Date
3-2022
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
John A. King
Keywords
global COVID-19 pandemic, Church of the Nazarene, pastors
Disciplines
Christianity | Religion
Recommended Citation
Heath, Beth Bleadingheiser, "The Effects of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic on Pastors in the Church of the Nazarene" (2022). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 3422.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/3422
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of living through and ministering during the global COVID-19 pandemic for Nazarene pastors in Ohio. The theoretical framework that guided the research was Hope Theory and Resilience. The Conceptual Mapping Task was used to conduct interviews of eight ordained Nazarene pastors. Pastors described their experience and then worked with a researcher to create a concept map to organize their story. Pastors were asked to describe their story of living through and ministering during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Pastors were also asked how the global COVID-19 pandemic affected their church and their family. Interviews were transcribed and examined for common themes. These themes included loss of momentum, polarization of topics and people, the weight of it all/hopelessness/helplessness, personal and family dynamics and challenges, and finally support of the district.
