August 25, 2025

The Burge Report: Do Churchgoers Want More or Less Politics in the Pulpit?

29 minutes

Studies on the content of sermons exist, and most indicate that pastors include some political topics in their sermons. But which topics? Ryan, Thom, and Sam reveal the answer. When asked about politics and the pulpit, few congregants say their pastors often speak about political issues. But is that really the case?

Much depends on the issue. For example, Catholics and evangelicals talk more about abortion.

More is said in the pulpit about poverty and racism, though evangelical pastors mention poverty less than mainline pastors.

Among evangelicals, just 9% of them think that their congregation is more politically divided now compared to five years prior, while 65% didn’t see it that way.

In most churches, 40-50% of people think that their clergy should avoid discussions of political division completely. Then, another 30-40% mostly think that this is a bad idea.

The majority of pastors are not preaching politics regularly, and when they touch on anything that may be in the political realm, it’s about topics like racism and income inequality.

Resources:

Upward Running

New Living Translation

Church Connect

Tyndale House Publishers

NLT Large Print Pew Bible

“Do Church Goers Want To Hear More Politics From the Pews?” by Ryan Burge

Ryan Burge

Church Answers Platinum Membership

FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights

The Hope Initiative

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By Thom Rainer

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