fbpx
×

Log into your account

We have changed software providers for our subscription database. Old login credentials will no longer work. Please click the "Register" link below to create a new account. If you do not know your new account number you can contact [email protected]
Americans’ view of Southern Baptists studied
LifeWay Communications
December 21, 2011
4 MIN READ TIME

Americans’ view of Southern Baptists studied

Americans’ view of Southern Baptists studied
LifeWay Communications
December 21, 2011
The majority of Americans have a favorable impression of Southern Baptists, according to a recent LifeWay Research study. However, 40 percent of respondents have an unfavorable view of the denomination; more than a third strongly assume a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church is not for them; and the negativity is higher among the unchurched.
The LifeWay Research study was conducted in September after Bryant Wright, SBC president, appointed a task force to consider a possible name change for the 166 year-old convention.
The study indicates a segment of Americans have unfavorable opinions of Southern Baptists in comparison to other faith groups. However, with 53 percent being favorable toward Southern Baptists (including 15 percent very favorable), both sides need to be considered, said Ed Stetzer, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources.
12-21-11sbaptstudy.jpg
“On one hand it does look like the SBC has higher negatives than other faith groups – and the unchurched numbers are particularly disconcerting,” Stetzer said. “But on the other, most people don’t seem to be concerned either way because there is a level of indifference to denominations or religion in general.”
In fact, two-thirds of Americans are without strong feelings in regard to all the Christian faith groups included in the survey, with a third or less either very favorable or very unfavorable to them.
Respondents were shown the names of five “denominations or faith groups” and asked to “indicate if your impression is very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, very unfavorable, or you are not familiar enough to form an opinion.” The study indicates 62 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Methodists compared to 59 percent for Catholics, 53 percent for Southern Baptists, 37 percent for Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and 28 percent for Muslims.
The study sought to determine how the name might impact the interest or connection with a congregation. When asked their level of agreement with the statement, “When I see (fill in denominational affiliation) in the name of a church, I assume it is not for me,” 35 percent “strongly agree” a Southern Baptist church is not for them – higher than for Catholics (33 percent), other Baptists (29 percent), Methodists (26 percent) and community or nondenominational churches (20 percent).
Significantly more respondents – 58 percent – disagree with this statement for community or nondenominational churches, indicating that such churches are considered as a possible fit more often than other Christian faith groups included in the survey. When considering Baptists (not specifically SBC), 44 percent disagree with the statement; Catholics, 43 percent; Methodists, 42 percent; and Southern Baptists, 38 percent.
This positive reaction to community or nondenominational churches reflects other recent LifeWay Research analysis that showed growth among nondenominational churches while Southern Baptists are trending in a membership decline.
Respondents also were asked: “If you were considering visiting or joining a church, would knowing that the church was Southern Baptist impact your decision positively, negatively or have no impact?” The study found that 44 percent of Americans indicate knowing a church is Southern Baptist would negatively impact their decision to visit or join the church; 36 percent say it would have no impact; and 10 percent say it would positively impact their decision. “The study did not explore why some respondents hold a negative view of Southern Baptists,” Stetzer said. “For instance, one reason may be because they disagree with positions Southern Baptists take on certain issues such as sanctity of life or the exclusivity of the gospel, and that is the only point of reference they have for Southern Baptists.”
Stetzer said he is “hopeful the results will be useful to the members as well as to all Southern Baptists seeking to be more effective in their witness by better understanding the culture in which their churches exist.”
Methodology: The survey was conducted Sept. 23-26 using an online panel. A representative sample of the U.S. adult population was invited to participate. The sample of 2,114 provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error does not exceed + or -2.2 percent.