Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations

Research doesn’t just live in academic journals — it can spark conversations, stories and a deeper understanding of our communities.

In this appreciation of Scott Thumma, journalist G Jeffrey MacDonald reflects on how Thumma’s decades of work studying congregations — and his willingness to collaborate with journalists — helped advance reporting on the changing landscape of American religious life.

Read the full piece: https://bit.ly/4erRHtr

How Scott Thumma Accelerated Journalism: An Appreciation - Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations As a sociologist of religion, Dr. Scott Thumma used all of the above to help disseminate the breadth of what he’s learned over decades about congregations in America.

Thanks, Sojourners, for this article!

Churches Are Rebounding After COVID-19. Yes, Really For the first time since 2022, congregations are growing—and it goes beyond in-person attendance.

"They might just be getting their religion for the week when they're showing up for church."

That's how Hartford Institute researcher Charissa Mikoski describes a striking new finding: nearly 40% of church attenders don't regularly engage in faith practices outside of Sunday.

Reporter Tara Roberts has the full story.

Most churchgoers keep faith contained to Sunday, new research finds - Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations For many churchgoers, much of their religious and spiritual engagement ends when the worship service does, according to new research..

The Church of England is showing a COVID-rebound

Church of England celebrates continued post-pandemic growth The Church said it was encouraged by five years in a row of growth while acknowledging that growth, attendance and participation remain below pre-pandemic levels.

Are churchgoers "spiritual but also religious?" New research from the EPIC Attender Survey has some surprising answers — including that nearly 40% of church attenders regularly engage in neither religious nor spiritual practices outside of worship.

Worth a read:

Spiritual but also religious? New survey examines how church attenders practice their faith - Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations Most American churchgoers are deeply engaged in traditional religious practices — but far fewer incorporate broader spiritual practices into their daily lives.

We’ve been blown away by the response to the latest report!
Grateful to all the journalists, editors, and media outlets helping bring these findings to wider audiences.

Press | COVID-19 Religion Research Seeking statistics to support your story, interviews with experts, or resources to share with your readers? Learn more here.

Our own Dr. Allison Norton will be part of this RNS panel. Check it out on June 3!

Catholic and Orthodox communities report the highest average attendance, around 200 participants, partly reflecting their structural organization with fewer but larger parishes. Evangelical congregations average 75 attendees, while mainline Protestant churches report around 50

Thanks ZENIT English News Agency for reporting on our research!

New research reports an increase in church attendance and donations and a decrease in clergy departures - ZENIT - English Catholic and Orthodox communities report the highest average attendance, around 200 participants, partly reflecting their structural organization with fewer but larger parishes. Evangelical congregations average 75 attendees, while mainline Protestant churches report around 50

How are research findings are playing out in Washington state

After 25 years of decline, US churches see attendance rebound, new study finds - FāVS News A new national report offers the most comprehensive look yet at how America's churches have fared since COVID-19 — and the picture is more hopeful than many expected.