75% of Protestant Pastors Oppose Gay Marriage, According to Lifeway Research

The Lifeway Research study revealed that the majority of U.S. Protestant pastors are still against gay marriage.

According to the study, three in four Protestant pastors (75%) are opposed to gay marriage, with 69% strongly disagreeing with it. Another 4% are unsure.

However, one in five pastors (21%) support gay marriage, as reported by the evangelical research firm.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision on June 26, 2015, set a precedent for same-sex couples to marry, effectively ending same-sex marriage bans in 14 states, as reported by The Associated Press.

Gallup found that 71% of Americans believe same-sex marriage should be legal, with public support consistently above 50% since the early 2010s.

Previous Lifeway Research studies showed growing support among Protestant pastors for gay marriage, with 21% in favor of it today.

Evangelical pastors have consistently opposed same-sex marriage, with only 7% supporting it. Methodists, Presbyterian/Reformed, and Lutherans are more likely to support same-sex marriage, while female pastors and younger pastors are also more supportive.

“Debates continue within denominations at national and judicatory levels on the morality of same-sex marriage, yet the overall number of Protestant pastors who support same-sex marriage is not growing,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.

Lifeway Research conducted the phone survey of 1,004 Protestant pastors from Aug. 29, 2023, to Sept. 20, 2023, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.