NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While many churches are acting “green,” the majority of pastors disagree global warming is real and man made. The percentage of skeptics has dropped since 2010, but the percentage is still higher than in 2008, according to a survey by Lifeway Research.
The October 2012 survey of Protestant pastors’ views of environmental issues shows Protestant pastors in the Northeast, older pastors, and pastors self-identifying as Democrats tend to be more environmentally active compared to younger, Republicans, and counterparts in other regions of the country.
Consistent in the Lifeway Research findings of 2012, 2010 and 2008 is that about a quarter of pastors say they speak on the environment to their churches “several times a year.” The percentage of pastors who say they rarely speak on the environment decreased in 2012 to 34 percent. Fifteen percent of Protestant pastors say they never speak on the environment.
Global warming
When asked to respond to the statement: “I believe global warming is real and man made,” 43 percent of pastors affirm the statement (up from 36 percent in 2010 but lower than the 47 percent in 2008), while 54 percent disagree. The percentage disagreeing is higher than in 2008 (48 percent), …read more
From: LW Research
