Author: Administrador

By Bob Smietana More than 100,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages nationwide last year. But for preachers, being asked to do a same-sex wedding remains rare. A new survey by Nashville-based Lifeway Research found 11 percent of Protestant senior pastors have been asked to perform a same-sex … Continue reading “Research: Few Pastors Asked to Perform Same-Sex Weddings, Less Than Half Allow LGBT to Serve in Church”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Since the 1950s, the IRS has banned preachers from endorsing candidates during church services. Most Americans seem to like it that way. Eight in 10 (79 percent) say it is inappropriate for pastors to endorse a candidate in church. Three-quarters say churches should steer clear of endorsements. Yet fewer than half … Continue reading “Skip the Endorsements in Church, Say Most Americans”

By Martin King Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist church staff members has exceeded the cost-of-living increase over the past two years. However, health insurance coverage continues to decline, according to the 2016 SBC Church Compensation Study. The biannual study is a joint project of state Baptist conventions, GuideStone Financial Resources and Lifeway Christian Resources. Compensation … Continue reading “SBC Pastor Salaries Increase, Paid Health Insurance Declines”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Americans don’t know much about theology. Most say God wrote the Bible. But they’re not sure everything in it is true. Six in 10 say everyone eventually goes to heaven, but half say only those who believe in Jesus will be saved. And while 7 in 10 say there’s only one … Continue reading “Americans Love God and the Bible, Are Fuzzy on the Details”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Political endorsements by preachers have been few and far between this election season. That may be because the most popular candidate among preachers is “I don’t know.” A new report from Nashville-based Lifeway Research found 4 out of 10 Protestant pastors are undecided about which candidate to vote for. A third … Continue reading “Pastors Prefer ‘Undecided’ to Clinton or Trump”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Americans with evangelical beliefs share a great deal in common. They trust in Jesus alone, evangelize their neighbors, and believe the Bible is the final authority in their lives. But when it comes to voting, race and political affiliation still divide evangelicals, according to a survey from Nashville-based Lifeway … Continue reading “2016 Election Exposes Evangelical Divides”

By Bob Smietana This Halloween, millions of Americans will carve pumpkins, dress up in costumes, decorate their yards, and gobble down the candy they get while trick-or-treating. America’s preachers also hope they’ll consider coming to church, according to a new phone survey of 1,000 Protestant senior pastors from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. Two-thirds of Protestant pastors … Continue reading “Want an Added Treat This Halloween? Try Church, Say America’s Pastors”

By Bob Smietana When Americans count their blessings at Thanksgiving, God will get most of the credit. And money might be the last thing on their minds. Most Americans are thankful for family (88 percent), health (77 percent), personal freedom (72 percent) and friends (71 percent).  Fewer give thanks for wealth (32 percent) or achievements … Continue reading “Friends and Family Matter More Than Money This Thanksgiving”

By Bob Smietana The American Medical Association has described physician-assisted suicide as a serious risk to society and “fundamentally incompatible with a physician’s role as healer.” Millions of Americans disagree. Two-thirds say it is morally acceptable for terminally ill patients to ask their doctors for help in ending their lives, according to a new survey … Continue reading “Most Americans Say Assisted Suicide is Morally Acceptable”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.—More than half of Americans plan to go to church at Christmastime. And most Protestant pastors will keep the doors open for them. Nearly 9 out of 10 Protestant senior pastors say their churches plan to hold services on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, as both fall on a Sunday, … Continue reading “Most Churches Open for Business on Christmas, New Year’s Day, Say Pastors”