Urban Churches Show an Increase in Attendance, Donations, and Finances During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the USA: Evidence from the United Methodist Church

Anum G Niazi; Nayab Ahmed; Shandana Kifayat; Shanlina Kifayat; Mohammad Asad Niazi; Muhammad Salar Khan

doi:10.1007/s10943-024-02046-z

Urban Churches Show an Increase in Attendance, Donations, and Finances During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the USA: Evidence from the United Methodist Church

J Relig Health. 2024 May 6. doi: 10.1007/s10943-024-02046-z. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Anum G Niazi¹, Nayab Ahmed², Shandana Kifayat³, Shanlina Kifayat⁴, Mohammad Asad Niazi⁵, Muhammad Salar Khan⁶

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
² Clear Cognition Solutions, London, UK.
³ Khyber Teaching Hospital, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
⁴ Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
⁵ CUNY Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
⁶ Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA. mkhan63@gmu.edu.

PMID: 38709431
DOI: 10.1007/s10943-024-02046-z

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on religion and its practice. This paper aims to examine how the pandemic affects religious activities, donations, and finances over time and across regions within the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the USA. To address this question, we analyze survey data collected during the pandemic from 2963 churches in the USA by United Methodist Communications. Our analysis utilizes several quantitative techniques, including Z-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multinomial logistic regressions. The results indicate a decrease in church attendance over time, with a more pronounced effect observed in non-urban areas (suburban, small town, and rural). Similarly, while church donations and finances mitigate over time across churches, churches in urban areas experience a quicker rebound compared to those in non-urban areas. Lastly, we find that church attendance and donations positively affect finances. These findings hold important implications for churches in various regions, offering insights to develop strategies for navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Congregations; Donations; Finances; Religion; USA; United Methodist Church.