A Presbyterian Panel Snapshot
Characteristics of Members of the PCUSA 1999

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 *Variable
  Members
   
Median age 55 years
Female 60 percent
Currently married 76 percent
Percent ever divorced (of those ever-married) 19 percent
Average household size 2.5 persons
Living alone 15 percent
 
   
Political preference  

Democrat
Independent
Republican
Other

Total

25 percent
17 percent
55 percent
3 percent

100 percent
 
   
Formal education  

High school or less
Some college
College graduate
Graduate degree

Total

14 percent
23 percent
40 percent
22 percent

100 percent
 
   
Annual family income  
 

<$30,000
$30,000-$59,999
$60,000-$99,999
$100,000+

Total

17 percent
31 percent
27 percent
25 percent

100 percent
 
   
Theological orientation  
 

Conservative
Moderate
Liberal

Total

38 percent
47 percent
15 percent

100 percent
   
Consider themselves "born-again" 30 percent
Grew up in the Presbyterian church 42 percent
Attend church "weekly" or "almost weekly" 63 percent
Pray "daily" or "almost daily" 61 percent
Read the Bible "daily" or "almost daily" 16 percent
 
   
Believe in:  
  life after death
heaven
hell
 86 percent
78 percent
51 percent
 
   
Believe that:  
Jesus will return one day
All great religions are equally true
Only followers of Jesus are saved		 68 percent
35 percent
46 percent
 
   
Views of the Bible:  
 

Entirely without error
No error in spiritual matters
Errors in both spiritual and secular matters

Total

27 percent
48 percent
25 percent

100 percent
 
   
Views on ordaining sexually-active homosexual persons to the ministry:  
 

Should permit
Should not permit
No opinion

Total

25 percent
67 percent
8 percent

100 percent
 
   
Views on social issues:  
  Favor capital punishment for murder
Favor affirmative action for blacks
Think welfare reform will be beneficial to their communities
Believe global warming is one of most serious environmental problems
Favor a worldwide nuclear test ban

63 percent
10 percent
56 percent
32 percent

84 percent

*Source: Presbyterian Panel surveys of members, 1993-1999.

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For more information about Presbyterian members, elders, and ministers, view results from the:
Background Survey for the 2000-2002 Presbyterian Panel