More Americans Want Their Church to Share Their Politics by Aaron Earls – Lifeway Research for Christianity Today
GNN Note – Pastor’s are leaders of the congregation. Pastor’s are to provide leadership to the congregation – if the Pastor’s are not providing leadership to the congregation why are they in a position of leadership? / END
Over half say they believe their congregation is politically unified already.
As churchgoers head to the ballot box for midterm elections, most expect the rest of their congregation to be voting the same way they do.
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Half of US Protestant churchgoers say they’d prefer to attend a church where people share their political views, and 55 percent believe that to be the case at their congregation already, according to a study from Lifeway Research.
“Studies have shown that voting patterns and political affiliation correlate with the type of church and amount of church involvement someone has,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “But when asked if churchgoers want political similarity to flow back into their church relationships, this is desirable for only half of churchgoers.”
Political preference
While 50 percent of churchgoers prefer a politically homogenous congregation, 41 percent disagree, and 10 percent aren’t sure. Overall, the percentage of those looking to attend a church where people share their voting preferences is similar to a 2017 Lifeway Research study, when 46 percent said the same. However, more churchgoers are adamant about worshipping alongside their political peers. Around 1 in 5 (19%) now strongly agree they prefer to attend a church where people share their political views, up from 12 percent in 2017.
“While almost 1 in 5 churchgoers is adamant that they want to attend church with those who share their political views, there are just as many who strongly disagree with that perspective,” said McConnell. “The 23 percent who strongly disagree are clearly saying the source of unity they have with others in their church has nothing to do with partisanship.”
