Welcome · Pandemic Religion: A Digital Archive

Minyan in Brooklyn, Photograph by Jacob Kornbluh

A Eucharistic altar made of paper

Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, photograph by Edward Lea

Free Prayers from Latter-day Saint Missionaries

Documenting American religion in a time of pandemic

Pandemic Religion: A Digital Archive collects and preserves experiences and responses from individuals and religious communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share anything that bears witness to your personal experiences, or that documents the activities and responses of your religious community. We invite contributions from people of any religious tradition, community, or perspective.

For Religious Communities. How is your religious community or institution adapting and responding during the COVID-19 pandemic? Upload materials such as sermons, photographs, bulletins, audio recordings, or share links to websites, video, and the like. Contribute your materials ⭢

For Individuals. What is your personal story? How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your religious beliefs and practices? Share a photograph, a screen shot, a video, or something else. Share your experience ⭢

Here are some ideas of what you could contribute:

Stories about how your religious practice has changed
Photos of you or your religious community practicing your religion
Communications within your religious community
Documents about decisions or changes your religious community has made
Links, recordings, or screenshots of religious practice moving to online spaces, such as video and social media
Stories about how you or your community is helping during, or being hurt by, the pandemic

If you have any questions, please contact us at pandemicreligion@gmail.com.

Recent contributions

Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah
Jim Joseph Foundation
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Russell Berrie Foundation Logo
Jewish Day Schools Reopening Guide

Jewish Day Schools Reopening Guide PDF Cover Page
Connection in the Time of Coronavirus PDF

Connection in the Time of Coronavirus Website Launch PDF Cover Page
Guidelines on Sacraments and Pastoral Care

These guidelines were issued and updated by the Thomistic Institute, a Catholic academic group based in Washington, D.C., and their Working Group on Infectious Disease Protocols for Sacraments & Pastoral Care . The document continued to respond to the evolving COIVD-19 health crisis that dictated the style and size of masses across the United States. Among other changes, and in contrast to the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, the Thomistic Institute believed that priests could resume the placing of communion on the parishioner's tongue.
A Synopsis of Pastoral Considerations for the Reopening of Churches and the Resumption of Public Masses

These guidelines were issued by the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions to help guide American dioceses in the reopening process after the COVID-19 shutdowns. The guidelines attempt to balance the desire for a return to in-person masses and the continued need to follow local public-health mandates.
United Methodist Church West Ohio Conference Guidelines for Online Communion

This document set forth guidelines for local United Methodist Churches in the West Ohio Conference on how to conduct virtual communion. These guidelines were issued early on in the COVID-19 pandemic to explain the doctrine of "in extremis," which, according to the guidelines, allowed for digital communion where it had previously been condemned.
A Letter to the United Methodist Clergy of the Western Jurisdiction From the College of Bishops

This letter from the United Methodist Church's (UMC) College of Bishops was an early response to the shutdowns caused by COVID-19. Specifically, it deals with subject of online communion and provides some initial guidelines to local churches for how best to transition to the virtual world. The Western jurisdiction of the UMC includes churches in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Guam, and other territory in the Pacific region.
Reflections on a Post-Pandemic Church from the Church of the Nazarene

These reflections were issued by the Board of General Superintendents for the Church of the Nazarene and were meant to guide local churches as they began to regather in person following the relaxing of restrictions regarding social distancing and local gatherings.
Church of the Nazarene statement on coronavirus and guidelines for local churches

This document was issued in early March by the Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents following the recognition that the Church was entering a time of "crisis." It gives general outlines for local churches to follow as they entered into a time of quarantine.

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