Oldal 15 [15]
OCR
LEADERSHIP DURING A LOCKDOWN transnational presence with a large number of Coptic migrant churches in North America, Europe, and elsewhere." This paper shows that while the Coptic Church has a hierarchical structure, the lockdown opened the way for innovative context-specific responses that varied across communities. The analysis shows that church leaders played a pivotal role in: 1) transitioning to digital platforms for spiritual and pastoral services, including online prayer meetings, Bible studies, and Sunday school classes; 2) expanding community support initiatives, such as food distribution, financial assistance, and medical care for vulnerable parishioners; and 3) maintaining a spiritual connection with parishioners through innovative pastoral care methods, including tele-counseling and online support groups. The study underscores the importance of effective leadership in guiding religious institutions through crises, fostering resilience, and ensuring the continued spiritual and social well-being of their communities. The study concludes that the diversity of the experience and its context-specific nature constituted an organic “quiet”’ leadership approach that was clearly manifest during the pandemic lockdown. The study utilizes data from a survey of 68 Coptic priests in 48 churches throughout Egypt and five case studies. Data was collected using digital technology. As the study progressed, the role of leadership emerged as a significant and unanticipated theme. Leadership within Coptic churches proved to bea central factor in influencing how effectively these communities managed the difficult challenges of the pandemic. Pastoral leaders, clergy, and church administrators were often at the forefront of decision-making, guiding their congregations through a period marked by fear, isolation, and shifting public health mandates. These leaders were tasked with making difficult decisions, such as transitioning to virtual service, implementing safety protocols, and finding ways to maintain spiritual and emotional connections within their communities despite physical distancing. The emergence of leadership as a theme highlights its critical role in fostering resilience and adaptability within the Coptic Church during the pandemic. Leaders had to balance their traditional roles as spiritual guides with new responsibilities as crisis managers and innovators. This involved not only responding to immediate logistical challenges but also addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of congregants, many of whom experienced anxiety, loss, and disconnection. By documenting the experiences of Coptic churches and recognizing the pivotal role of leadership, this study contributes to a broader understanding 8 G. Botros: Religious identity as an historical narrative: Coptic Orthodox immigrant churches and the representation of history. Journal of Historical Sociology, 19(2), 2006, 174-201; M. Milici¢: Rooting the Coptic Diaspora: Mediating Familiarity and Adapting Churches in the Netherlands. Etnofoor, 35(2), 2023, 67-83. ° D. Rock: Quiet leadership. New York: Harper Collins, 2006. +13 +
