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 (NSRL) 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% know God really exists and have no doubts. Black Protestant (98%), evangelical (97%) and Catholic (96%) pastors, however, are far more likely to express certainty than mainline pastors (68%). Another 28% of mainline leaders say they believe in God while having some doubts about it.
The NSRL also found 9 in 10 pastors (91%) definitely believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection. Again, belief among evangelical (99%), Black Protestant (97%) and Catholic (92%) pastors far outpaces mainline clergy (65%).
In the most recent State of Theology study, 90% of evangelicals and 89% of Black Protestants believe the biblical accounts of the bodily resurrection of Jesus are completely true, compared to 79% of Catholics and 74% of mainline Protestants.
Among pastors in the NSRL, almost all evangelical (99%), Catholic (99%) and Black Protestant (97%) pastors definitely believe in heaven, compared to 64% of mainline pastors. Considering definite belief in hell, Black Protestants (97%), evangelicals (92%) and Catholics (74%) are far more likely than mainline pastors (40%) to believe.
Black Protestant (92%) and evangelical (87%) pastors also stand out for their certain belief in Adam and Eve being historical people, compared to mainline Protestants (25%) and Catholics (17%).
Faith and practice
A clergy’s trust in specific doctrines seems tied to their perspective on Scripture. Almost all Christian pastors (99%), including mainline leaders (95%), say the Bible is the actual or inspired Word of God. But mainline Protestants (72%) are more likely than Catholics (58%) and far more likely than Black Protestants (12%) and evangelicals (11%) 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%) are less likely than Catholics (73%), evangelicals (76%) and Black Protestants (89%) 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%) say it’s important to persuade people in other religions to accept their religion instead, compared to 59% of all Christian pastors and 82% of evangelicals. Half of mainline pastors (50%) disagree that all the great religions of the world are equally good and true, compared to 77% of pastors overall and 98% of evangelicals.
Mainline Protestant pastors (64%) are less likely than evangelical (95%), Catholic (98%) and Black Protestant (99%) pastors to say they pray daily before or after a meal. Additionally, mainline clergy (77%) are less likely than Catholic (96%), evangelical (95%) and Black Protestant (92%) 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% v. 59%) and to people regardless of their sexual orientation (71% v. 24%).
A 2021 Lifeway Research study found 44% of evangelicals and 76% of mainline Protestant pastors say women are permitted to have the role of senior pastor in their congregation.
While just 18% of all Christian pastors and 2% of evangelicals say they would definitely or probably perform the wedding of a same-sex couple if their religious group allowed it, 60% 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% of mainline clergy agreed, compared to 7% 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% v. 7%), 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% definitely believe God gives financial wealth and good physical health to those with enough faith, compared to 17% of evangelicals, 10% of Catholics and 4% 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% v. 8% 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% v. 18%); and God wants people to prosper financially (72% v. 37%).
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Aaron Earls is a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources. This article originally appeared at research.lifeway.com.)
