Religious and Demographic Profile of Presbyterians, 2008

The new Presbyterian Panel survey is out. Here are the highlights:

• Three in five pastors (60%) and specialized clergy (60%)—but only two in five members (40%) and elders (42%)—were raised in a Presbyterian congregation (p. 1).
• Seven in eight elders (87%)—but only two-thirds of members (65%)—attend Sunday worship services “every week” or “nearly every week” (p. 1).
• Almost all elders (93%) and three in five members (62%) volunteered time to help lead events for their congregation in the previous month (p. 2).
• A majority of members (57%) have been ordained, about one in five each as both elders and deacons (16%), as elders only (21%), and as deacons only (19%) (p. 2).
• Elders are generally more involved than members in congregational life and hold more orthodox views than members (p. 3).
• Median household giving in 2007 was $2,520 per member household, $3,200 per elder household, $6,000 per pastor household, and $4,000 per specialized clergy household (p. 3).
• At least three in five Presbyterians from each group (members, 59%; elders, 67%; pastors, 82%; specialized clergy, 75%) pray privately daily or almost daily (p. 5).
• At least four in five ministers (pastors, 96%; specialized clergy, 81%)—but only one-third of members (37%) and half of elders (49%)—read the Bible privately at least weekly (p. 5).
• At least four in five Presbyterians from each group believe that the Bible is either “the word of God, to be interpreted in light of its historical and cultural context” or “the word of God, to be interpreted in light of its historical context and the Church’s teachings” (members, 80%; elders, 83%; pastors, 95%; specialized clergy, 96%). One in six laypeople (members, 16%; elders, 16%) believe the Bible should be taken literally, word for word. Only 5% of pastors and 3% of specialized clergy believe this (p. 6).
• Almost half of laypeople (members, 44%; elders, 48%) have had a conversion experience—“a turning point” when they committed themselves to Christ (p. 7).
• At least three in five laypeople have tried to encourage people to believe in Jesus Christ (members, 60%; elders, 71%) or in the prior year have invited people to attend worship at their congregation (members, 60%; elders, 77%) (p. 7).
• Presbyterians are somewhat divided along the theological spectrum. Two in five elders (42%) and one-third of members (34%) describe themselves as very conservative or conservative. Half of specialized clergy (52%) describe themselves as very liberal or liberal. Pastors are more evenly split (p. 7).
• Half of elders (50%) support the 2009 decision by presbyteries to maintain the denomination’s policy of ordaining as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, elders, or deacons only those who are in heterosexual marriages or not sexually active. A majority of specialized clergy (60%) oppose this decision. Members and pastors are more evenly split (p. 8).
• Half of pastors (49%) serve in solo pastorates. Another one-third (35%) are heads of staff in congregations with multiple pastors (p. 9).
• One-third each of specialized clergy are chaplains (32%) or faculty or staff at seminaries or colleges (31%). Others work on PC(USA) national or middle governing body staff (13%) or as professional pastoral counselors (8%) (p. 9).
• Three in five pastors (60%) and specialized clergy (60%)—but only two in five members (40%) and elders (42%)—were raised in a Presbyterian congregation (p. 1).
• Seven in eight elders (87%)—but only two-thirds of members (65%)—attend Sunday worship services “every week” or “nearly every week” (p. 1).
• Almost all elders (93%) and three in five members (62%) volunteered time to help lead events for their congregation in the previous month (p. 2).
• A majority of members (57%) have been ordained, about one in five each as both elders and deacons (16%), as elders only (21%), and as deacons only (19%) (p. 2).
• Elders are generally more involved than members in congregational life and hold more orthodox views than members (p. 3).
• Median household giving in 2007 was $2,520 per member household, $3,200 per elder household, $6,000 per pastor household, and $4,000 per specialized clergy household (p. 3).
• At least three in five Presbyterians from each group (members, 59%; elders, 67%; pastors, 82%; specialized clergy, 75%) pray privately daily or almost daily (p. 5).
• At least four in five ministers (pastors, 96%; specialized clergy, 81%)—but only one-third of members (37%) and half of elders (49%)—read the Bible privately at least weekly (p. 5).
• At least four in five Presbyterians from each group believe that the Bible is either “the word of God, to be interpreted in light of its historical and cultural context” or “the word of God, to be interpreted in light of its historical context and the Church’s teachings” (members, 80%; elders, 83%; pastors, 95%; specialized clergy, 96%). One in six laypeople (members, 16%; elders, 16%) believe the Bible should be taken literally, word for word. Only 5% of pastors and 3% of specialized clergy believe this (p. 6).
• Almost half of laypeople (members, 44%; elders, 48%) have had a conversion experience—“a turning point” when they committed themselves to Christ (p. 7).
• At least three in five laypeople have tried to encourage people to believe in Jesus Christ (members, 60%; elders, 71%) or in the prior year have invited people to attend worship at their congregation (members, 60%; elders, 77%) (p. 7).
• Presbyterians are somewhat divided along the theological spectrum. Two in five elders (42%) and one-third of members (34%) describe themselves as very conservative or conservative. Half of specialized clergy (52%) describe themselves as very liberal or liberal. Pastors are more evenly split (p. 7).
• Half of elders (50%) support the 2009 decision by presbyteries to maintain the denomination’s policy of ordaining as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, elders, or deacons only those who are in heterosexual marriages or not sexually active. A majority of specialized clergy (60%) oppose this decision. Members and pastors are more evenly split (p. 8).
• Half of pastors (49%) serve in solo pastorates. Another one-third (35%) are heads of staff in congregations with multiple pastors (p. 9).
• One-third each of specialized clergy are chaplains (32%) or faculty or staff at seminaries or colleges (31%). Others work on PC(USA) national or middle governing body staff (13%) or as professional pastoral counselors (8%) (p. 9).