{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Nobody Trusts Your Pastor Anymore (The Numbers Are Ugly)","description":"In 1985, 67% of Americans rated pastors high in honesty and ethics. Today? Just 27% - and only 17% among those under 35. It\u2019s one of the steepest trust declines of any profession. The question isn\u2019t if this affects your church - it does. The question is what you do about it. &amp;nbsp; ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:15 - The Numbers Are Worse Than You Think 3:38 - Why This Happened 13:18 - How to Rebuild Trust Through Communications &amp;nbsp; THE 167 NEWSLETTER \ud83d\udceb 62,646+ churches read our free newsletter to figure out the 167 hours beyond Sunday service every week. Sign up: https:\/\/167.prochurchtools.com &amp;nbsp; GET IN TOUCH \ud83c\udf0d The Company: https:\/\/prochurchtools.com \ud83d\udda5\ufe0f Nucleus, The Church Website Builder: &amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.nucleus.church \ud83d\udcf1 SocialSermons, The Social Media Agency For Churches: https:\/\/socialsermons.com&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; JOIN THE COMMUNITY \ud83d\udcf8 Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bradyshearer \ud83c\udfb5 TikTok: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@bradyshearer \ud83d\udc26 Twitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/bradyshearer &amp;nbsp; ALL CITATIONS - Gallup, \u201cHonesty and Ethics\u201d Survey (December 2025, n=1,016, nationally representative sample) \u2014 PRIMARY. 27% rate clergy \u201chigh\/very high\u201d in honesty and ethics (historic low); down from 67% in 1985 and ~56% average in the 2000s; largest trust decline (\u221229 points) among tracked professions; generational breakdown: 55+ (38%), 35\u201354 (~24%), under 35 (17%). - Lifeway Research, \u201cAmericans\u2019 Trust in Pastors Hits Historic Low\u201d (January 2026) \u2014 SECONDARY (analysis of Gallup data). Confirms generational trust gaps and historic decline. https:\/\/research.lifeway.com\/2026\/01\/16\/americans-trust-in-pastors-hits-historic-low\/ - Christian Post, \u201cAmericans Rank Clergy at Record Low in Honesty and Ethics Ratings\u201d \u2014 SECONDARY (summary\/reporting on Gallup findings). https:\/\/www.christianpost.com\/news\/americans-rank-clergy-at-record-low-in-honesty-and-ethics-ratings.html - PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute), \u201cReligious Change in America\u201d (2024) \u2014 PRIMARY. Clergy sexual abuse scandals cited as a reason for leaving religion increased from 19% (2016) to 39% (2024). - PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute), \u201cHealth of Congregations\u201d (2024) \u2014 PRIMARY. 34% of former evangelicals cite scandals as a reason for leaving; 45% among former Catholics. - Pew Research Center, \u201cWhy Do Some Americans Leave Their Religion While Others Stay?\u201d (December 2025) \u2014 PRIMARY. 50% of religiously unaffiliated (\u201cnones\u201d) don\u2019t like religious organizations; 49% don\u2019t trust religious leaders. - Gallup, \u201cConfidence in Institutions\u201d (2025 update) \u2014 PRIMARY. Confidence in the church as an institution increased from 31% (2022 low) to 36% (2025), indicating a modest rebound despite declining trust in clergy. ","author_name":"The Pro Church Tools Show with Brady Shearer","author_url":"http:\/\/prochurchpodcast.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40805545\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/40805545"}