Almost a decade after the Supreme Court docket legalized same-sex marriage throughout the nation, most clergy stay opposed, and the proportion in favor is not getting any greater.
In accordance with a LifeWay Analysis survey, one in 5 US Protestant pastors (21%) say they see nothing unsuitable with same-sex marriage.
Three in 4 (75%) oppose, together with 69 p.c who strongly disagree with same-sex marriage. One other 4 p.c stated they weren’t positive.
Earlier LifeWay Analysis research have discovered rising help amongst pastors. In 2010, 15 p.c of US Protestant pastors had no moral issues with the follow. The share in favor elevated to 24 p.c in 2019 At the moment, help is statistically unchanged at 21 p.c
“The morality of same-sex marriage continues to be debated on the nationwide and judicial degree, but the general variety of Protestant pastors supporting same-sex marriage will not be rising,” stated Scott McConnell, government director of LifeWay Analysis. “Earlier will increase have been most pronounced amongst mainline pastors, and that degree has not elevated in our newest survey.”
Pastors are considerably extra supportive of authorized civil unions between two individuals of the identical intercourse, however most nonetheless disagree. At present, 28 p.c help such a measure, statistically unchanged from 32 p.c in 2019 and 28 p.c in 2018.
Earlier will increase in clergy help for same-sex marriages have been pushed by US mainline Protestant pastors. In 2010, a 3rd (32%) have been in favor. By 2019, virtually half (47%) noticed nothing unsuitable. Present help amongst self-identified mainline pastors stays on the similar degree (46%).
Evangelical pastors have constantly opposed same-sex marriage. Since 2010, fewer than 1 in 10 individuals have expressed help for the follow At the moment, 7 p.c of self-identified US evangelical Protestant pastors say they see nothing unsuitable with same-sex marriage.
An identical division exists in civil unions between two individuals of the identical intercourse. A majority of mainline pastors (54%) are supportive, whereas solely 14 p.c of evangelical pastors agree.
Methodists (53%), Presbyterians/Reformed (36%) and Lutherans (34%) usually tend to help same-sex marriage than restorationists (8%), non-denominational (5%), Baptists (4%). ) or Pentecostal (1%) pastors.
Moreover, feminine pastors (42%), who’re extra frequent in mainline denominations, are more likely to help same-sex marriage than male homosexuals (16%).
Different demographic teams even have various levels of help, though not as stark as ethnic variations.
Youthful pastors usually tend to be useful than older pastors. Protestant pastors 18 to 44 (27%) and 55 to 64 (22%) are extra seemingly than mother and father 65 and older (15%) to see nothing unsuitable with same-sex marriage.
“People’ ethical and doctrinal beliefs do not diverge fairly often or very far, so we would not anticipate a lot change in pastors’ positions,” McConnell stated. “Nevertheless, the variations we see by age recommend that the excessive variety of younger pastors who see nothing unsuitable with same-sex marriage remains to be not having a lot of an influence on the general numbers.”
Folks with extra training are extra useful. Pastors with a grasp’s (30%) or doctoral diploma (26%) usually tend to say they’re OK with same-sex marriage than these with out a faculty diploma (9%) or bachelor’s diploma (7%).
Within the Northeast (27%), the place same-sex marriage was first legalized in america, and within the Midwest (25%), the South (18%) is extra prone to be supportive.
These main small church buildings see nothing unsuitable with two individuals of the identical intercourse marrying. Pastors in congregations with an attendance of lower than 50 (27%) and 50 to 99 (25%) outnumber pastors in church buildings with an attendance of 100 to 249 (11%) and 250 or extra (8%). Being in favor of same-sex marriage.
“As a result of fewer pastors in medium- and large-sized church buildings are morally open to same-sex marriage, a good bigger majority of Protestant churchgoers are in church buildings the place their pastor doesn’t help same-sex marriage or civil unions,” McConnell stated.
Many variations between several types of clergy additionally exist for civil unions. Younger pastors usually tend to be supportive than older pastors. Pastors with extra formal training usually tend to help civil unions.
Folks within the Northeast and Midwest are inclined to favor greater than these within the South. Clergy in bigger church buildings usually tend to see one thing unsuitable with a civil union between two individuals of the identical intercourse.
