Poll: Nearly 70% of Protestant pastors say their congregations have increasing fear

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A new survey by Lifeway Research shows that 69% of US Protestant pastors believe their congregations are subject to a growing sense of fear about the future of America and the world. However, this year’s percentage is lower than the 74% of Protestant pastors who responded to the same question in 2014.

According to the Lifeway Research findings, nearly seven in 10 pastors agree with the statement that there is a growing sense of fear in their congregations, and 25% said they “strongly agree.” Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they “disagree” with that statement.

“White (71%) and Hispanic pastors (62%) are the most likely to say they see fear for the future in their congregations. African American pastors are the least likely to agree (42%) and the most likely to disagree (55%),” Lifeway Research said in its report. “Pastors at non-denominational (75%), Methodist (74%), Baptist (72%) and Lutheran (72%) churches are more likely than Pentecostal pastors (53%) to spot fear among their congregants,” Lifeway Research added in its report.

“Those leading the smallest churches, with fewer than 50 in attendance at weekend worship services, are among the most likely to say their congregations have a growing fear about the future of the country and world (72%),” Lifeway Research said.

“The Bible tells followers of Jesus Christ to expect trials, tribulations and suffering,” “However, Scripture doesn’t prescribe fear as the response to adversity. Instead, it frequently encourages rejoicing and faithfulness as anxieties are cast upon God,” Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, noted in a statement about the findings. 

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