Practicing Christians in the U.S. tend to be outliers in being strongly affirming of local pastors’ leadership in the community, according to a Barna Group report published Oct. 6.
A majority (52%) of practicing Christians strongly agree with the statement, “I deeply trust Christian pastors in my community,” while 37% somewhat agree. Only 11% disagree – 9% somewhat and 2% strongly.
This is well above the national average in which 21% of all U.S. adults say they strongly agree, 41% somewhat agree, 24% somewhat disagree and 14% strongly disagree.
It is also higher than the responses for the other groups in the report:
- Non-practicing Christians: 18% strongly agree; 56% somewhat agree; 20% somewhat disagree; 6% strongly disagree.
- Other faiths: 16% strongly agree; 35% somewhat agree; 32% somewhat disagree; 17% strongly disagree.
- No faith: 5% strongly agree; 26% somewhat agree; 35% somewhat disagree; 33% strongly disagree.
“Practicing Christians are self-identified Christians who have attended a worship service within the past month and strongly agree their faith is very important to their life. Non-practicing Christians are self-identified Christians who do not qualify as practicing Christians,” the report explained. “Other faith[s] are U.S. adults who self-identify as a religious faith other that Christianity (includes Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist and others). No faith are U.S. adults who self-identify as atheist, agnostic or not religious.”
This pattern repeated itself in the responses to other statements presented in the survey.
Regarding leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, 55% of practicing Christians strongly agree that Christian pastors have been strong leaders, compared to 24% of all adults, 20% of non-practicing Christians, 19% of other faiths and 8% of no faith.
When asked about racial justice, 49% of practicing Christians strongly agree that Christian pastors have been strong leaders, compared to 21% of all adults, 17% of non-practicing Christians, 18% of other faiths and 10% of no faith.
In responding to the statement, “Christian pastors are out of touch with the needs of my community,” 41% of practicing Christians strongly disagreed, compared to 19% of all U.S. adults, 19% of non-practicing Christians, 13% of other faiths and 7% of no faith who strongly disagreed.
Finally, 35% of practicing Christians strongly disagreed with the statement, “Christian pastors are only focused on growing their own churches and not on community transformation.” By comparison, 17% of non-practicing Christian respondents, 8% of other faiths and 5% of no faith strongly disagreed.
The margin of error is plus-or-minus 2%. The full report is available here.
Managing editor for news and opinion at Good Faith Media.
