Few pastors endorse political candidates outside their role at church. Even fewer endorse during a church service. Most Americans like it that way, but they’re growing more supportive of churches jumping into the political fray.
Lifeway Research studies of U.S. Protestant pastors and Americans found little practice or support for political endorsements from clergy and churches. Almost all pastors (98%) say they have not backed a candidate during a church service this year. Three in 5 Americans (60%) believe it is inappropriate for a pastor to endorse candidates at church, as opposed to 86% in a 2008 phone survey.
“As the nation becomes less religious, Americans have less concern about the church’s influence over politics,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Yet the majority of Americans still don’t want official candidate support coming from churches.”
Bully pulpit
Few pastors are endorsing during a church service this year (2%), and just 25% say they’ve endorsed a candidate for public office outside their church role this year.
Even anonymously in a recent survey from Lifeway Research, 23% refused to give their preference in the presidential election, up significantly from 2020 (4%) and 2016 (3%).
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The percentage of pastors refusing to endorse during a church service has remained unchanged over the past three presidential elections—98% in 2024, 2020 and 2016. However, fewer pastors say they’ve publicly supported a candidate outside of the church this year compared to four years ago—25% in 2024 and 32% in 2020. A similar number as today endorsed away from the church in 2016 (22%).
“Almost all Protestant pastors reserve the pulpit for promoting Jesus Christ rather than a woman or man running for public office,” said McConnell. “It is unclear whether the drop in candidate endorsements by pastors outside of their role at church is due to lack of excitement about this year’s candidates or concerns over disrupting unity within their churches.”
Older pastors are more likely to have endorsed a candidate away from their church. Protestant pastors aged 65 and older (36%) and 55-64 (32%) are far more likely than those 45-54 (18%) and 18-44 (11%) to have personally endorsed this election year.
African American pastors (40%) are around twice as likely as white (24%) and Hispanic pastors (20%) to say they’ve backed a candidate this year outside of their church role. Those at churches in the South (30%) are more likely than those in the Midwest (22%) and Northeast (20%) to have endorsed away from the church.
Pentecostal (34%), Baptist (33%) and Methodist (25%) pastors are more likely than Lutherans (15%) to have personally endorsed a candidate outside their church role. Pastors at the smallest churches, those with fewer than 50 in attendance, are most likely to say they’ve made personal endorsements (32%) outside their church.
Politically, Protestant pastors who say they are Republicans (32%) or Democrats (28%) are more likely than independents (16%) to have endorsed a candidate outside of church this year. Those who say they’re voting for former President Donald Trump (38%) and those supporting Vice President Kamala Harris (34%) are also more likely than those who are undecided in the presidential race (8%) to have given a personal endorsement to a candidate for public office.
Voting public
Americans may be slightly more welcoming of political endorsements than U.S. Protestant pastors are to offer them.
U.S. adults are split over the acceptability of pastors endorsing away from their ministerial role, as 45% say it is appropriate for pastors to endorse candidates, but only outside church, 38% disagree and 16% aren’t sure. Those percentages are statistically similar to 2020.
Americans, like pastors, are more likely to be opposed to in-church endorsements. Three in 10 U.S. adults (29%) believe pastors publicly endorsing candidates for public office during a church service is appropriate. Three in 5 (60%) disagree, including 42% who strongly disagree, and 11% aren’t sure.
However, the percentage of Americans who see pastors endorsing a candidate in church as appropriate has risen steadily over the past 16 years. According to a phone survey in 2008, 13% saw political endorsements during a church service as acceptable. That grew to 19% in 2015. Online surveys started with 24% in 2020 before growing to 29% today.
“A new generation of Americans appears more open to pastor endorsements of candidates. Either they have heard less rationale for restricting such endorsements, disagree with what they have heard or have seen no problems with endorsements they have heard about,” said McConnell.
Young adults aged 18-34 are most likely to see nothing wrong with a pastor endorsing outside their church role (59%) and during a church service (44%). African Americans and Hispanics are more likely than whites to believe both endorsement types are appropriate. Similarly, those with evangelical beliefs and Christians who attend a worship service once a month or more are more likely than their counterparts to support pastoral endorsements in either setting.
Politically, Republicans (50%) and Democrats (47%) are more likely than independents (39%) to see pastoral endorsements outside of church as acceptable. Donald Trump voters are among the most likely to support pastors endorsing away from their church role (50%) and during a church service (35%).
