Mainline Pastors Less Likely To Hold Historic Christian Doctrine
While there are likely numerous theological differences between evangelical, Catholic and Black Protestant pastors, they share core convictions that aren’t as common among mainline pastors.
According to the National Survey of Religious Leaders report, “Clergy who lead predominantly white mainline Protestant churches are much less likely to hold traditionally orthodox Christian beliefs than clergy in any other group.”
Among all Christian clergy, 91 percent know God really exists and have no doubts. Black Protestant (98 percent), evangelical (97 percent), and Catholic (96 percent) pastors, however, are far more likely to express certainty than mainline pastors (68 percent). Another 28 percent of mainline leaders say they believe in God while having some doubts about it.
The NSRL also found nine in 10 pastors (91 percent) definitely believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection. Again, belief among evangelical (99 percent), Black Protestant (97 percent) and Catholic (92 percent) pastors far outpaces mainline clergy (65 percent).
In the most recent State of Theology study, 90 percent of evangelicals and 89 percent of Black Protestants believe the biblical accounts of the bodily resurrection of Jesus are completely true, compared to 79 percent of Catholics and 74 percent of mainline Protestants.
Among pastors in the NSRL, almost all evangelical (99 percent), Catholic (99 percent), and Black Protestant (97 percent) pastors definitely believe in heaven, compared to 64 percent of mainline pastors. Considering definite belief in hell, Black Protestants (97 percent), evangelicals (92 percent), and Catholics (74 percent) are far more likely than mainline pastors (40 percent) to believe.
Black Protestant (92 percent) and evangelical (87 percent) pastors also stand out for their certain belief in Adam and Eve being historical people, compared to mainline Protestants (25 percent) and Catholics (17 percent).
Faith and practice
A clergy’s trust in specific doctrines seems tied to their perspective on Scripture. Almost all Christian pastors (99 percent), including mainline leaders (95 percent), say the Bible is the actual or inspired word of God.
But mainline Protestants (72 percent) are more likely than Catholics (58 percent) and far more likely than Black Protestants (12 percent) and evangelicals (11 percent) to say that while the Bible is the inspired word of God that still speaks today, it is not completely historically accurate, and some parts reflect the culture in which it was written and do not apply today.
Mainline clergy (35 percent) are less likely than Catholics (73 percent), evangelicals (76 percent) and Black Protestants (89 percent) to say they never have any doubts about their faith.
As they are less certain of their own beliefs, mainline Protestant pastors are much less likely to believe in the exclusivity of Christianity and the need to evangelize others.
Around a third of mainline leaders (35 percent) say it’s important to persuade people in other religions to accept their religion instead, compared to 59 percent of all Christian pastors and 82 percent of evangelicals. Half of mainline pastors (50 percent) disagree that all the great religions of the world are equally good and true, compared to 77 percent of pastors overall and 98 percent of evangelicals.
Mainline Protestant pastors (64 percent) are less likely than evangelical (95 percent), Catholic (98 percent) and Black Protestant (99 percent) pastors to say they pray daily before or after a meal.
Additionally, mainline clergy (77 percent) are less likely than Catholic (96 percent), evangelical (95 percent) and Black Protestant (92 percent) pastors to say they pray daily by themselves not including prayers around meals.
Gender and sexuality
Additionally, mainline Protestants are far more likely than other Christian clergy to say they completely or mainly agree that all religious leadership should be open to women (95 percent vs. 59 percent) and to people regardless of their sexual orientation (71 percent vs. 24 percent).
A 2021 Lifeway Research study found 44 percent of evangelicals and 76 percent of mainline Protestant pastors say women are permitted to have the role of senior pastor in their congregation.
While just 18 percent of all Christian pastors and two percent of evangelicals say they would definitely or probably perform the wedding of a same-sex couple if their religious group allowed it, 60 percent of mainline pastors say they would do so.
When asked if they see nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married, 46 percent of mainline clergy agreed, compared to seven percent of evangelical pastors, according to a 2023 Lifeway Research study.
Additionally, mainline leaders are nearly three times as likely as evangelicals to say they’ve been asked to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony (20 percent vs. seven percent), according to a 2021 Lifeway Research study.
Prosperity gospel
One issue where Black Protestants stood out from other clergy is the acceptance of prosperity gospel beliefs. The NSRL report found 57 percent definitely believe God gives financial wealth and good physical health to those with enough faith, compared to 17 percent of evangelicals, 10 percent of Catholics, and 4 percent of mainline pastors.
A 2024 Lifeway Research also found African American pastors are among the most likely to agree with three statements related to the prosperity gospel.
To receive material blessings from God, we have to do something for God (16 percent vs. 8 percent of all Protestant pastors). Our church teaches that if you give more money to the church and charities, God will bless you in return (45 percent vs. 18 percent). God wants people to prosper financially (72 percent vs. 37 percent).
Aaron Earls is a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources.