The impact of COVID-19: conversations with faith communities

Section Five – Summary and recommendations

The findings in this report can be summarised, as follows:

• Life changed in complex and unexpected ways for faith communities during the pandemic, and this is still happening as the threat from COVID-19 remains: The effects of the pandemic were large and enduring across society – and these were felt in faith community settings. It will take time to adjust to a different situation, with an ongoing threat from infection. The future for some communities is likely to be different to the trajectory they were on before COVID-19. It will be important for government and wider society to understand how things change for these communities over winter 2022-23 and the longer-term.
• These findings provide insight into what might happen in any resurgence of infections: We can expect that some of these same effects – of loss, reduced capacity, and adaptation – would be likely to happen in future scenarios, if similar measures are used to protect society from the threat of a similar infection. Some of the communities may have to adapt from a situation where there are reduced capacities because of the impact from COVID-19.
• Faith communities generate social capital, and they are good at reaching people who are isolated: There are people in society who are isolated, and who need support, but who do not belong to a religious organisation. Faith communities, and other voluntary organisations, provide these functions and generate large amounts of social capital and resilience, through their voluntary activities, and place-centred networks.