COVID-19’s first outbreak across the nation in March of 2020 caused social norms to change as researchers drastically learned more about the disease. This caused many to follow CDC guidelines of social distancing, face masks, and frequent sanitation.

Religious centers and other government deemed non-essential locations were among those forced to close their doors and modify traditional practices for safety reasons.

73% of adults in Virginia are Christians, 6% are non-Christians, and 20% are Unaffiliated. Research also identified that African-Americans make up 21% of the Racial and ethnic composition among Christians in Virginia, while 66% are white, according to the Pew Research Center.

Adults who Identify as “Unaffiliated” with a Religious Group

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Among U.S Adults who are unaffiliated with religion, 68% are White, 9% are African American, 5% are Asian, and 13% are Hispanic, according to the Pew Research Foundation.

In a 2020 survey with 1,400 church leaders from across the country, 60 percent of respondents indicated a reduction in giving, According to the Church Executive.

Regarding service attendance, 33% of adults in the U.S watched online, while 12% attended in-person, according to the Pew Research Center.

Based on our research, we spoke with four different denominational worship leaders to see how COVID Impacted Their Congregation, whether financially or spiritually.

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Citations

Attending and watching religious services in the age of the coronavirus. Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. (2021, May 25). Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://www.pewforum.org/2020/08/07/attending-and-watching-religious-services-in-the-age-of-the-coronavirus/.

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Religion in America: U.S. religious data, Demographics and statistics. Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. (2020, September 9). Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/state/virginia/.

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admin, P. by. (2020, October 22). New survey data shows the impact of covid-19 on Churches. Church Executive. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://churchexecutive.com/archives/new-survey-data-shows-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-churches.