“And Then COVID Happened…”: The Impact on Ministry and Disability in Local Churches

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on religious practices and participation across the United States. In the midst of new risks and uncertainty, churches across the country adjusted whether and how they gathered in a myriad of ways. This mixed-method study examined the pandemic’s particular impact on congregational ministry to and with people with disabilities and their families. Drawing upon interviews with and surveys of 200 church ministry leaders in 48 states, we capture the diverse ways in which nine aspects of these distinctive ministries were affected. Among the most pronounced impacts were sharp (and often sustained) declines in the number and consistency of ministry volunteers, as well as in the number of people with disabilities served through the ministry and attending congregational activities. Although commitment to this ministry largely remained undiminished within churches, depictions of ministry effectiveness were more mixed. Some variations in depictions of the pandemic’s impact were associated with church and ministry demographics. We offer recommendations for research and practice aimed at strengthening the capacity and commitment of churches to support the full participation of people with disabilities and their families.