Online Opportunities in Secularizing Societies? Clergy and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ireland

Abstract

This article explores how Christian clergy in Ireland have framed their adoption of online ministries during the COVID-19 pandemic as opportunities for the churches to retain some significance, even in secularizing societies. It is based on an island-wide survey of 439 faith leaders and 32 in-depth, follow-up interviews. The results of this study are analysed in light of scholarship in three areas: (1) secularization in Ireland, informed by Norris and Inglehart’s evolutionary modernization theory; (2) cross-national research that has found increasing interest in spirituality or religion during the pandemic (with the UK as the main point of comparison); and (3) wider pre-pandemic scholarship on digital religion. The article concludes by arguing that the clergy’s framing of online ministries as opportunities is important: if they regard online ministries as potential sites of religious revitalization, they are more likely to invest in them. There is some evidence that they may be assisted in this by lay volunteers. However, given the secularization already underway, it remains to be seen whether an embrace of blended online and in-person religion will have far-reaching impacts on Ireland’s religious landscape.

Loss of Faith and Decrease in Trust in a Higher Source During COVID-19 in Germany

“…The challenge for the communities and institutions will be to re-attract and re-integrate into their liturgies and services all those who have experienced that their religiosity can be practiced even without the religious institutions or the communal forms of worship services. A study from Ireland explored how the Christian clergy have framed their adoption of online ministries during the COVID-19 pandemic as opportunities for the churches to retain some significance (Ganiel 2021 ). During the first phase of the pandemic, older Seventh-day Adventists from Germany benefited from the free church´s digital media resources and experienced a positive impact on their wellbeing in spite of the lockdown restrictions (Büssing et al, 2021c ).…”

Presbyterians, Forgiveness, and Dealing with the Past in Northern Ireland: Towards Gracious Remembering

“…We cannot say that the practice of gracious remembering has been rigorously and empirically tested in Northern Ireland, either by PCI or other groups. The COVID-19 pandemic took hold just as PCI's project was gaining momentum, and its roll-out stalled as ministers and congregations adapted to online services and meeting immediate needs (Ganiel 2021a). Nevertheless, it could be argued that the text of the book based on the research, Considering Grace, and its accompanying study resources provide material for the first three aspects of gracious remembering.…”

Attitude toward Virtual Communion in Relation to Church Tradition during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Kingdom

“…The Church of England went further than some other denominations by denying access to church buildings even for clergy (Anon., 2020). The rapid response of churches in developing worship online has been documented and discussed in many countries (Campbell, 2020;Campbell & Osteen, 2020;Ganiel, 2021;Newport, 2020;Oliver, 2022;Oxholm et al, 2021;Pillay, 2020;Przywara et al, 2021;Sulkowski & Ignatowski, 2020), including the UK (Edelman et al, 2021;Lovell et al, 2022;Village & Francis, 2021b). Although 'virtual churches' had been in existence for many years (Campbell, 2010;Campbell, 2012;Hutchings, 2010) they had represented a small minority, and the vast majority of worshippers were used to attending a service in church.…”