Family Research Council Releases New Study Showing Shifting Views of U.S. Churchgoers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Family Research Council (FRC), in partnership with the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University (CRC) today released a new national survey of 1,003 regular churchgoing adults (July 2025), updating a comparable 2023 study.

Given recent reports showing increased church-attendance, this new study brings to light some important areas for churches and pastors to think through. It identifies the beliefs that the people in the pews hold on a range of important topics and underscores why these need to be addressed with intentional, biblical clarity from the pulpit.

Specific findings from the report are being released by veteran researcher and director of the study, Dr. George Barna. Highlights from the report, “Social Issues and Worldview,” are presented, in part, below.

In a survey of 1,003 adults (18+) who attend Christian worship at least monthly–online or in person–68% affirmed marriage as between one man and one woman. Yet only 46% defined ‘family’ in corresponding terms (people united by God’s design: a husband and wife, their children, and relatives).

• No demographic or spiritual subgroup reached a clear majority in support of the biblical definition of family. The highest support came from theologically defined born-again Christians (59%), Pentecostal churchgoers (56%), and Asians (55%).
• Among the least likely to accept the biblical definition were self-described “Don’ts” (those who do not believe, care, or know if God exists), at just 18%; political liberals (29%); churchgoing LGBTQ adults (34%); upscale individuals (34%); and members of Gen Z (34%).
• Most churchgoers still affirmed related convictions–79% agreed there are only two genders, 70% said it is important for society to facilitate families with a father, mother, and children living together, and 68% said marriage is only between one man and one woman.
• The survey also highlighted confusion on abortion. Despite abortion being a central moral issue for five decades, three-quarters of churchgoers (73%) expressed contradictory views across six abortion-related measures. Another 10% said they do not know enough to form a position.
• The survey also yields insight into what churchgoers believe about fundamental tenets of the faith (the “seven cornerstones of a biblical worldview”). All seven cornerstones indicate a decline in orthodox belief since 2023.
• An encouraging aspect of the report is that churchgoers are open to more discipleship in issues like these. A majority find additional worldview training desirable in several areas–religious freedom (88%), social and political responsibility (76%), and abortion and the value of life (60%).
• Concerning Israel, support among churchgoers is strong. 84% say consistent prayer for Israel is “very or somewhat important,” 74% believe personal verbal support is important, 73% say it is important for Christians to urge U.S. government support.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins commented on the study:

“This research shows the great need for biblical teaching on the great issues of our day, like the sanctity of life, the family, and human sexuality. The good news is that Christians are looking to church leaders for guidance. The study also reveals encouraging resolve in supporting Israel.

“In the wake of Obergefell, many feared biblical truth would fade from public life, yet courageous Christians recognized it as a call to stand firm. Over the past decade, their moral clarity helped lay the groundwork for victories like Dobbs. This report reminds us that there is much work to do — the church must continue to teach, live, and defend a biblical worldview with conviction and hope.”

Dr. George Barna, FRC’s Senior Research Fellow for the Center for Biblical Worldview and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University’s Director of Research, remarked:

“The media bombardment favoring a new moral standard is clearly having a transformative effect on Americans. Perhaps the best way to combat the decline in biblical moral perspectives is for Bible-believing Christians to be more candid and bolder in engaging friends and family in dialogue about critical moral issues. We cannot let unbiblical views go unchallenged. Christ-followers must not only know what they believe and why, but must be actively seeking to challenge points of view that are biblically indefensible.”

David Closson, FRC’s Director of the Center for Biblical Worldview, who co-authored the report commented:

“For decades, Christians have led the way in defending the dignity of unborn life, but these findings reveal just how much cultural confusion has seeped into the church. Pastors and Christian educators must reclaim their calling to ‘equip the saints’ (Eph. 4:12) by teaching a full-orbed biblical worldview. This is not the time for silence or vagueness.”

To access the full publication, “Social Issues and Worldview: A National Survey of Churchgoing Americans,” please visit FRC.org/Worldview. Additionally, to access Dr. Barna’s analysis of the report, see “U.S. Churchgoers Are Increasingly Ambivalent about Family and Abortion,” at CulturalResearchCenter.com.