Acceptance of same-sex couples in Protestant churches in the US

Purpose This study examines how congregational and clergy characteristics relate to the acceptance of same-sex couples in Protestant churches in the US. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the data from the National Congregations Study IV. The probit regression analysis is employed. Findings Accounting for the differences in theological traditions, the percentage of college graduates in the congregation is positively associated with accepting same-sex couples as fully fledged members, while lead pastors’ graduate education is negatively associated with the acceptance of same-sex couples. The results also show that same-sex couples are more likely to be accepted as full-fledged members in churches led by women. Research limitations/implications This study’s findings confirm the positive link between educational attainment and LGBTQ+ inclusion. In contrast, graduate education in religion may be connected to anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. The findings also suggest that women’s leadership has a positive implication for a more inclusive organizational culture. Social implications This study’s findings confirm the positive link between educational attainment and inclusion of same-sex couples while implying that graduate education in religion may be connected to denying membership to same-sex couples. The findings also suggest that women’s leadership can positively impact LGBTQ+ inclusion. Originality/value This study examines the variations in acceptance of same-sex couples across individual Protestant congregations using nationally representative data.