Image Credit: Kamala Harris/Facebook, Donald Trump/Facebook, Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Lifeway Research, a Nashville-based, evangelical research firm that “specializes in surveys about faith in culture and matters that affect churches,” surveyed U.S. Protestant pastors and found that though a large number identify as Republicans and plan to vote for Donald Trump in the November election, a significant percentage would not share their preferences.
The research study, conducted August 8-September 3, 2024, completed 1,003 surveys through interviews with the senior pastor, minister, or priest of each Protestant church.
The findings were drastically different from 2020 and 2016’s surveys, most notably in the percentage of pastors willing to disclose their preferred presidential candidate.
While 97% of pastors surveyed do plan to vote in the 2024 presidential election, 23% were unwilling to identify a candidate, compared to only 4% and 3% in 2020 and 2016 respectively.
Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, commented, “the growing number of pastors unwilling to respond with their voting intentions shows how sensitive or divisive politics has become in some churches.”
Among those willing to share their preference, 50% identified as Republicans and plan to back Donald Trump, 24% chose Kamala Harris though only 18% identified as Democrats, and 23% are undecided, with no third-party candidate gaining more than 1% support.
The pastors were also polled on candidate characteristics factoring into their voting decisions and 85% declared an ability to maintain national security their number one priority. A close second at 83% was the ability to protect religious freedom, with foreign policy, the economy, immigration, and abortion all scoring 80% or higher. Climate change ranked last with only 38%.
Data from the survey also categorized alternate demographics like age, gender, and race, amongst a slew of others. Pastors aged 55 and up were more likely to vote for Trump, while female pastors leaned towards Harris. White and Hispanic pastors were more likely to support Trump compared to their African American counterparts.
The research center also proposes that pastors are less likely to solidly support one of the two major party candidates than their congregants, drawing on a Pew Research study conducted earlier this year which found that majorities of registered voters in three key religious groups would vote for Trump.
According to this study, White Evangelical and Nonevangelical Protestants and White Catholics all overwhelmingly back Trump while Hispanic Catholics, Jews, and the religiously unaffiliated support Harris.
McConnell stated, “In a culture that increasingly doesn’t want to tolerate people with different political views, pastors lead churches that strive for unity centered on their faith.”
Yet this data may suggest that, party affiliations aside, congregants are becoming more vocal about their political preferences while their pastors are withdrawing from the rhetoric as it appears the mainstream cultural narrative continues to employ the often misused and misquoted “separation of church and state” philosophy.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
4 Responses
VERY few “pastors” and “Christians” are standing against lucifer, allowing him to succeed in nigh every way.
This is a delicate issue for churhes – 501 c 3 non- profit regs prohibit political activity per the IRS web site – you really should consider clarifying this.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.
Ed, you need to educate yourself. Start off by going to https://firstliberty.org. There you will find what churches can and can’t. Everybody likes to quote “separation of church and state”. The true meaning of that is the government is to stay out of the church and not the church out of government. The letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to his friend was taken out of context. Concerning that statement. Here is some info for you.
Permissible Nonpartisan Activities
Federal tax law permits the nonprofit 501(c)(3) development or distribution of materials about candidates’ positions on issues to educate the voters impartially on a nonpartisan basis. The IRS states that 501(c)(3) organizations may conduct any range of activities to promote voter participation and educate voters so long as it is nonpartisan. 501(c)(3) organizations are explicitly prohibited from supporting or opposing candidates for public office.
501(c)(3) nonprofits may:
• Conduct or Promote Voter Registration
• Educate Voters on the Voting Process
• Distribute Nonpartisan Sample Ballots, Candidate Questionnaires, or Voter Guides
• Organize Get-Out-the-Vote Activities
• Encourage and Help People to Vote
• Educate the Candidates on Issues Important to Your Organization
• Continue to do Issue Advocacy During an Election
Pastors of churches have remained silent for too long. Remember Germany during WW2 the churches remained silent and what happened.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
I want to respond to this opinion article.
I understand that there may be laws passed as to how religious groups manage their money and donations. A “Church” is an entity controlled by the laws of the land. The laws need to be obeyed and fought in court if they are unjust – “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”. What has raised my desire to comment are statements about the motives of some “Church Leaders” to not teach God’s will or the expectations of some that they should take a political stand.
I personally find it puzzling that anyone who believes in the teachings of Jesus and tries to follow them is satisfied with attempts to push this country into authoritarian Marxism, even if they greatly dislike Donald Trump. I completely believe this country was founded by God working through our forefathers to create this great country and our constitution which enables and defends the free agency of men so that freedom could/can prevail on the earth and free discourse among people could/can spread his gospel and plan of salvation. Living a life that follows God’s will leads to happiness and prosperity for everyone. I believe that Socialism and all its derivatives are evil and intended to take away the free agency of men and are completely opposite to the will of God (my definition of Anti-Christ). A society that chooses evil over good can slow down the spread of God’s will; and then He takes steps to correct the situation. On some occasions, that society is destroyed, and a new one is raised up that follows God’s will. Unfortunately for us, when we choose evil over good, the consequences are not fun and we as a society will be humbled by God until we remember Him (or be destroyed).
Having said that, I also believe the role of “the church” and its “leaders” are not to teach or get involved in Politics. Politics are the rules of men. The role of “the church” is to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and fearlessly, patiently, and lovingly defend the laws and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each person has been given “free agency” from God to choose between good and evil and live with the consequences of their decisions. Unfortunately, we all make bad decisions and that leads to the principles of “The Plan of Salvation”. It is the responsibility of “the church” (and parents) to teach God’s principles so that God’s children can make decisions that please God and lead to happiness, and the blessings God promises the faithful. People that need to be “told” what to do (or who to vote for) and are not capable of making choices that please God are not what God wants. The Devil, Authoritarians, and Socialists want those people, they are easy to control.
In our society, the teachings of God are being lost, being ignored, belittled by the media, are being side-stepped by some church leaders who favor popularity more than pleasing God, and people who choose wickedness over righteousness. It is the people (and some church leaders at even the highest levels) that need to repent and turn to God. They need to study and live by God’s will with humility and pray for God to guide them through the lies and deceit that seems to be in control. These are the people who will vote against Socialism, and those who embrace it, because they cherish the free agency God has given them and intends for all Mankind.
Thanks for reading and pondering the points of my opinion. I suspect I am “Preaching to the Choir”; but I appreciate being able to express my opinion.