The Scottish Church has faced a time of unprecedented disruption with the COVID-19 pandemic. This research partnership between Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS), Brendan Research, and the Scottish Church Leaders’ Forum (SCLF) sought to understand how congregations across the nation had responded to the first lockdown, when change was most sudden.
We are grateful to the over 350 leaders from 27 denominations from every part of Scotland took part in our research - this is their story.
Our report demonstrates that the Scottish Church has been faithful to its calling, preaching the Word in season and out of season, and witnessing to the love and faithfulness of God at a time of unprecedented disruption and suffering. From everyone's responses, based on our key findings, our recommendations to the Scottish Church are:
1. Online worship is here to stay, and must be adequately resourced
2. Online worship must be adequately reflected upon
3. The Scottish Church should not rush back to pre-lockdown ministry and mission
4. Cross-denominational partnership in mission should be better understood and extended
5. Further research into the social capital generated by the churches should be undertaken
A summary report is available, with printer-friendly version as well as a printer-friendly version of the full report.
A webinar about this research and qualitative work carried out by the Church of Scotland was also held.
You can also read about this research on the Church of Scotland website, the Scottish Episcopal Church website, the Church Times, Premier Christian News, the Courier, the Press and Journal, also here, STV, Dundee Telegraph, and Aberdeen Express.
