wfn.org | Presbyterians turned to church after 9/11

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #7153 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

09-May-2002
02171

Presbyterians turned to church after 9/11

Poll documents increases in attendance, requests for counseling

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - Presbyterians, like many other Americans, turned to their church for comfort and counseling in the wake of last September's terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and on the Pentagon in Washington.

Presbyterians also used the denomination as a channel for financial contributions to aid survivors of the attacks.

Those are among the findings of a recent Presbyterian Panel survey conducted last November by the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Research Services Office.

Three-quarters of PC(USA) elders and 89 percent of pastors said their congregations held special worship or prayer services "in the hours and days following the events of Sept. 11."

More than 80 percent of pastors reported that worship attendance on Sunday, Sept. 16 was higher than usual (46 percent) or much higher (35 percent).

About 80 percent of pastors said they had been approached at least once for "conversation, counseling or consolation" after the attacks.

About two-thirds of pastors said they sought out worship- or education-related resources to help them respond to their congregations' needs.

Most of them sought such resources from the PC(USA) Web site (69 percent), other Web sites (47 percent), and colleagues and friends (58 percent).

Majorities of all categories of respondents - pastors, specialized clergy, elders and members - said they gave money to help survivors and victims' families in the days after Sept. 11. Many - 14 percent of members, 18 percent of elders, 36 percent of pastors and 21 percent of specialized clergy - made their contributions through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

Two reactions were widespread among the panelists: experiencing "upsetting thoughts or images" about the attacks (68 percent of members and 63 percent of pastors); and feeling "very emotionally upset when reminded of what happened" (76 percent of pastors and members).  Most people in all groups said they experienced more stress than usual immediately after Sept. 11.

Renewed patriotism was reported by most Presbyterians. Majorities ranging from 58 percent (specialized clergy) to 78 percent (elders), said they displayed the U.S. flag more often than usual after the attacks. Most Presbyterian respondents (78 percent of members, 76 percent of elders, 57 percent of pastors and 44 percent of specialized clergy) said they "strongly favored" military action against terrorists when the fighting in Afghanistan began on Oct. 7. 

For the complete report of the November 2001 Presbyterian Panel, go to  http://www.pcusa.org/rs/nov01pan.htm on the World Wide Web.
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