Protestant Pastors' Voting Plans

Thursday October 30, 2008 ~ 13 Comments

I hate to post on top of a morning post (see here for some thoughts on our Love/Hate relationship with the world), but we just released some new research.

See here.

Some excerpts:

Only about half of Protestant pastors say they plan to vote for Republican John McCain in the upcoming presidential election, but McCain still holds a substantial lead over Democrat Barack Obama, for whom less than one-quarter of pastors polled indicate they will vote...
LifeWay Research found that 55 percent of Protestant pastors plan to vote for McCain compared with 20 percent for Obama. A full 22 percent are undecided.

Evangelical pastors are significantly more likely to support McCain than their mainline counterparts. Sixty-six percent of self-identified evangelicals plan to vote for McCain while 13 percent are for Obama and 19 percent are undecided.

Only 36 percent of mainline pastors plan to vote for McCain. Thirty-seven percent support Obama, and 24 percent are undecided.

"Protestant pastors are strongly for McCain, though that changes when you look at mainline versus evangelicals," said Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research. "Mainline pastors reflect the American setting - they are split between Obama and McCain. Self-identified evangelical pastors are overwhelmingly for McCain."

Stetzer added that given the late date in the campaign, "there are a surprising number of undecideds."

There is more at the story here.

A few things were surprising to me:

1. Self identified "mainline" pastors not more pro-Obama (they were split).
2. A sizeable minority of pastors are still undecided.
3. A majority of pastors endorsed candidates outside of their church role.

Please take a look and share your thoughts below... I may not be around to interact, but when I am sharing political news (rather than mission news) that does not seem to stop a good conversation. :-)

Posted on October 30, 2008 at 2:24 PM ~ 13 Comments

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13 Comments

By kc on October 30, 2008 2:52 PM

Ed-
I bet that undecided group is just scared to say they're voting for Obama. I've met a few guys in evangelical circles that are voting Democrat this year and just can't bring themselves to tell anyone about it. They keep it to themselves so that their evangelical friends won't bash them. That's what happenend to Alan Hirsch this past week and he doesn't even get to vote!
Did you see that over at http://www.theforgottenways.org/blog/2008/10/20/obama-or-mccain-its-a-no-brainer/
It was definitely a lively discussion! :-)

By Ed Stetzer

on October 30, 2008 3:12 PM

It could be.

A little less than 1 in 8 self-identified evangelicals say they are for Obama, so that is not a tiny group.

My guess is that many evangelical pastors know other evangelical pastors who are voting for Senator Obama.

By Chris Elrod on October 30, 2008 3:21 PM

What does it really matter. Us folks down here in Florida are going to hang our chads..and hold up the whole process. Besides...I'm writing in Dr. Ed Stetzer on my ballot. :-)

By Glen Land on October 30, 2008 3:32 PM

I could see myself voting for Obama--if he were running against Nancy Pelosi. Otherwise...?

By Dan on October 30, 2008 6:16 PM

I'm voting Bob Barr. I can't stomach voting for either. . .

By Ed Stetzer

on October 30, 2008 7:21 PM

Chris, it would be a sign of the apocalypse if I was elected for anything. Ever.

Dan, I just voted and my stomach (and conscience) feels right.

By Jay on October 31, 2008 12:12 AM

Vote for Mccain. Don't try to be oh so 'different'. It isn't 'cool' to vote for Obama because you're trying to be different from most of evangelicalism. It's called being lame. As to certain evangelicals coming out and voting for Obama I don't know what to think of them. I'm not sure if they think they're Jesus and trying to be different from evangelicals or what. " You can't fit me into the evangelical mold.....I'm different. I'm unique ". You're not different or unique or cool. You're an idiot. Vote Mccain.

By Ed Stetzer

on November 2, 2008 6:55 PM

Jay,

You are subtle. Grin.

I have already shared my views of the Obama candidacy here at the blog... search for "Obama."

Thanks,

By Kay on November 2, 2008 8:24 PM

Personally, I cannot understand how any Christian can support Obama. I simply do not see one thing about him that does not go completely against my Christian values.

By Jay on November 3, 2008 12:43 AM

When it comes to Obama I am for having a black president. Thats a good thing. But the sad thing about Obama is that he's a liberal. So if he does become president I will be both in awe and dissapointed at the same time. I think my previous post was a bit unkind so I am sorry for that. Tim Keller has a sermon called " Arguing with Jesus about Politics " which was good.

By Kay on November 3, 2008 8:52 AM

I have no problem voting for a black person. Race is not an issue with me, but values are. I think MLK was right when he talked about judging a man by the content of his character rather than the color of his skin. That's the way it should be -- especially when we are talking about making that person our president. Obama's extreme pro-abortion stance, and his alliances with known terrorists and other folks who are anti-American, anti-capitalism and anti-Israel give me pause. In addition, he lacks simply the experience and wisdom necessary for the job. Smooth talk may make a good car salesman, but not necessarily a good president.

By Ed Stetzer

on November 3, 2008 7:27 PM

Jay, All is forgiven. Politics tends to get us all riled up.

Kay, I believe your arguments will probably not carry the day tomorrow, and many of those voting for Obama will be evangelicals.

It will be interesting to see how they respond when legislation begins to pass from the Pelosi / Reid Congress.

By Kay on November 3, 2008 8:15 PM

Ed, I am praying that you are wrong about the outcome of the election. I am praying that God will open the eyes of the deceived and will have mercy on our nation.

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