Facts & Trends Survey Archive (2004-2006)

Following are surveys included in Facts & Trends from 2004-2006. (Visit the 2007-2009 archive for additional research).

November/December 2006

Is The Church Out Of Touch? LifeWay Survey Polls Clergy, Laity On Culture - Should Christians separate themselves from the worldly culture around them in order to leave a godly lifestyle? New research from LifeWay Christian Resources shows that Protestant ministers tend to be less informed about popular culture than do the people to whom they are ministering.

September/October 2006

Survey Examines Opinion And Appropriateness Of Political Involvement In Churches - Research results show Protestant clergy and laity are very far from being of one mind about religion and politics.

July/August 2006

Survey: Christian Media Occupies Small Segment Of Media Usage - New research shows that a majority of Protestant churchgoers use Christian media (radio, television, newspapers, books, movies, music, and Web sites), but for the average layperson, Christian media comprises only a minority of the media they consume. Christian media use is much higher among Protestant clergy than among the people in the pews of their churches.

May/June 2006

Survey Asks Pastors, Laity Where The Money Should Be Spent - What would you do with an unexpected financial windfall? This question was posed to almost 1,700 Protestant ministers and churchgoers, with a twist: they were asked for their first priority for how to spend a sudden windfall their church might receive. Research results show the spending priorities of clergy and the people in the pews don’t always match.

March/April 2006

LifeWay Survey Reveals Laity, Clergy Hold Differing Views On Tithing - New research shows a majority of ministers believe the Bible commands Christians to tithe 10 percent to their local church, but only a minority of the people in the pews agree with them. Both groups, however, agree that Christians should not be limited to only Christian causes or organizations in their giving.

January/February 2006

Survey: Churches Underutilize Internet Opportunities- About one out of every four Protestant churches in the U.S. has no contact with the Internet at all – no web site, no staff e-mail, and no online access for staff.

November/December 2005

Survey: Churches Offer Limited Training Opportunities- Southern Baptist churches are less likely than average to offer regular classes in the basics of Christianity, the basics of their denominational beliefs and how to study the Bible.

September/October 2005

Survey: Pastors Think Pastors Should Stay Put - Research among Protestant clergy shows the majority take a job with a different church for reasons such as wanting to move to a different community, wanting to lead a larger church, and getting promoted to a higher position - and not simply because they feel God calling them to a different church. In addition, one out of every ten clergy members has been fired at some time during their career.

July/August 2005

Survey: Most Pastors See Own Family Relationships As Healthy - A new study conducted for LifeWay Christian Resources shows pastors see their own families as fairly healthy, even though they believe their job means they don’t spend enough time with their family, and there are unreasonable expectations connected with being the spouse or child of a minister.

May/June 2005

Survey: Most Pastors Unsatisfied With Their Personal Prayer Lives - Very few Protestant ministers are satisfied with their personal prayer lives...The study reveals just 16 percent are very satisfied with their personal prayer lives. Forty-seven percent are somewhat satisfied, 30 percent somewhat dissatisfied and 7 percent very dissatisfied.

March/April 2005

Survey: Ministers Make Room for Continuing Education - Research results show most Protestant clergy are involved with continuing their education through classes and/or seminars, but a majority feels their budget for additional education is insufficient. Additionally, slightly under half say they are encouraged by their church’s leaders to continue their education using church time and/or funds.

January/February 2005

Survey: Resources Drive Church Use Of Technology - Research results being released for the first time in the January/February edition of Facts & Trends show nine out of 10 Protestant clergy have Internet access they can use for church business, but only half of all Protestant churches maintain a Web site.

November/December 2004

Survey: Clergy Name Divorce Top Threat To Families - According to Protestant clergy, the greatest threats to families in their communities are divorce, negative influences from the media, and materialism.

September/October 2004

Survey: Protestant Ministers Have Limited Familiarity With Other Faiths - Study results show Protestant ministers in the U.S. often have moderate familiarity with the core beliefs of Islam, but little familiarity with faiths such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Scientology, or Wicca. Protestant clergy tend to be most familiar with Roman Catholicism and Judaism among non-Protestant faith groups.

July/August 2004

Survey: Protestant Clergy Believe the Separation Of Church And State Has Gone Too Far - Study results show 78 percent of Protestant clergy in the United States believe the separation of church and state has gone too far, or in ways it was never intended to go. However, ministers are sharply divided over the issue of religious displays on government property.

May/June 2004

Survey:Protestant Ministers Rate 12 Different Bible Versions, NIV The Favorite - Study results show the Bible version most likely to be used by Protestant ministers in their work is the New International Version (31 percent), followed by the King James Version (23 percent), the New Revised Standard (14 percent), the New King James (13 percent), and the New American Standard (10 percent). Together, these five Bible versions represent nine out of 10 Bibles ministers rely on most, even though there are dozens of other versions available.results show 78 percent of Protestant clergy in the United States believe the separation of church and state has gone too far, or in ways it was never intended to go. However, ministers are sharply divided over the issue of religious displays on government property.

March/April 2004

Survey:Study Shows Increase In Contemporary And Diverse Worship Styles In Protestant Churches - Study results show the typical Protestant church worship service has grown more contemporary and diversified over the last five years. The greatest increases have been in the proportion of churches using video clips and graphic presentations such as PowerPoint.

January/February 2004

Survey: Protestant Ministers Want More Cooperation Among Denominations - Study results show that most Protestant church pastors in the U.S. are committed to their denomination, but also frustrated at the lack of agreement within their own denomination, as well as the lack of inter-denominational cooperation.

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Facts & Trends Survey Archive (2004-2006)