Survey Reveals Impact of COVID-19 on Congregations

This survey was sent to every congregation in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) with a valid email address in June and the denomination received more than 1,200 responses. The denomination confirmed the response provided a representative sampling. The survey sought to understand how LCMS congregations were responding to the pandemic. Approximately 80% of congregations reported using the internet to upload services or sermons up from 45% prior to the pandemic, and 70% say that will continue. According to respondants, 92% of congregations had returned to in-person worship by July 5th with half of these congregations at reduced capacity. The LCMS found reason to hope in this survey, finding the financial hardship predicted in many congregations had not manifest with only 12% of congregations responding that giving was down significantly.