'Resilient disciples' and high stress: Key takeaways from new study on Nashville faith

A comprehensive study tailored to local ministry leaders found about a third of Nashvillians identify as practicing Christians.However, figures which Christian pollsters consider positive are met with abnormally high levels of stress among respondents.Identifying both the need and fulfillment was the reason for Barna’s close examination of faith in Middle Tennessee. The national polling group took up the project at the behest of Operation Andrew Group, a local faith-based nonprofit, and in partnership with the Charis Foundation.

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“We know that this morning is not going to shift your entire missiology or how your church shows up in the community,” said Adam Buzard, a director with Operarion Andrew Group, at an event Thursday at Geodis Park to a room of mostly pastors. “But you should be aware of what our neighbors are looking for the church to do, are looking for our neighbors to engage.”Here are some takeaways from the study and Thursday’s event celebrating its release.

In Bible belt buckle, favorable views for church

Amid a national increase in people who identify as nonreligious, the Nashville region remains a stronghold for church participation and interest.

Among respondents to Barna’s study on Nashville, 9% qualify as “four-point evangelicals” and 10% are “resilient disciples," which are categories defined by certain evangelical Christian views that respondents said they agreed with.

“I would say where your presence in the Bible belt is most apparent with these percentages of four-point evangelicals and resilient disciples,” said Savannah Kimberlin, Barna’s director of research, at Thursday’s event.

Kimberlin said Barna conducted a similar locale-specific study of New York City and only 2% of respondents qualified as “resilient disciples.”

Other data showed an interest in religious participation among unchurched area residents, many of whom grew up attending church and have since left.

Answering a multiple-choice question, 50% of respondents said their perception of the church is that it provides hope.

“That’s the No. 1 thing that people think of the local church. I was shocked when we found this data,” Kimberlin said.

That same question drew negative responses from other respondents, such as 30% saying they view the church as judgmental.

An emphasis on younger generations

Not all respondents to Barna’s study on Nashville were young people, but Thursday’s event gave special focus to Millennials and Gen Z.

“If we can help Millennials with their mental health, especially their anxiety and their stress, that’s a great way that the church can help them heal,” Kimberlin said.

Seventy-seven percent of respondents reported experiencing stress and 68% reported feeling anxious. Those figures are higher than “national norms,” Kimberlin said. Also, subset data for Millennials and Gen Z in both of those categories were even higher.

Buzard said Operation Andrew Group and Barna aren’t saying local pastors should become mental health experts.

“The other part is to say, ‘What a beautiful opportunity for partnership,’” Buzard said. “Two-thirds of unchurched people are willing and able to engage the church if we would provide a walk with them as we engage their mental health.”

Gen Z respondents said top issues they want the church to address include suicide, sexual assault, and racial injustice.

The top reason why unchurched respondents are not attending church is the politics of the church. They would consider attending if they felt accepted and were welcomed warmly, according to top answers.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Barna Operation Andrew Group study on faith in Nashville