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Uncertainty in Clergy’s Perspectives on Homosexuality: A Research Note

  • Research Note
  • Published:
Review of Religious Research

Abstract

This research note analyzes expressions of uncertainty in clergy’s perspectives on homosexuality. We conducted interviews with forty Christian clergy who lead congregations in the vicinity of one large southeastern US city. Seven in ten clergy interviewed expressed uncertainty in their personal opinions about homosexuality, uncertainty about how they should act pursuant to the issue, or both. We describe clergy’s experiences with these uncertainties and analyze the patterns in which it appears in their opinions and actions regarding homosexuality. The nuance evident in these patterns illustrates how a range of superseding factors influence clergy’s opinions about homosexuality and the extent to which they feel constrained in taking action with regard to the issue. We argue for the conceptual value of a framework that provides space for analysis of uncertainty in public opinion about contentious social issues such as homosexuality.

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Notes

  1. We conceive of “action” broadly, including preaching a sermon about the topic to involvement in social change organizations. See Olson (2009); Olson et al. (2005); Smidt (2004) for various accounts of the range of political actions in which clergy might engage.

  2. We aimed to include equal numbers of clergy in each religious tradition. However, there are relatively few UCC congregations in the Southeast, so our sample includes nearly the complete population in the metropolitan area.

  3. The interviews were conducted both in person and over the telephone both for convenience and to test whether respondents would be more or less forthcoming in the two formats. We concluded that there were no major advantages to either interviewing technique.

  4. This figure excludes one UCC congregation with an extremely large membership.

  5. This figure is provided by Chaves (2004): 18, on the basis of data he collected for the 1998 National Congregations Study.

  6. A fourth group of clergy expressed no uncertainty regarding either their attitudes or actions. We use these clergy as an implicit reference group and do not detail their attitudes or actions here.

  7. We use the term “bishop” here in a generic sense to avoid identification of the city under study as part of a diocese or an archdiocese.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Gill Foundation for a grant that enabled the research upon which this project is based.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA

    Wendy Cadge, Jennifer Girouard & Madison Lylerohr

  2. Department of Political Science, Clemson University, 232 Brackett Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634-1354, USA

    Laura R. Olson

Authors
  1. Wendy Cadge
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  2. Jennifer Girouard
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  3. Laura R. Olson
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  4. Madison Lylerohr
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura R. Olson.

Appendix: Interview Guide

Appendix: Interview Guide

Background

  1. 1.

    By way of introduction, a few facts about your background: Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school? And how did you decide to become a pastor/priest? How long have you been a pastor/priest?

  2. 2.

    How long have you been at this parish/congregation and how did you come to this particular parish/congregation? (What were the most important factors that caused you to come to this one and not another?)

  3. 3.

    How would you describe this parish/congregation (in terms of size, demographics, socially active/not, more on the liberal or conservative side)

  4. 4.

    Before we get into my specific topics: What issue, or set of issues, concerns you most in this day and age?

Social Issues

Now, I’ll ask some questions about how you think about marriage, the family, and sexuality.

Marriage

  1. 1.

    Can you tell me about what you teach in your congregation about marriage? (Where do these teachings come from? What are they based on?)

  2. 2.

    How do you share your opinions about marriage with people in your congregation?

Divorce

  1. 3.

    What do you teach in your congregation about divorce?

    • How does what you teach compare with your own beliefs about divorce?

    • What do you understand the Bible to say about divorce?

  2. 4.

    Have your own beliefs about divorce changed over time? How/why?

  3. 5.

    Do you share your opinions about divorce with your congregants freely? Why or why not?

  4. 6.

    Do you have divorced people in your congregation/parish? How are people who are divorced treated in the congregation? What do you think it is like for them?

Homosexuality: Beliefs

  1. 7.

    How about homosexuality: what do you teach about homosexuality in your congregation?

  2. 8.

    What do you believe about homosexuality?

    • What do you believe the Bible says about homosexuality?

    • Do you believe homosexuality is innate or a choice?

  3. 9.

    Is there any difference between what your tradition/denomination says/teaches and what you believe about homosexuality?

    • (If so:) What is the difference? Does that mean that you must make choices between what you say/teach in your congregation and what you believe? What choices? What is that like for you?

  4. 10.

    When do you remember first being aware of homosexuality (and/or of gay/lesbian/bisexual people)?

  5. 11.

    Thinking back, has your thinking evolved or changed? How? What were the main influencers?

  6. 12.

    How was homosexuality – or sexuality, more generally – addressed in your religious training? Are there certain things that you read or studied?

Homosexuality: Actions

  1. 13.

    Do you share your opinions/views about homosexuality with your congregants freely? How/in what contexts (e.g., in sermons, adult education classes, casual conversation with congregation members)? Why?

    • (If so:) How have people responded to what you have said? Your congregants? Your colleagues? Superiors/supervisors (if appropriate)?

      (If so:) What is the difference? Does that mean that you must make choices between what you say/teach in your congregation and what you believe? What choices? What is that like for you?

    • (If not:) What do you think would happen if you did? What would your congregants say? Your colleagues? Superiors/supervisors?

  2. 14.

    Do you have any people in your congregation/parish who are homosexual/gay/lesbian? How are they treated in the congregation? What do you think it is like for them?

    • Do you have people in your congregation/parish who have family members who are homosexual/gay/lesbian? What has been your experience with them?

  3. 15.

    Is your congregation involved in discussion/debate about homosexuality in some way? (What is the nature of the discussion/debate?)

  4. 16.

    Do you share your opinion/views about homosexuality with people outside the church? How? Why? (On what occasions?)

  5. 17.

    In your view, are there more costs or benefits for you of speaking publicly about homosexuality? How so?

    • Do you know anyone who has risked/jeopardized their career, position, or peace of mind by taking one position or another?

  6. 18.

    Have you taken any public actions around the issue of homosexuality? (For example, signed a petition, spoken at a rally, distributed related materials through your congregation, etc.)

  7. 19.

    Have you been asked to bless or officiate a same-sex union? (If so:) What was that like for you? (If not:) What would be your response and why?

  8. 20.

    (If in process with regard to homosexuality:) Where do you expect or hope to be when you come through the process? What do you see as the likely destination?

Social Issues, Generally

  1. 21.

    Would you say you have a responsibility as a religious leader to speak about these or social issues? Why or why not?

  2. 22.

    What are the barriers to speaking to your congregation about these issues?

  3. 23.

    Would you say religious leaders make unique contributions to public discussions of social issues? How would you describe those contributions?

    • Do you think the public hears religious voices around these issues differently from secular ones? Why do you say that?

  4. 24.

    Is there anything you’d like to add that we haven’t talked about?

Demographics

Gender; age; marital status; how long have you been a pastor/priest; how long have you been at this parish/congregation; highest degree earned

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Cadge, W., Girouard, J., Olson, L.R. et al. Uncertainty in Clergy’s Perspectives on Homosexuality: A Research Note. Rev Relig Res 54, 371–387 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13644-012-0058-1

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