While a majority of Americans now favor same-sex marriage, 72 percent of white evangelical Baptists remain opposed, the Public Religion Research Institute reports.
Support for same-sex marriage is strongest among Unitarian Universalists, at 94 percent, and Buddhists, at 84 percent. More than three-fourths of Jews and the religiously unaffiliated also say they are in favor.
Opposition is in the majority for Mormons (68 percent), white evangelical Protestants (58 percent), black Protestants (54 percent), and Muslims (51 percent).
While two-thirds of white evangelicals oppose making same-sex marriage legal, white mainline Protestants take the opposite view, with 62 percent in favor. Six in 10 Catholics, 56 percent of Orthodox Christians, and 55 percent of Hindus also say they are in favor.
Overall, 54 percent of Americans say they favor allowing same-sex marriage, and 38 percent say they are opposed.
Even among the religiously affiliated, supporters outnumber opponents — 47 percent to 45 percent. Support among all religious Americans has jumped nearly 20 percentage points, up from 28 percent in 2003.
A previous study by Lifeway Research found friends and faith influenced how one thought about same-sex marriage.
Since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, churches have faced numerous issues. Ministering in San Francisco for years, Jeff Iorg says churches should remember their mission is to make Christians, not heterosexuals.
For churches ministering in this new marriage culture, Tony Merida offers help for sermons on marriage, Ann Iorg gives ways churches can train parents, and Brad Dacus provides some suggestions for churches needing to legally protect themselves.
