Author: Administrador

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 … Continue reading “Pastors Less Optimistic About Economy’s Impact on Their Congregation”

By Aaron Earls Like everyone else, U.S. Protestant pastors may have been closely watching the recent events related to Iran, but probably not because they thought it had anything to do with the return of Christ. Pastors are more than three times as likely to believe Christians can speed up the return of Christ by … Continue reading “Pastors Don’t Link World Events to Speeding up Return of Christ”

By Aaron Earls In the aftermath of several high-profile church shootings, most Protestant pastors say their congregations have taken some precautions to protect those in attendance. Since 2000, numerous fatal shootings have taken place at Christian churches, while gunmen have also taken lives at other religious sites like Jewish synagogues, a Sikh temple and an … Continue reading “Most Churches Plan for Potential Gunman, Divided Over Armed Congregants”

By Aaron Earls Approval for same-sex relationships has grown among Protestant pastors, but a majority still disapprove. A new survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research asked Protestant pastors their thoughts on same-gender marriages and civil unions. In the most recent survey, 24% of pastors say they see nothing wrong with two people of the same gender … Continue reading “Mainline Pastors Drive Growth in Pastoral Support for Same-Sex Marriage”

By Aaron Earls When traveling to church, most people have company, but a significant number say they make the trip alone. A new study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research found 1 in 5 Protestant churchgoers (19%) say they typically travel to church alone. 1 in 5 Protestant churchgoers (19%) say they typically travel to church alone, … Continue reading “Most Protestant Churchgoers Don’t Go to Church Alone”

By Aaron Earls Virtually every Protestant pastor and churchgoer believes a person with a disability would feel at home at their church, but fewer are taking active steps to make sure this is the case. A new survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research asked Protestant pastors and churchgoers about their church and those with disabilities. Nearly … Continue reading “Churches Believe They Are Welcoming to Those With Disabilities”

By Aaron Earls The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for groups during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak recommended no gatherings of more than 50 people for eight weeks. As churches scramble to make decisions on how to move forward, new research finds many congregations are not prepared to shift their services online. … Continue reading “Livestreaming Services Hasn’t Been an Option for Many Churches”

By Aaron Earls The coronavirus outbreak has had ripple effects across the country, including in U.S. churches, according to a new study of pastors. Nashville-based Lifeway Research asked Protestant pastors how the pandemic has impacted their congregations and what their plans are for the near future. While nearly all pastors say their church held in-person … Continue reading “Most Churches Have Stopped Gathering, Few Plan to Meet on Easter”

By Aaron Earls Almost 9 in 10 pastors see at least some current events matching those Jesus said would occur shortly before he returns to Earth, according to a new survey focused on Christian eschatology, or the study of end times. A study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research of pastors at evangelical and historically black churches … Continue reading “Vast Majority of Pastors See Signs of End Times in Current Events”

By Aaron Earls For the first time, a majority of Protestant pastors believe global warming is happening and caused by humans. A survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research found 53% of Protestant pastors agree with the statement, “I believe global warming is real and man-made,” including 34% who strongly agree. More than a third (38%) disagree, … Continue reading “Most Protestant Pastors See Human Activity Behind Global Warming”