Posts tagged pandemic
Pastors Paint Poor Picture Of Economic Impact On Churches

A new study found 66% of U.S. Protestant pastors say the economy is very or somewhat negatively impacting their church. The two in three pastors who report a negative economic impact is the highest since 2011, and the 14% who say the impact has been very negative is the highest ever recorded in the 15-year history of the study.

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Post-Pandemic Church Revitalization In Full Swing Across The US

The pandemic was brutal on churches, but even the year before, the number of Protestant congregations in the U.S. had gone backward by approximately 1,500. The Southern Baptist Convention lost more than 1,000 churches in 2020, 2021 and 2022 each. Although the 2024 ACP survey also reported a loss, it was a significantly lower figure at 292.

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‘The After Party’ Offers Christians An Escape From Divisive Politics

Spearheading one of a growing number of attempts among evangelicals to empower clergy and laypeople to reframe the political divide, the creators of “The After Party” hope to foster conversations that will not only promote healing but enable those engaged to participate in public life in ways that are constructive, rather than chronically divisive.

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Judge Rejects Gordon College’s Request For PPP Loan Forgiveness

Gordon College, a Christian school in Wenham, Massachusetts, could be required to pay back more than $7 million of COVID-19 relief funds. The school contested, arguing that its request for loan forgiveness was denied because of religious discrimination.

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On Religion: Harrison Butker’s Speech Put A Spotlight On Catholic Tensions

(ANALYSIS) This bitter divide resurfaced during the May 11 Benedictine College commencement speech by Harrison Butker, a three-time Super Bowl champion from the nearby Kansas City Chiefs. While remarks about women and family life dominated headlines, most of the placekicker's 20-minute address focused on divisions inside Catholicism.

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Black Churches Hardest Hit By The Pandemic, But Did More To Promote Vaccines

Houses of worship with predominantly Black congregations suffered the most in terms of attendance and donations. At the same time, they did more to promote COVID-19 testing and vaccinations throughout the pandemic.

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Christian Groups Play Key Role In Addressing Mental Health Crisis

India’s Christian community has emerged as a proactive force in the battle against mental health challenges. Through initiatives such as national helplines, counselor training programs and pastoral support, they are working towards building a more mentally resilient society.

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Attendance and Giving Rebound, But Churches Still Struggling Post-Pandemic

Many U.S. churches are rebounding from the pandemic, but many challenges remain, a new report reveals. The study, funded by the Lilly Endowment and led by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, offered a snapshot of this evolving landscape.

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Archbishop Timothy Broglio Elected USCCB President: What It Means For The Catholic Church

(ANALYSIS) The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops assembled in Baltimore to elect a new president. Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Services, tasked with overseeing Catholic ministries to members of the U.S. armed forces, was elected to lead the USCCB. What does it mean for the Catholic Church in the United States?

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Giorgia Meloni’s Politics And Faith: Meet The Woman Who Could Be Italy's Next Leader

Italians will vote in national elections on Sunday. If polls are correct, then history could be made once the votes are counted. Giorgia Meloni, who heads the Brothers of Italy party, could become the country’s first female prime minister since the nation became a republic in 1946. Here’s everything you need to know about her faith and politics.

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The Man Who Could Be Pope Hopes To Shape Italian Politics, But Will Voters Listen?

(ANALYSIS) Pope Francis, along with the European Union and Italy’s left-wing voters, face a major headache since a coalition of right-wing parties could emerge victorious in Italy’s elections. The parties have been at odds with the Vatican over immigration. Can Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna make the difference this summer?

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Jews Encouraged To Abandon Zoom Seders This Passover As Pandemic Eases

Passover is a time for the Jewish community to reflect on the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, and hosting a Seder is one way families and communities come together to celebrate this biblical event. OneTable and Haggadot.com have joined forces this year to provide people with the tools needed to host their own unique Seder.

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Press Uses Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Catholicism Against Him On Social Issues

(OPINION) A hero to the right and bogeyman to the left, Florida Gov. Ron Desantis has received plenty of mainstream news coverage because of his use of so-called culture war issues to push legislation. But while the Catholicism of President Joe Biden is lauded in some media circles and debated in others, DeSantis’ faith is hardly mentioned.

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These Evangelicals Are Equipping Church Leaders To Address COVID-19 Misinformation

A new project by evangelicals, for evangelicals aims to persuade those on the fence about vaccination to go ahead and get the shots and equip church leaders to lead fact-based discussions while appealing to biblical values.

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New Lenten Cookbook Gives Catholics Tasty Choices For ‘Meatless Fridays’

(REVIEW) Since many Catholics — ones in America in particular — are so carnivorous throughout much of the year, a new cookbook out just in time for Lent focuses on the very dilemma of what to eat on Fridays this month. Scott Hahn’s book “The Lenten Cookbook” from Sophia Institute Press serves up easy-to-make meals this spring.

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‘Synod On Synodality’: The Catholic Church Wants To Hear From You!

(ANALYSIS) We interrupt your reading about the war in Ukraine with a very important post about the global Catholic Synod on Synodality. Synod on Synodality? Say that three times fast. For some Catholics, it’s kind of a Zen thing.

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Church Leaders Wonder If Livestreaming Is More Of A Blessing — Or A Curse

Two years into the pandemic, church leaders reflect on the blessings — and drawbacks — of livestreaming. While some leaders worry about Christians forsaking physical gatherings, a majority of those surveyed said they see benefits to maintaining virtual options — especially for the immunocompromised, shut-ins and traveling members.

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Is It Immoral To Watch The Winter Olympics Given China’s Humanitarian Violations?

(OPINION) There’s nothing pious about the modern Olympic Games. The modern version, organized by the International Olympic Committee, is more spectacle than spirit. The looming Winter Games, however, have triggered a reaction among some that has large moral implications — are you a bad person for watching the Olympics?

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Forced To Have Virtual And Drive-By Funerals, Grieving Families Struggle With Closure

(OPINION) As a historian of religion interested in how different cultures make sense of death, Natasha Mikles noticed what appeared to be a momentous cultural shift in happening in America in terms of death rituals as over 850,000 Americans died from COVID-19.

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