I find it interesting that there's a lot of speculative argumentation that the PCA numbers must not be accurate. In my experience, urban PCA churches in the north are full of political liberals. It's very easy for me to believe that a significant share of the PCA votes Democrat, particularly in the Millennial cohort.
Cribbing from some comments responding to to Aaron making this comment on X -- re: PCUSA v. PCA, it's entirely plausible that some of the respondents simply don't know which denomination they're in. I know in my present PCA church, with a membership around 400, I'm surprised when I still encounter ignorance and incuriosity some members have beyond the four walls of our local congregation.
One of Burge's more interesting findings is the degree to which the Mainlines differ from one another, which has showed up in a number of his articles in the past.
I think the PCUSA contains a larger conservative rump that chose not to or was unable to break away when liberals conquered the denomination. A young couple that I know were just married in her small town PCUSA church about an hour away, which apparently remains theologically indistinguishable from the PCA churches that I know in the area.
I'm inclined to suspect that the idea of being a liberal Presbyterian holds rather less appeal than to be a liberal Anglican or Lutheran. Even if you disbelieve all their historic teachings, those denominations still have all their pretty high church stuff. I recall Aaron mentioning an ELCA church in NYC that still puts on Bach cantatas -- one can see the appeal even for a certain kind of atheist!
Presbyterianism, conversely, is more or less defined by its theological seriousness, which naturally raises the question "What on earth are you doing here?" when you prefer a theology that's squishier than a bowl of mashed potatoes. The clergy can complete the mental gymnastics to find an answer to that question, but it's trickier for the laity. So my sense is PCUSA consists almost entirely of cradle Presbyterians, while TEC, although also shrinking rapidly, is the top destination for liberal converts who are looking for something somewhere between a real church and the UU.
I will push back that the PCA is less conservative. Being a member of three different PCA churches over the last 30 years (I was in the military and moved) and now a PCA Elder for over 20 years, many PCA congregants did not and will not vote for Trump because they don’t believe he is conservative enough. Particularly now on the life issue. And this is not just a Trump phenomenon. When I first joined our PCA church in the Washington DC area and I told some that I would be supporting Bush in the 2000 election I was informed that I was selling out because I didn’t want to vote for Howie Phillips (at that time the Taxpayers Party, now the Constitution Party). No PCA congregant that I have ever known has voted Democrat.
I find it interesting that there's a lot of speculative argumentation that the PCA numbers must not be accurate. In my experience, urban PCA churches in the north are full of political liberals. It's very easy for me to believe that a significant share of the PCA votes Democrat, particularly in the Millennial cohort.
I’d love to see the data cross-referenced with geographic location - Might be more indicative than denominational affiliation.
Cribbing from some comments responding to to Aaron making this comment on X -- re: PCUSA v. PCA, it's entirely plausible that some of the respondents simply don't know which denomination they're in. I know in my present PCA church, with a membership around 400, I'm surprised when I still encounter ignorance and incuriosity some members have beyond the four walls of our local congregation.
One of Burge's more interesting findings is the degree to which the Mainlines differ from one another, which has showed up in a number of his articles in the past.
I think the PCUSA contains a larger conservative rump that chose not to or was unable to break away when liberals conquered the denomination. A young couple that I know were just married in her small town PCUSA church about an hour away, which apparently remains theologically indistinguishable from the PCA churches that I know in the area.
I'm inclined to suspect that the idea of being a liberal Presbyterian holds rather less appeal than to be a liberal Anglican or Lutheran. Even if you disbelieve all their historic teachings, those denominations still have all their pretty high church stuff. I recall Aaron mentioning an ELCA church in NYC that still puts on Bach cantatas -- one can see the appeal even for a certain kind of atheist!
Presbyterianism, conversely, is more or less defined by its theological seriousness, which naturally raises the question "What on earth are you doing here?" when you prefer a theology that's squishier than a bowl of mashed potatoes. The clergy can complete the mental gymnastics to find an answer to that question, but it's trickier for the laity. So my sense is PCUSA consists almost entirely of cradle Presbyterians, while TEC, although also shrinking rapidly, is the top destination for liberal converts who are looking for something somewhere between a real church and the UU.
I will push back that the PCA is less conservative. Being a member of three different PCA churches over the last 30 years (I was in the military and moved) and now a PCA Elder for over 20 years, many PCA congregants did not and will not vote for Trump because they don’t believe he is conservative enough. Particularly now on the life issue. And this is not just a Trump phenomenon. When I first joined our PCA church in the Washington DC area and I told some that I would be supporting Bush in the 2000 election I was informed that I was selling out because I didn’t want to vote for Howie Phillips (at that time the Taxpayers Party, now the Constitution Party). No PCA congregant that I have ever known has voted Democrat.
"The PCUSA is still a church for 'Country Club Republicans.'”
Perhaps, but it appears the Episcopal Church is no longer "the Republican Party at prayer." Only 32% voted for Trump.