Theology and the position of pastors on social issues: Continuity and change since the 1960s

A 1987 follow-up study of pastors of six Protestant denominations in Oregon reveals that theologically based differences on various controversial issues were more pronounced than they had been in 1962. Three factors appear, however, to mitigate the effects of the increased divergence of views. For one thing, the scope of conflict is narrowed because many of the issues of chief concern to the members of one camp are of less concern to members of the other. Another mitigating influence is the tendency of liberals and conservatives in theologically heterogeneous denominations to moderate their views in the interest of harmony. A third factor is the continuing existence of common concerns, such as alleviating world hunger An examination of the issues that have recently mobilized rheological conservatives demonstrates that their resistance to cultural innovations is selective and that they have abandoned or neglected several causes they once championed.