Variable1
|
Members |
Elders |
Pastors |
Specialized
Clergy |
| Median age |
55 yrs. |
55 yrs. |
51 yrs. |
54 yrs. |
| Female |
61% |
50% |
23% |
34% |
Currently
married |
77% |
84% |
87% |
83% |
Percent
ever divorced (of those ever-married) |
19% |
19% |
20% |
23% |
Average
household size |
2.6 persons |
2.6 persons |
2.8 persons |
2.6
persons |
Living
alone |
13% |
12% |
10% |
11% |
Political
preference: |
Democrat |
25% |
27% |
47% |
64% |
Independent |
15% |
16% |
19% |
16% |
Republican |
56% |
55% |
30% |
17% |
Other |
4% |
2% |
4% |
3% |
Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Formal
education: |
High
school or less |
17% |
9% |
— |
— |
Some
college |
21% |
18% |
— |
— |
College
graduate |
37% |
41% |
— |
— |
Graduate
degree |
25% |
32% |
100% |
100% |
Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Annual
family income: |
<
$30,000 |
13% |
6% |
3% |
5% |
$30,000
- $59,999 |
28% |
23% |
40% |
28% |
$60,000
- $99,999 |
28% |
32% |
42% |
43% |
$100,000+ |
31% |
39% |
15% |
24% |
Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Theological
orientation: |
Conservative |
38% |
43% |
33% |
18% |
Moderate |
44% |
40% |
39% |
36% |
Liberal |
18% |
17% |
28% |
46% |
Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
|
Grew
up in the Presbyterian church |
46% |
44% |
63% |
66% |
|
Attend
church "weekly" or "almost weekly" |
62% |
90% |
NA |
NA |
|
Pray
"daily" or "almost daily" |
64% |
73% |
88% |
82% |
|
Read
the Bible "daily" or "almost daily" |
14% |
22% |
56% |
36% |
Believe
in: |
Life
after death |
86% |
92% |
96% |
91% |
Heaven |
90% |
93% |
NA |
NA |
Hell |
72% |
78% |
NA |
NA |
Believe
that: |
Jesus
will return one day |
66% |
78% |
80% |
66% |
All
different religions are equally true |
35% |
22% |
8% |
21% |
Only
followers of Jesus are saved |
43% |
50% |
39% |
24% |
Views
of the Bible: |
Literal
word of God |
15% |
17% |
4% |
2% |
Words
of God, to be interpreted in historical/cultural context |
73% |
77% |
90% |
87% |
Not
the word of God |
10% |
5% |
6% |
11% |
Don't
know |
2% |
1% |
* |
* |
Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Views
on letting presbyteries ordain sexually-active homosexual
persons to the ministry (2001): |
Approve |
25% |
27% |
43% |
65% |
Disapprove |
62% |
64% |
51% |
28% |
Uncertain |
13% |
9% |
6% |
7% |
Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Views
on social issues (various surveys 1993-2002): |
Favor
capital punishment for murder |
63% |
61% |
34% |
26% |
Favor
affirmative action for racial-ethnics in education |
37% |
35% |
67% |
73% |
Think
welfare reform will be beneficial to their communities |
56% |
60% |
41% |
37% |
Believe
global warming is one of most serious environmental problems |
32% |
36% |
46% |
49% |
Favor
a two-state solution for Israel/Palestine |
71% |
72% |
82% |
92% |
1Source:
Background Survey for the 2003-2005 Panel, unless otherwise
noted.
NA = Not Asked
* = Less than 0.5 percent
— = None |
For more information about Presbyterian members, elders, and
ministers, view results from the: Background
Survey for the 2003-2005 Presbyterian Panel
|
