US churches’ ministry to those hurt by the pandemic shows “monumental” growth, study says
RNS More than half of Christian congregations in the US say they have started a new ministry or expanded an existing one during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey. On average, in fact, these Christian houses of worship began or broadened more than three of their outreach activities in response to the pandemic. […]
Amid COVID-19, most US churches provide hybrid worship, half stopped picnics
RNS Eight in 10 US churches now provide hybrid services, offering options for congregants to worship either in person or online during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Almost a quarter of churches, the report said, have moderate to severe conflicts about pandemic restrictions. PICTURE: Gabriella […]
Attendance hemorrhaging at small and midsize US congregations – study
RNS A new survey of 15,278 religious congregations across the United States confirms trends sociologists have documented for several decades: Congregational life across the country is shrinking. The most recent round of the Faith Communities Today survey, or FACT, found a median decline in attendance of seven per cent between 2015 and 2020. PICTURE: Gabriella […]
US megachurches continue to grow and diversify, steer clear of politics – report
RNS America’s megachurches have continued to thrive over the past five years, attracting more worshippers, becoming more diverse and opening new locations. A pre-pandemic, national survey of megachurches from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research found the median megachurch draws about 4,100 attenders to its worship services, up from about 3,700 in 2015. Lakewood Church […]