The following are excerpts of a study developed by the Presbyterian Panel, analyzing the members, ordained elders, and ordained ministers of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).It reflects responses from more than 3,500 individuals, sampled in fall 2005. A more complete analysis can be found at www.pcusa.org/research/panel .
church involvement
Church attendance and participation
· More than half of members (56%) and elders (60%) live within four miles of their congregation.
· More than six in ten members (65%) and eight in ten elders (87%) report that they usually attend worship services “every week” or “nearly every week.”
· A small majority of members (55%) and most elders (80%) take part three or more hours per month in other programs and activities of their congregation.
Congregational outreach and outlook
· Most members (61%) and elders (77%) report inviting someone to their congregation in the prior year.
· Among those issuing invitations, the median number invited is three for members and four for elders.
· Most laity “have a sense of excitement” about their congregation’s future (members, 65%; elders, 68%).
Financial Stewardship
· Around eight in ten members (78%) and elders (80%) report that they or another household member made a financial pledge to their congregation for 2005.
· Median “regular giving” to congregations for Panel households is: members, $1,800; elders, $2,500; pastors, $4,500; specialized ministers, $3,000.
· Many members (49%) and elders (55%) also report contributing to a capital campaign for their congregation. The median amount given is $850 and $500, respectively.
Piety and Belief
Prayer and Bible Reading
· Two-thirds or more “pray privately” either “daily” or “almost daily” (members, 67%; elders, 70%; pastors, 87%; and specialized clergy, 83%).
· Fewer than half of members (43%) and elders (49%) “read the Bible privately” at least “weekly.” More than half of pastors (54%) and a third of specialized clergy (33%) do so “daily” or “almost daily.”
· Few panelists (members, 18%; elders, 17%; pastors, 5%; specialized clergy, 2%) believe that “the Bible is . . . to be taken literally, word for word.” Instead, most believe that the Bible should be interpreted in light of either “its historical and cultural context” (38%; 43%; 56%; 53%) or “its historical context and the church’s teachings” (33%; 32%; 32%; 36%).
Conversion Experience
· Fewer than half of laity (members, 47%; elders, 48%) report having had a conversion experience (“a turning point in your life when you committed yourself to Christ”). For those who have, the median age at the time was: members, 16 years; elders, 18 years.
· Majorities of members (61%) and elders (70%) have “tried to encourage someone to believe in Jesus Christ or accept Him as personal savior.”
Dimensions of Belief
· Majorities “strongly agree” or “agree” that “the only absolute Truth for humankind is in Jesus Christ” (members, 63%; elders, 71%; pastors, 68%; specialized clergy, 51%).
· Fewer than half “strongly agree” or “agree” that “only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved” (41%; 46%; 36%; 22%).
· Most laity consider themselves theologically “very conservative” or “conservative” (members, 41%; elders, 43%) or “moderate” (40%; 39%); only 18% choose the labels “very liberal” or “liberal.”
· More pastors consider themselves theologically “moderate” (38%) than “very conservative” or “conservative” (34%) or “very liberal” or “liberal” (28%), while among specialized clergy, the corresponding numbers are 35%, 21%, and 44%.
Opinions About the PC(USA)
· Large majorities (members, 67%; elders, 76%; pastors, 84%; specialized clergy, 84%) “strongly agree” or “agree” that “being part of the PC(USA) is an important part of my identity as a Christian.” Smaller numbers “strongly agree” or “agree” that “there are several other denominations where I could belong and be just as satisfied” (58%; 57%; 50%; 50%).
· Few panelists “strongly agree” or “agree” that the PC(USA) “has a clearer understanding of the church’s mission than do most other denominations” (members, 19%; elders, 24%; pastors, 26%; specialized clergy, 27%).
· Only a minority “strongly agree” or “agree” with the statement, “I have a sense of excitement about the future of the PC(USA)” (members, 39%; elders, 42%; pastors, 32%; specialized clergy, 29%).
Same-Sex Issues
· Around a third of members (33%) and elders (35%) but more pastors (46%) and specialized clergy (63%) would either “definitely” or “probably” like for the PC(USA) to “permit sexually active gay and lesbian persons to be ordained” to the office of elder. Slightly fewer, however, would “definitely” or “probably” like to see ordination of such persons to the ministry (26%; 24%; 44%; 58%). (See Figure 1 above.)
· Fewer than one in four members (23%) and elders (22%) but a third of pastors (35%) and half of specialized clergy (51%) “strongly agree” or “agree” that “same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.”
· Around half of members (49%), elders (53%), and pastors (47%) but fewer specialized clergy (32%) “strongly agree” or “agree” that “PC(USA) ministers should be prohibited from performing ceremonies that bless the union between two people of the same sex.”
calls and careers
Career Backgrounds: Ministers
· Prior to ordination, more than four in ten ministers (42%) had a “long-term secular job or career.” The median time in that career was nine years.
· Only 6% of ministers report having been ordained to ministry outside the PC(USA) or one of its predecessor denominations, most by a Baptist church (1%) or by another Presbyterian body (1%).
· Twice as many female (67%) as male pastors (33%) were ordained between 1990 and 2005.
Income
· Median annual family income is $73,200 for members, $72,100 for elders, $72,900 for pastors, and $76,900 for specialized clergy.
· Few panelists have annual family incomes of less than $20,000 (members, 7%; elders, 4%; pastors, 1%; specialized clergy, 3%), while many have incomes of $100,000 or more (32%; 31%; 21%; 32%).
Social and Demographic Characteristics
Age, Gender, and Race Ethnicity
· The median age is 58 years for members and elders, 52 for pastors, and 55 for specialized clergy. Most members (62%) and elders (51%) are female, but most pastors (76%) and specialized clergy (60%) are male.
· Almost all members (97%), elders (96%), pastors (93%), and specialized clergy (90%) are white.
Political Preference
· Most members (53%) and elders (51%) list their political preference as Republican, while only 26% of pastors and 17% of specialized clergy do so. At the same time, while only 27% of members and 30% of elders list their preference as Democrat, 49% of pastors and 64% of specialized clergy do so.
Location
· Of the four major census regions, the largest group of Presbyterian members lives in the South (42%), followed by the Midwest (26%), the Northeast (17%), and the West (15%).
Used by permission of Presbyterian Panel.
