Written by Don Byrd
USAToday reports that churches across the country are listening to their congregants who want less politics from the pulpit.
Preachers are largely avoiding the political fray, and hot-button social issues are relegated to simmer in low-profile church study groups.
Why? For one, Americans are growing impatient with religious politicking: 54% want houses of worship to keep out of politics (up from 52% in 2008 and 43% in 1996), according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Churches seem to be responding.
“The biggest change we see is a drop-off in the percentage of people saying they hear politics from the pulpit,” said David Campbell, a University of Notre Dame political scientist whose Faith Matters project tracked 3,100 people over five years.
“It’s been happening everywhere,” Campbell added. “People say they don’t want to hear about politics in church, and they’re actually hearing less of it.”
Not everyone has gotten the message, though. Americans United yesterday filed a complaint (pdf) with the IRS over a Kentucky pastor’s call for President Obama’s ouster. On balance, the trend is good news. People may want their values reflected in their politics, but they don’t want their politics preached from the pulpit. If Professor Campbell’s information is correct, that’s real progress.
