Assisting Faith-Based Organizations Increase Sense of Belonging during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction

According to Self-Determination Theory, individuals have three innate needs crucial to overall wellbeing: competency, autonomy, and belonging (Deci, 1985, 2008). The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected all three of these basic needs. The concept of competency explains that individuals need to feel a sense of mastery in achieving tasks that are important to them. Competency also deals with a sense of purpose. For many, competency has been negatively affected by Covid-19. Some have lost jobs, while others have experienced limited hours at jobs. Individuals with service-oriented professions have been told to eliminate or reduce face-to-face interactions with others. For those in pastoral and spiritual care positions, it is likely some clients will be struggling with decreases of competency and feelings of lost purpose during this time. The concept of autonomy explains that individuals need to feel that they have at least some control over their lives and, furthermore, a feeling of control over their own behaviors. Shelter-in-place mandates, restrictions on social gatherings—including the closing of schools, businesses, and faith-based organizations (FBOs)—social distancing requirements, and face mask mandates have stripped feelings of autonomy for many individuals. Where choice once existed, in order to hinder the spread of the infection, autonomy has been limited. For some individuals, days look eerily similar with little choice in going to eat at a restaurant, visiting friends and family, or attending FBO services. It is likely that many seeking help during this time will be struggling with decreased feelings of autonomy.

The third concept of Self-Determination Theory, belonging, explains that individuals need to experience a sense of connection and attachment to others. This may prove to have the most detrimental long-term effects. While many have been negatively affected in their sense of belonging during this pandemic, the ones most significantly affected during this pandemic are likely to be the most vulnerable of our population—the older, poorer, rural residents. Older adults have been classified as a vulnerable population and told to self-isolate in order to reduce contraction of Covid-19, which is likely to be more severe for those 65+ years. Individuals living in poverty are less likely to have access to basic needs during this time and rural communities lack many of the programs and resources that larger communities have that have lessened the negative impact of the pandemic (technology and social service resources). Unfortunately, unintended consequences were the spread not of Covid-19, but also of stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Specifically, a recent review reported stress was seen in 29.6% of individuals, anxiety in 31.9% of individuals, and depression in 33.7% during the Covid-19 pandemic (Salari et al., 2020). Previous research has highlighted the detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness and higher mortality in the older population (Roy et al., 2020). Elran-Barak & Mozeikov recently published an important study detailing the decreased self-reported health of individuals with chronic medical conditions one month into the enforcement of social distancing (Elran-Barak & Mozeikov, 2020). Specifically, they reported results where about half of the participants reported a decline in physical or mental self-rated health and as many as two-thirds reported feeling lonely (Elran-Barak & Mozeikov, 2020). As older adults and those with chronic conditions have been specifically told to socially distance and, in many cases, self-isolate, these negative consequences should cause concern. As pastoral and spiritual care counselors during these challenging times, it is likely individuals will be experiencing increased stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness—including FBO leaders, who are carrying the weight of stewardship of members during these challenging times.

Helping FBO Leaders Navigate Uncertain Time

One group of individuals seeking pastoral care and spiritual counseling during this time are FBO leaders as they try to discern best options moving forward in these uncertain times. FBO leaders may be struggling with feelings of decreased competency and autonomy with state ordered closings. Especially at risk are leaders of vulnerable communities, those leading communities with greater percentages of poverty and older adults. Many FBO leaders feel a sense of responsibility to create environments where members feel a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, those most vulnerable during this pandemic are unlikely to have access to the technology that can lessen the negative impacts imposed by Covid-19-related mandates (e.g., older adults and those living below the poverty line). Leaders in vulnerable communities are under enormous pressure as they think about ways to maintain closeness and connectedness with their members in safe ways but are doing so without access to resources and technology that larger communities have. Five considerations for FBO leaders hoping to increase belonging are discussed below. Specifically, low-cost options are presented that could be implemented in small-to-large FBOs.

Seek Assistance from Pastoral Counselors: First, during these challenging times, it could be extremely beneficial for FBO leaders to not navigate these unprecedented times by themselves but to seek counsel from outside sources, especially pastoral counselors. As FBO leaders may themselves be struggling with decreased competency, autonomy, and belonging, great gains in personal healing and strengthening could occur through working with those trained to help individuals navigate difficult times.

