Hartford Seminary in Connecticut has announced a five-year, $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment in support of research into how congregations are changing, innovating, and establishing new ministry practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To be conducted by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, the project, Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations: Innovation Amidst and Beyond COVID-19, will explore how faith communities across the nation are adapting to a changed reality resulting from the challenging dynamics of the pandemic. In 2020, the endowment awarded a planning grant of nearly $300,000 to help the institute design the project, and the latest funding will enable HIRR to collaborate with a nationwide network of scholars and organizations researching the health and vitality of congregations that are representative of the diversity of Christianity in America.

"This moment is such a critical time for congregations. If churches can leverage the creative adaptations in response to the pandemic, the struggles of the last eighteen months might lead to the revitalization of spiritual and worship practices," said Scott Thumma, principal investigator of the project and director of HIRR. "Our team is thrilled to be given this opportunity to take an active role in tracking that unfolding reality across the United States. We deeply appreciate Lilly Endowment's faith in our project and our team's ability to undertake this vital exploration."