August Release
At a glance
Greater Trust in Small Churches
Trust in small churches far exceeds that of megachurches on Barna’s trust index (61 vs. 36), and Christian pastors far outscore celebrity pastors (55 vs. 30).
Third Place
Christians rank third most trusted overall, behind only family members and local businesses.
The Trust Connection
Trust and well-being are linked: people with high institutional trust are far more likely to feel cared for, optimistic and satisfied with life than those with low trust.
New research from Barna, as part of the ongoing State of the Church Initiative with Gloo, reveals that Americans’ trust in churches and leaders is increasingly local and intimate, favoring neighborhood pastors over distant, celebrity figures. Discover why smaller institutions are thriving amid broader institutional distrust and how these findings connect directly to people's sense of flourishing and well-being.
Related Research
