Researchers
For religion researchers and other scholars of American congregational life, we are interested in collaborative research and the promotion of parallel studies that investigate the changing dynamics of religious life as a result of the pandemic. Here are some opportunities for involvement:
Cite our research
Our collected data and findings can be made available to researchers to better inform the academic literature related to congregations and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the national congregational reality post pandemic. If you use our research, please cite:
Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations, a research project conducted by Hartford Institute for Religion Research and funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. www.covidreligionresearch.org
Collaborate with us
We are interested in collaborative research with religion researchers and other scholars of American congregational life, as well the promotion of parallel studies that investigate the changing dynamics of religious life as a result of the pandemic. Connect with us to discuss your interests and ideas.
Share your research
If you have already produced research about religion during the pandemic, we might be interested in publishing a brief summary of your findings on our site and compensating your writing efforts.
The Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations website will host summaries of scholarly research pertaining to religion and the pandemic which have direct application for clergy, denominational executives, and other religious leaders. These summaries should focus on one finding, or a related set of findings, that have practical implications for local congregations or religious organizations.
If you think your research fits the criteria above and has significant applied relevance for religious leaders, please follow the instructions for submissions listed below.
Instructions for submissions
The writing should have a clear point, thesis, or topic detailing one aspect of your research related to religion and the pandemic. This thesis should have direct relevance for and be of interest to clergy, congregational members, and/or denominational officials. It should be written in straightforward language (cf. newspaper, Christian Century, etc.) without academic jargon or complex statistics. The use of subheadings and bullets is encouraged.
Requirements:
- Approximately 500 words
- One or two simple tables or charts if necessary
- One or two catchy “teasers,” factoids or headlines as a lead-in to the piece
- Very brief details of the research project such as the title of the study, date, institutional funding, type of research methodology, numbers in study, and extent of study.
Articles will go through a process of editorial review by staff of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research prior to acceptance or rejection. If your article is accepted for web publication, the document becomes the joint property of Hartford Institute and yourself. We reserve the right to make minor stylistic editorial changes once the document is accepted. We will pay $250 for accepted summaries of 500 words.