The church’s role
Many Americans distinguish between a pastor being directly involved in politics and a church engaging in political activities. Most don’t want churches using resources to campaign for candidates or endorse them during services. And half believe those who do so should lose their tax-exempt status.
Around 1 in 3 (32%) say it is appropriate for a church to publicly endorse candidates for public office, while 55% disagree and 12% aren’t sure. Support is statistically similar to 2020 but a phone survey in 2008 was 22%. More than a quarter (28%) say it’s acceptable for churches to use their resources to campaign for a political candidate. Around 3 in 5 (62%) disagree, including 46% who strongly disagree, and 10% say they are not sure. More Americans see churches using their resources as acceptable today. Support was 13% in a 2008 phone survey but 28% today.
Still, around half of U.S. adults (48%) believe churches that publicly endorse candidates should lose their tax-exempt status, 31% disagree and 21% aren’t sure. Those percentages are statistically similar to 2020.
“In a nation whose recent elections have been narrowly decided, the 3 in 5 Americans who do not find it appropriate to use church finances or an endorsement from the pulpit to support a candidate look like an expectation of what is proper. However, there is no such mandate for the tax regulation that seeks to endorse this,” said McConnell.
Again, young adults (48%), African Americans (48%), Hispanics (42%), those with evangelical beliefs (46%) and Christians who attend church services regularly (40%) are among the most likely to support churches publicly endorsing candidates.
Those already actively engaged in politics are often less likely to mind if their church grows more active. Democrats (35%) are more likely than Republicans (26%) and independents (19%) to believe it is appropriate for a church to use its resources to campaign for political candidates. Harris voters (32%) and Trump voters (27%) are also more likely than those who are undecided (12%) to see this as acceptable.
Despite being among the most likely to see increased church involvement in politics as acceptable, politically engaged voters are also more likely to support punishing congregations that become actively involved. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say churches that publicly endorse candidates should lose their tax exemption (56% v. 43%). Harris voters (58%) and Trump voters (42%) are more likely than undecided voters (26%) to support changing the tax status of candidate-endorsing churches.
This article originally appeared at Lifeway Research.
Aaron Earls is a senior writer at Lifeway Research.
24 Responses
The day my pastor endorses ANY candidate from the pulpit will be my last Sunday there. I don’t care who he votes for or what party he supports, the pulpit is not the place to mention it.
Aaaa-men! And it’s not just about the tax-exempt status. Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world. Pastors have no business “preaching” about American political candidates.
Yeah…those guys like Moses and Peter and Jesus and Paul never got involved in political issues that had a direct impact on the application of biblical principles. But then again, perhaps being salt and light means addressing real world political problems.
Talk about how we should be involved in helping people with their real world problems. Not about the party or the politician
Endorsing a political candidate from the pulpit jeopardizes a church’s tax exempt status. The difference between the pastor and congregant on this issue shows the ignorance of the congregants. Churches enjoy the privilege of not paying taxes, get into politics you lose that privilege.
The pulpit is not the place for political endorsements. The pulpit is the place to educate God’s people on Biblical principles (which can include voting, but NOT who to vote for), and how to be in this world but not of it, regardless of who is elected.
I would leave a church that touted a specific candidate or party….or that implied directly or indirectly that those who didn’t vote a specific way are “not really saved”.
I’d never go to a church that had a pastor in a pulpit, or one that had a pastor recommending a political choice, or one that wasn’t shouting loudly that politics is an illusion to keep everyone that participates in the game of enslavement (Antichrist).
Thankfully, it appears people’s consciences are waking up if this polling is accurate.
https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1843356341987094921?mx=2
More people in Christian circles need to watch the Jones Plantation movie, especially pastors.
https://www.amazon.com/Jones-Plantation-Andrew-Treglia/dp/B0CWDJDQ6Q
Perhaps it goes without saying, but preaching about moral issues is not political preaching. As a pastor, I have often had the experience of being accused of “getting too political” when I preach about moral issues, even though I never mention the name of a candidate or a political party. It is important to help church members understand the difference between preaching about morality and preaching in favor of a political party. One is okay, the other is not.
Agreed. The Gospel is inherently political- Jesus was VERY political, it’s why so many folks wanted him dead.
What the Gospel isn’t, is the property of any political party or candidate. I definitely believe that different parties and candidates are closer or further to what Jesus wants for the flourishing of people. But no party can encapsulate who Jesus is- that’s the Church’s job.
“ The Gospel is inherently political- Jesus was VERY political, it’s why so many folks wanted him dead.”
