More Americans describe themselves as socially liberal than economically liberal, according to new polling data from Gallup. And for the first time, more Americans identify as social liberals than as social conservatives. “This is the first year in Gallup’s trend…
Less than half of American adults have a will, and few are reminded by their churches of why this is important
New research showing that 46% of U.S. adults have wills directing the distribution of their estates after death hardly came as a surprise to David King, director of the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University. “That percentage…
Gallup finds a sharp political divide on American views of moral values
Nearly half of Americans believe the nation’s moral values are in poor condition, and a significantly higher percentage predict those standards are only going to get worse, a newly released Gallup poll has found. But the survey also found political…
Majority of Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade
The composition of the United States Supreme Court may have tilted on abortion, but the majority sentiment of the American public has not changed similarly. As with other key social issues most frequently espoused by religious conservatives — including immigration,LGBTQ…
Experiencing God and engaging in social responsibility are keys to church relevance
For the first time since they began keeping track in 1937, Gallup found that a minority of Americans (47%) are now members of a house of worship. This wasn’t really news to anyone who has been involved in a church…
America 2021: Got church and steeple but where are the people?
Growing up in Texas during the Southern Baptist Iron Age, I learned this bit of gospel doggerel somewhere between Sunday School, Vacation Bible School or Romper Room (Google it) and the hand-signals that accompanied it: Here is the church, Here…
Less than half of Americans now claim a formal congregational membership
The exodus from formal affiliation with U.S. houses of worship continued its relentless pace in 2020 as congregational membership hit an all-time low in the 80 years Gallup has tracked it. The practice of “belonging” to a church, mosque or…
New data on COVID vaccine efficacy is good news for faith leaders seeking to be influencers
As faith leaders continue to preach the public health benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines, they now have additional support to make the case. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 29 reported results of a real-world study…
Equality Act stirs passions about the definition of religious liberty and RFRA’s role
When the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act last week, the long-simmering battle between religious conservatives and the rest of the nation reached a renewed pitch. At stake is the desire of religious conservatives — especially evangelical Christians…