Research and Trends

Mainline pastors are more likely than their evangelical counterparts to say their most attended service is on Christmas Eve (60% v. 44%), while evangelical pastors are more likely than mainline ministers to say their highest attendance event is during the third week of December (30% v. 17%).

Despite churches returning to pre-pandemic levels of holding in-person services, not all churchgoers have followed suit.

Most pastors in all denominational groups say women could be ministers to children, ministers to teenagers, committee leaders or coed adult Bible study teachers in their churches.

The primary value that emerged from the 48 unique values was family, with 61% of adults saying that family is a value they would be willing to fight or even die to protect or preserve.

Religious beliefs and practice also play a role in attitudes toward suicide. Those with evangelical beliefs are more likely than those without evangelical beliefs to say suicide is selfish (48% v. 35%) and automatically leads to hell (39% v. 18%).

Most pastors have experience with mental illness in their congregations.

There is no consensus among Americans on who is in the best position to generate healthy conversations around challenges in society.

Most Americans say religious liberty is declining in the country, and more believe Christians are facing increased intolerance.