The Prophetic Pulpit: Clergy, Churches, and Communities in American Politics

Despite decades of claims to the contrary, the United States remains a deeply religious nation and American religious professionals occupy a prominent role in shaping the interests and attitudes of their congregations. In this work, Paul A. Djupe and Christopher Gilbert analyze national data from a survey of 2400 Episcopal and Evangelical Lutheran Church of America clergy, looking deeper into their motivations for political action. Using the survey data, the authors argue that while personal motivations are a factor, the decisions clergy make about their role in political and civic life are greatly affected by the specific needs of the congregations and communities as well as ongoing influences from their denominations. As the country heads into another election season, this work highlights the importance of every player in the political arena.