suggests that the pandemic's impact on congregational finances were more than just on the bottom line. And while most churches weathered the economic challenges without severe impacts, questions remain as to the long-term impact of the pandemic on church finances

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Infectious disease (medical specialty) · Political science · Qualitative research · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) · Social science · Sociology · Media, Religion, Digital Communication · Medicine · Religion, Society, and Development · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Virology