The Organisational, Financial and Human Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Christian Faith-Based Organisation Service Sector in Great Britain

Project Summary Document open access available via Project website at: file:///C:/Users/paulg/Downloads/ba-project-detailed-outline-paper-update-clean-version-new-update%20(2).pdf

Of the c.15,000 Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) that provide significant scaffolding for contemporary social welfare needs (National Council for Voluntary Organisations UK Civil Society Almanac, 2019) a substantial number are Christian. At the beginning of the pandemic, Britain had one of the highest rates globally of COVID-19 infection and excess mortality. Because of the extra demands made on non-Governmental welfare support services to buttress this distressed landscape, it is critically important better to learn the lessons from this in order better to understand the capacities and contributions, organisational health and durability of FBOs, especially in terms of readiness for any future pandemic or other civil emergency. The study undertakes a review of relevant research focusing particularly on Christian FBOs, but with relevance also to FBOs from within other religion or belief traditions.

A full overview of the findings can is free open access via https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/3/315. In brief, however:

In describing and evaluating the contributions made by Christian FBOs; the stresses and strains faced by them; and the ways forward open to them, the article argues that:

It is generally helpful to understand:
· Christian Faith Based Organizations in the context of other FBOs
· As part of a broader Voluntary and Community sector

But, also, that it is critically important to understand their work:
· During the pandemic; their situation now; and future prospects as part of
· A wider “Christian ecology” from which they live and to which they contribute

In more detailed terms, the findings of the project highlight that:

During the pandemic, local authorities played an important role in support and facilitation of the work of Christian and other Faith-Based Organizations.
Christian FBOS were especially involved in the provision of food support, especially in the first phase of the pandemic.

During the second phase of the pandemic, Christian FBOs became increasingly involved in mental health support.

Generally speaking, the pandemic had a negative effect on the finances of Christian Faith Based Organizations – while demand went up, giving declined.

Collaboration between FBOs and public authorities in the provision of services during the pandemic helped to build mutual trust which in many cases laid the foundations for this move beyond one-off projects to more co-operative and structural partnerships.

At the same time, FBOs want to avoid any potential instrumentalisation by the “powers-that-be” and any weakening of their ability, precisely as Faith-Based Organizations, when necessary, to be prophetically critical of government policies.