Check-In Calls: FBOs can coordinate check-in calls with members. Depending on the size and staffing of the FBO, these calls could be completed by FBO leaders themselves and/or by other members of FBO. FBO members could be divided into groups with each group assigned for check-in calls. This is an inexpensive way for FBOs to stay connected. This activity can be beneficial for both the callers (increasing competency and purpose during this time) and the called (increasing sense of belonging).

Card Ministry: During this time of limited physical contact, a letter in the mail can provide a tangible reminder that individuals are not alone. Various groups can be formed depending on the size of the FBO to send out birthday cards, get well cards, thinking of you cards, sympathy cards, and other types. Having a short, hand written note inside can be beneficial for both the writer (increasing competency and purpose during this time) and receiver (increasing belonging).

Prayer Walks Around FBO: Selecting a day of the week where FBO members can walk around the FBO building or property in time of prayer or meditation is another way to aid in increasing a sense of belonging. Selecting one day of the week can provide a sense of unity in the FBO, while allowing the individual to select his/her specific time of day for the walk gives autonomy during a time where many feel little autonomy in daily activities. This also allows both involvement and protection for members.

CARE Chains Framework: Broadly, the CARE Chains framework provides a set of guidelines for unmet needs to be communicated to a point of contact and then shared with those who could help to meet the unmet need. There are three groups of individuals in the CARE Chains framework: (a) Trusted Care Contact(s), (b) “Care-ers,” and (c) Cared For. Trusted Care Contact(s): as the name implies, these individuals must be trusted in the FBO as sensitive information will be communicated to this person/people. Depending on the size of the FBO, one or more individuals may need to assume this role. This position serves as the point of contact between the “care-ers” (those who give care) and cared for (those who receive care). This position needs to be well connected in the church to know about potential unspoken needs. The primary duty of this position is to organize and disseminate current needs to “care-ers.” Depending on group members, care requests could come in the form of phone calls, text messages, emails, or social media messages. When disseminating current needs to “care-ers,” again dependent on characteristics of the FBO, the communication channel should be chosen appropriately. Each FBO would need to select and tailor this position to its individual needs. One final consideration for this position is that, depending on the size of the FBO and needs of members, this could be a time-intensive position. Specifically filling this position with someone who wants to serve his/her community but is unable to do physically laborious tasks would be beneficial and capitalize on the strengths of individuals beyond physical capabilities. “Care-ers”: these are the individuals who give care to others. The FBO can ask members to submit what type of care actions he/she is willing to donate. Examples include financial resources, tangible errands (grocery store runs, rides to doctor), cooking, cleaning, home maintenance, encouragement (phone calls, cards), or birthday celebrations (making a sweet treat to be delivered on individual’s birthday), to mention a few examples. Alternatively, this step could be skipped and the trusted care contact could send out a list of “care requests” to the church on a regular basis. “Care-ers” could then select any request he/she desired. A system would need to be created for the “care-er” to inform the trusted care contact that a care request was selected and contact information for the cared for individual passed along. This could take the form of a simple phone call or message through text or online. The CARE Chains Framework should, and can easily be, tailored to fit each FBO’s need. Cared For: these are the individuals who request help for a current unmet need. Examples of unmet needs include groceries, a ride to a healthcare appointment, a broken appliance, or loneliness. These individuals, or someone on his/her behalf (a friend or other FBO member) would communicate the care request to the trusted care contact through the applicable communication method. The trusted care contact could also be proactive in reaching out to specific members asking if he/she has any unmet needs that exist. Through this framework, competency, autonomy, and belonging can all be increased.

Final Thoughts

The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected the three basic needs of individuals, which in turn has negatively affected overall wellbeing. While all individuals have been affected in some capacity, the most socially vulnerable are likely to be most severely affected. Specifically, leaders in vulnerable communities, whether that be of FBOs or other community groups, are likely under enormous pressure to create and maintain a sense of belonging with members while doing so in safe ways without access to the resources and technology of better equipped communities. As we all navigate these uncertain times together, let those in pastoral care and counseling assist those in leadership positions to think of safe ways to create opportunities to increase competency, autonomy, and belonging.