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	December 2, 2004 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 86

	Dittmer: 2004 'Youth Poll' offers no surprises

	Results of the Lutheran Youth Fellowship Youth Poll from this
year's National LCMS Youth Gathering are "noteworthy for the fact that
nothing changed much from the last poll taken three years ago," said
Rev. Terry Dittmer, director of LCMS Youth Ministry.

	"What that means," he said, "is that -- just as the 2001 poll
results indicated -- young people in the Synod are still spending
relatively less time in Bible study or devotions while they consider
themselves active in church, and pretty much agree with the Synod's
strong stands against abortion and sex outside of marriage, as well as
against homosexual behavior."

	The one thing that is different is that 2,493 Youth Gathering
participants this year completed the survey -- compared with 1,870 three
years ago.

	"This was by far the largest sample ever drawn," Dittmer said.
He attributed the rise to this year's poll being taken "in a
higher-traffic area" at the Gathering.

	Of the replies in 2004, 85 percent were from those 15-19 years
old, with the remainder coming from adults over 20.

	Concerning local involvement, 78 percent (compared with 82
percent in 2001) of all those surveyed said they consider themselves
active or very active in their congregations and 68 percent (65.8
percent in 2001) said the same of their parents.

	Almost 91 percent (down only one percentage point from 2001)
said they sometimes or always rely on God to help them make decisions.

	On the matter of personal Bible study or devotion, the questions
varied somewhat from those asked in 2001.

	The latest poll revealed that 46 percent say they engage in
"almost no personal Bible study or devotion," while 31.7 percent three
years ago reported "very little or no time" with it.

	This year, 38 percent reported personal Bible study or devotions
totaling at least 30 minutes each week. In 2001, 37.1 percent said they
spend up to 20 minutes a week in such activity.

	Those saying this year that premarital sex is always wrong is
down slightly -- 63 percent, compared with 67 percent in 2001.

	Related findings for this year, compared with those in 2001,
are:

	* 17 percent (25 percent in 2001) said that pre-marital sex is
OK if two people love each other;

	* 65 percent (68.7 percent in 2001) said they have never engaged
in sexual intercourse; and

	* 9 percent (9.6 percent in 2001) said they have had
intercourse, but now abstain.

	Another question had to do with homosexual behavior. In
responses, 70 percent said it is wrong -- boys (76 percent) more so than
girls (69 percent); 18 percent said it's nobody's business or it's wrong
to say that homosexual behavior is wrong; and 63 percent said marriage
is for one man and one woman.

	In 2001, 70.5 percent said they believed the biblical position
that homosexual behavior is always wrong and 19.7 percent said that it's
nobody's business.

	This year, 75 percent (75.9 percent in 2001) are pro-life and
oppose abortion and 13 percent (13 percent in 2001) are pro-choice.

	With regard to addictive substances, 15 percent in 2004 said
they smoke tobacco at least socially; 86 percent said they never take
recreational drugs; 41 percent that they never drink alcohol; 26 percent
admitted to drinking at least once a month; and 28 percent say they have
been intoxicated by alcohol in the last year.

	In 2001, 82 percent reported being non-smokers, 87.4 percent
said they have never taken recreational drugs, 39.7 percent said they
never drank alcoholic beverages, and 28.5 percent said they had been
drunk in the last year.

	On the question of ordination of women as pastors, 14 percent
(up from 11.7 percent three years ago) said that women should be
ordained, and 41 percent (40.1 percent in 2001) agreed with the LCMS
position on women's ordination.

	Concerning worship, 19 percent this year (19.2 percent in 2001)
preferred traditional liturgical worship, 22 percent (22.2 percent in
2001) said they like contemporary praise-band worship, and 54 percent
(57.1 percent in 2001) reported liking a variety of music and worship
forms.

	This year, 43 percent (39.5 percent in 2001) said they favor the
death penalty.

	Regarding vocations, 12 percent (11.9 percent in 2001) this year
responded that they are planning to be professional church workers,
another 31 percent (the same in 2001) said they were considering a
church career, and 35 percent (34 percent in 2001) said they are not
interested in a church career.

	For the 2004 poll, the top five concerns identified from a list
of 26 were "my own faith" (30 percent), family relationships (23
percent), the future (22 percent), college (20 percent), and friends (19
percent). Three years ago, the same concerns were chosen, and in the
same order.

	"Interestingly," Dittmer said, "neither war nor terrorism appear
to be major concerns, despite the events of the last three years."

	This year, "war" moved up 5 percentage points from 6 percent in
2001, and "terrorism" went from 3 percent in 2001 to 7 percent.

	This was the ninth time that such a poll was taken during a
National LCMS Youth Gathering.

	Dittmer said that the poll "helps us in LCMS Youth Ministry
evaluate the needs for resources that are effective for congregations as
it gives us a feel for who the young people in the LCMS are."

	"The fact that youth cite their own faith as their top concern
suggests a strong need for the church to continue focusing on faith
development for its junior- and senior-high youth," Dittmer said.

	"This year's poll also points to the need for the church to
continue sharing its position on significant issues like church
fellowship, human sexuality, abortion and women's ordination," he said.
"And the fact that a sizeable portion of our youth feel the way they do
about using abusive substances is a matter of concern that the church
needs to address."

	Complete results of the 2004 LYF Youth Poll are posted on the
Web at www.lcms.org/youth <http://www.lcms.org/youth>  (click on
"Lutheran Youth Fellowship"). They also are available from LCMS Youth
Ministry, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295; or call (800)
248-1930, Ext. 1155.

	****************************************

	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

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