A recent report from Lifeway Research reveals a decrease in support for same-sex marriage among Protestant pastors in the United States, with cultural conflicts over LGBTQ rights cited as contributing factors. The research highlights varying levels of approval among denominations, age groups, genders, education levels, and regions, emphasising the ongoing divide within religious communities on this issue.
A recent report from Lifeway Research shows a decline in support for same-sex marriage among Protestant pastors in the United States. In 2023, only 20% of surveyed pastors stated they see “nothing wrong” with same-sex marriage, down from 24% in 2019. Cultural conflicts over LGBTQ rights are cited as contributing factors to this decrease.
While mainstream denominations show varying levels of support, denominations identified as more progressive report 46% approval of same-sex marriage, a figure consistent with five years ago. Views differ significantly among Protestant sects, age, gender, and education levels. Younger and female pastors, for example, are more likely to be supportive.
Education also plays a role; nearly 33% of pastors with master’s degrees and 25% with doctoral degrees support same-sex marriage, compared to 9% and 7% among those with no college degrees or bachelor’s degrees, respectively. Evangelical leaders exhibited the least support, with only 7% in favor.
Regional differences are evident as well, with pastors in the Northeast and Midwest more supportive than those in the South. Pastors of smaller congregations also show higher levels of support than those leading larger churches. The acceptance of same-sex civil unions is slightly higher than that of marriage but still reflects notable demographic and geographic disparities.
The research included responses from over 1,000 Protestant pastors and highlights the ongoing divide in views on same-sex marriage within religious communities.
