Americans and Worship Services in Light of Coronavirus Outbreak
Apr 3, 2020
How are Americans handling worship service attendance since the coronavirus outbreak? Are they still going to church or are they watching online?
A LifeWay Research study conducted with Protestant pastors last fall found that 41 percent of pastors said they didn’t put any portion of their church service online. Of those who did post a portion of a sermon, 52 percent said they put the sermon online after the service, 22 percent said they livestream the entire service, and 10 percent said they only livestream the sermon.
That was then. What about now in the midst of a pandemic where the need for online services is greater?
A Pew Research Center survey of more than 11,500 U.S. adults conducted March 19-24 found that of those who attended worship services once or twice a month, “four-in-ten regular worshippers appear to have replaced in-person attendance with virtual worship.” Also, two-thirds of evangelical Protestants said they had watched church services online instead of attending in person.
Between March 23-25 political scientists Paul Djupe of Denison University, Ryan Burge of Eastern Illinois University, and Andrew Lewis of the University of Cincinnati conducted a poll to discover America’s reaction to the virus in the religious arena. As Djupe said, “There is a painful tension here between constitutional liberties and public health. Some conservative Christians are clearly siding with the religious liberty position. Where does the public stand?”
Poll results showed that nearly one in five Americans who considered themselves religious were still attending worship services during the COVID-19 scare. The poll also found that 22 percent of respondents said they were “encouraged” to attend in-person worship services.
Livestreaming Services Hasn’t Been an Option for Many Churches
LifeWay Research
Most Americans Say Coronavirus Outbreak Has Impacted Their Lives
Pew Social Trends
Nearly a fifth of religious Americans still attending worship services: poll
Christian Post
Would They Rather be Dead Right? Support for Congregations Staying Open
Religioninpublic.blog
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
A LifeWay Research study conducted with Protestant pastors last fall found that 41 percent of pastors said they didn’t put any portion of their church service online. Of those who did post a portion of a sermon, 52 percent said they put the sermon online after the service, 22 percent said they livestream the entire service, and 10 percent said they only livestream the sermon.
That was then. What about now in the midst of a pandemic where the need for online services is greater?
A Pew Research Center survey of more than 11,500 U.S. adults conducted March 19-24 found that of those who attended worship services once or twice a month, “four-in-ten regular worshippers appear to have replaced in-person attendance with virtual worship.” Also, two-thirds of evangelical Protestants said they had watched church services online instead of attending in person.
Between March 23-25 political scientists Paul Djupe of Denison University, Ryan Burge of Eastern Illinois University, and Andrew Lewis of the University of Cincinnati conducted a poll to discover America’s reaction to the virus in the religious arena. As Djupe said, “There is a painful tension here between constitutional liberties and public health. Some conservative Christians are clearly siding with the religious liberty position. Where does the public stand?”
Poll results showed that nearly one in five Americans who considered themselves religious were still attending worship services during the COVID-19 scare. The poll also found that 22 percent of respondents said they were “encouraged” to attend in-person worship services.
News Sources
Livestreaming Services Hasn’t Been an Option for Many ChurchesLifeWay Research
Most Americans Say Coronavirus Outbreak Has Impacted Their Lives
Pew Social Trends
Nearly a fifth of religious Americans still attending worship services: poll
Christian Post
Would They Rather be Dead Right? Support for Congregations Staying Open
Religioninpublic.blog
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
