By Aaron Earls NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As legislatures in Washington, D.C. and across the country discuss issues surrounding individuals who identify as a gender different from their biological sex, a clear majority of U.S. Protestant pastors see such gender fluidity as morally wrong. In a study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research, around 3 in 4 Protestant pastors say … [Read more...]
Pastors split over ministry return time frame for pastors who commit adultery
By Aaron Earls NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- When a pastor commits adultery, most of their fellow pastors believe they should withdraw from public ministry for at least some time. A new survey of U.S. Protestant pastors by Nashville-based Lifeway Research finds 2% of pastors believe a fellow pastor who has an affair does not need to take any time away. “Scripture doesn’t mince … [Read more...]
Pastors and churchgoers differ on sermon length estimates
By Aaron Earls NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When pastors begin to welcome back their congregations to in-person services, they may want to consider offering them a shorter sermon. A study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research found Protestant pastors’ estimates of their sermon lengths are shorter than the estimates of their congregations. Additionally, more than a quarter of … [Read more...]
Pastors Less Optimistic About Economy’s Impact on Their Congregation
By Aaron Earls NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As retail stores hope the holiday shopping season gives their bottom line a lift, American Protestant pastors are less sure the economy is helping their congregation this year. Around 2 in 5 pastors of Protestant churches in the United States (41%) say the economy is having no impact on their church, according to a new survey from … [Read more...]
Pastors of Larger Churches More Likely to Regularly Counsel and Disciple Members
By Aaron Earls NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Meetings often fill the calendars of office workers, but pastors say their days are often full of meetings as well. A survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research asked 1,000 Protestant pastors if they regularly have any of six types of meetings. Virtually every pastor (99%) says they regularly have at least one of those work-related … [Read more...]