Jen, after decades of wrestling with these issues I would have to tweak that to say “the gospel is inherently anti-political”, and the reason is Jesus is the Son, the Word of God who spoke (vibrations) and created life that was intrinsically bound by his natural law.
Natural law for human beings (higher life form) means the right to self ownership – namely that an individual has the right to the fruits of his labor (just like the Creator does…”made in his image”), and no other human has the right to come and steal that fruit (theft), or steal the individual’s right to own himself (slavery).
The essence of politics is people “voting” so that the majority (mob) sanctions a small group of individuals (ruling class) to steal from those that didn’t consent. This is a form of slavery and directly violates natural law that was set in stone from creation. People cannot bestow a right that they don’t have to another human being, or group of human beings. Meaning, I don’t have a right to coerce you to pay me money in exchange for protection, therefore, it is a violation of natural law if my vote magically gives a group of people that right.
There is an axiom in natural law that says to the degree natural law is violated in society (aggregated human rights) there is a corresponding degree of enslavement which results in immorality, chaos, death, and destruction of said society.
Jesus actually lived and died to set his beloved mankind free from enslavement.
What do you think?
Well said,you’re a thoughtful Brother in Christ Jesus!!! Kenly.
Yes, Christianity is itself a politic — a structure for governing the life of the community. It’s just a politic that is not of this world (οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου). See Lee C. Camp’s “Scandalous Witness” or Patrick Schreiner’s “Political Gospel.”
Well, when one candidate endorses abortion on demand and gender affirming surgery for underage children, it would seem a no brainer for a Christian pastor to point out a moral choice, but apparently that is a truth that angers those who would rather be soothed in their whitewashed tombs. (Matt 23:27) I guess John the Baptist could have kept his head intact if he hadn’t pointed out cultural sins. Stay safe and controversy free at all costs!!
There isn’t a candidate running for President that is endorsing what you claim here.
This is like winking at heterosexual immorality, lying, stealing, inciting violence, denigrating certain ethnic groups, racism and spreading hatred, among other things. Yes, the things you mention are sins, but so are all of the above. JESUS clearly stayed out of politics. HE never joined or endorsed the revolutionaries. He said “love your enemies.” HE never said, “I hope my enemies go to Hell,” as one of our presidential candidates did on 12/25/2023.
No, actually Jesus didn’t speak about politics, other than to say to render unto Caesar what was his. He specifically said His kingdom was not of this world. The people who wanted him dead were relugious leaders.
Perhaps most pastors lean to ministry comforts while most people lean to real-world convictions.
As Ecclesiastes would put it, there’s “a time to endorse and a time to shun endorsing.” No faithful man of God wants to preach about an election or endorse a candidate. However, when the various sins of the sexual revolution are enshrined in the platforms of a political candidate, then the man of God is derelict in his duty when he remains silent. For the word of God literally says there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Eccl 3:7).
“It is unclear whether the drop in candidate endorsements by pastors outside of their role at church is due to lack of excitement about this year’s candidates or concerns over disrupting unity within their churches.” Hopefully they have the more appropriate reason, as demonstrated by our pastor: teach the Bible, and allow the adults in the audience to use biblical principles to decide personally how they should vote.
A few points:
-Large Southern denominations such as the Southern Baptists, Southern Methodists and Southern Presbyterians fully supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. Also they were AWOL during Jim Crow and Segregation.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer was part of the German Resistance against the Third Reich, and he paid with his life for his courage.
-Russian Orthodox priests bless Russian troops as the troops commit War Crimes in Ukraine.
-Donald Trump was informed that Vice President Mike Pence was in danger during the January 6th Overthrow. Trump’s response was … “So What”…
Oh yea… the large majority of White Evangelicals will vote for Donald Trump… great job Evangelical Pastors….what a joke …. such courage….
Encourage voting yes. Endorse parties or candidates NO!!!!!
This is the problem I have with going back to an Evangelical church.
Even though the pastor may not openly endorse a party or candidate I’m fully aware that 70% or more of the congregation members will endorse Trump and expect me to openly do the same. Silence on my part could lead to harassment.
In the last couple of elections, I voted “contrarian” compared to my evangelical church peers. Of course, I never mentioned it even though others freely shared how they voted. I don’t need any pastor to tell me how to vote, no matter how much of a heavy guilt trip they try to lay on me.
The last time my pastor endorsed a political candidate, after he won, he ran off with his campaign advisor for an affair, which lasted a week.