The Church and the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Intricate Role of Masculinities of the Clergymen

Abstract

This article seeks to determine how the masculinities of clergymen influenced the church’s responses to Covid-19. In Malawi, about 70% of confirmed Covid-19 cases were men, and about 83% of those who died were men. Pastors influence the church’s response to the world. There are many responses from the Churches to the need for prevention and care during Covid-19. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the church’s responses to Covid-19 in the global south and how the masculinities of clergymen played a role in the church’s reactions during Covid-19. The article, thus, focuses on clergymen’s masculinities of power and authority in influencing the church’s responses to Covid-19. This article builds on grounded theory and qualitative methods. The article is based on data from two evangelical and two mainline churches in the four cities of Malawi. The study found that the masculinities of clergymen had little influence on the responses of evangelical churches during Covid-19. However, the masculinities of clergymen significantly impacted the responses of mainline churches within the confines of Sunday services but not outside it. We found that African realities, such as African beliefs in healing, among others, limited the role of masculinities of clergymen in evangelical churches during and after Sunday services. This article discusses ways of solidifying the roles of clergymen in the church responses.