Displacement, Fragmentation, and Well-Being of Ghanaian Church Leaders and Older Adult Christians During a Global Pandemic

Religious places are imbued with meaning and can promote social support, belonging, and shared identity among those who access them. In conjunction with their spiritual role, churches are places where processes such as attachment and meaning-making are explored, nurtured, and maintained. In many developing nations, churches also serve as contexts where collective activities are practiced and social cohesion is cultivated. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the social and economic arrangements of church officials and members worldwide. However, the challenges and impacts experienced by religious congregations during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly Christian churches, have not been widely explored or comprehensively understood. This chapter draws on in-depth interviews with members and leaders of different church organizations in Ghana to explore the spatial, spiritual, financial, and social impacts of displacement and fragmentation of religious activities in Christian congregations, especially for older adults and church leaders. Our findings add to existing knowledge about the impacts of displacement and fragmentation within the context of religious place making.