Survey: Southern Baptists Differ Starkly with Public on Key Issues

By Audrey Barrick|Christian Post Reporter

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Seventy-five percent of SBC pastors said in the LifeWay survey that they disagree with the statement that "the government should take significant action to reduce carbon emissions to combat global warming even if the action causes serious, negative economic impact on average Americans' living standards."

The survey additionally showed that while 17 percent of the pastors believe the SBC has been "too timid" in its resolutions on climate change, 65 percent do not feel that way.

"The majority of Southern Baptists are comfortable with the stand of the convention from past resolutions," Stetzer made clear.

Physician-Assisted Suicide

While debate over physician-assisted suicide remains heated in America, Southern Baptist leaders indicate a clear stance on the issue – they strongly oppose it. The LifeWay survey found that 88 percent of SBC pastors strongly disagree with the statement "When a person is facing a painful terminal disease, it is morally acceptable to ask for a physician's aid in taking his or her life." Only 33 percent of all Americans held that same strong conviction.

Only 2 percent of SBC pastors said they agree with physician-assisted suicide compared to 50 percent of all Americans.

The sharp contrast between Southern Baptists and the average Americans was also noted on the issue of embryonic stem cell research. Ninety percent of SBC pastors disagree that embryonic stem cell research is morally acceptable given the potential for medical breakthroughs. Only 28 percent of all Americans disagree. Meanwhile, 6 percent of Southern Baptist pastors agree with the research being morally acceptable compared to 66 percent of all Americans.

"Americans are clearly looking at a different moral compass in terms of stem cell research and physician-assisted suicide," Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research, noted.

The study findings are based on surveys conducted April 10-12 on 1,201 American adults and April 16-May 5 on 778 Southern Baptist pastors.

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JHS »

Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:33 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

reply to "Presbyterian Church in America, refuses to bow to the empire and flag worship. Then again, most PCA members have a higher education level than those in the SBC. I know that sounds harsh, but it is very true. "

The only thing I would say is that the Late D James Kennedy, PCA as well, was knee deep in the Republican party and preached it from his pulpit. Just a thought, as for the rest of your statement you probably right.
CFElect »

Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:47 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

And they wonder why they're not growing? Duh! Perhaps they should stick to preaching the Gospel and get out of bed with the Republican Party. The conservative churches that are growing, for example the Presbyterian Church in America, refuses to bow to the empire and flag worship. Then again, most PCA members have a higher education level than those in the SBC. I know that sounds harsh, but it is very true.
JHS »

Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:43 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"A new study by LifeWay Research showed 80 percent of pastors from the Southern Baptist Convention – the largest Protestant denomination in the country – plan to vote for Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain despite suspicion from the Christian right of his conservative stances."

THIS LOOKS LIKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AT PRAYER!
Shrdlu42 »

Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:46 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Rekab, you must be kidding. The so-called "Constitution Party" is the most unconstitutional bunch around. Look at their website. They pay lip service to principles like the "no religious test" clause of Art. 6, Sec. 3, but then go on to say only Christians (by which they mean Fundamentalists) should be in government. They claim they want to return the government to its constitutional limits, and this country to the original intent and principles of its Founders, then they assert that Jesus is the Ruler of the United States. News Flash!: When the Constitution was drafted, debated, and ratified there were those who objected to the fact that neither Jesus nor Christianity appears in the document. There were proposals to add so-called “Christian Amendments” to the document, proclaiming Jesus sovereign and Lord, and requiring that only Christians could serve in government. Guess what: the proposals lost! So enough is enough!. The so-called "Constitution Party" wants to distort and lie about the law, history, and the Constitution and turn this great country into what it never was, and was never meant to be.
Rekab »

Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:03 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

There is an appropriate alternative to the two major political parties. The Constitution Party, the third largest party in America, has as its presidential candidate, a great conservative Christian who is highly qualified. If the pastors and Christians and people who genuinely care about our nation would get off the major party bandwagon, we could see some positive changes in our nation. I'm supporting Chuck Baldwin for President.
star2 »

Fri May 30, 2008 5:50 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

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