A study on sex and the church conducted by Your Churchs parent company, Christianity Today International, reveals that pastors are more likely to be happily married than the couples in their congregation. Three-fourths of pastors are very satisfied with their marriage compared to 49 percent of married church attendees. One possible reason for this is that pastors are more likely to be satisfied with their married sex life than laity (see Graphic 1).

Graphic 1

Even though pastors are more satisfied with their married sex life, it is interesting that the same percentage of pastors desire more frequent sexual intimacy with their spouse (55%) as do laity (58%). The most common factors that contribute to a lack of sexual satisfaction for pastors are busy schedules, raising children, and sexual inhibitions.

Overall, 94 percent of pastors in our survey are married with a median age of 49. They have been married an average of 29 years.

Sexual Temptation
While serving as a pastor, seven in ten (72%) clergy have been propositioned to engage in romantic or sexual activity by someone other than their spouse. Eight percent face this type of sexual temptation a few times a year. Because of this and other factors, a third of pastors believe they are more vulnerable to sexual temptation than non-pastors.

The unfortunate result of sexual temptation is that some do succumb. Five percent of the pastors in our study confess to having committed adultery at least once since becoming a pastor. Two percent admit to committing adultery more than once. In most cases this is not known by the respondents spouse (53%), denominational leaders (86%), or congregation (93%).

Graphic 2

One-fourth of pastors yield to sexual temptation by flirting, and two-thirds fantasize about someone other than their spouse. Though pastors feel they are tempted more than the average person, our study shows that pastors are significantly less likely than people who regularly attend church to commit adultery or yield to other sexual enticements (see Graphic 2).

Avoiding Temptation
In encouraging news, the vast majority of pastors (92%) say they consciously avoid situations that could lead to sexual temptation or sin. This is true for nearly all pastors (97%) under 50 years old, which is significant since adultery by pastors typically occurs around the age of 33. Only a minority of churches have established formal policies for church staff outlining ways to avoid sexual temptations, perhaps because more than eight in ten pastors accurately believe personal character is more important in avoiding sexual sins than formal policies.

The Church and Sex Study
Between May and July 2003, Christianity Today International conducted mail and Internet surveys of pastors and churchgoers. A total of 680 pastors and 1,972 churchgoers responded yielding a margin of error of plus or minus 4 and 2 percentage points, respectively. A complete copy of the 53-page report this article is based on can be purchased and downloaded today for $19.95 at www.bclstore.com/chandsex.html.

John C. LaRue, Jr. is vice president of research and development at Christianity Today International. He may be reached by e-mail at yceditor@christianitytoday.com. Previous Special Reports can be found at www.christianitytoday.com/cbg/features/report.html.