Poll: Christian men unhappy with church

Associated Press/April 28, 2004
By Erin Gartner

Denver -- More than half of American Christian men questioned in a survey were only marginally satisfied with their church experience, and most ranked family, money and health as more important than spirituality, according to a study released Wednesday by Promise Keepers. The survey also found that most of the respondents did not feel spiritually challenged.

The study, conducted by California-based Barna Research Group, surveyed 415 randomly selected men in six major cities who considered themselves "committed born again Christians" or "active church members."

The study was commissioned by Promise Keepers, a Denver-based men's evangelical Christian group. Founded by former University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney in 1990, the group encourages men to become more active in their religion and families.

About 30 percent of the respondents said they participated in small groups for Bible study and prayer.

The study found that more than 85 percent of the men did not feel "spiritually challenged" and, when compared to similar studies involving women, men were less likely to take leadership roles at church or set spiritual goals.

The survey was conducted July 24-Sept. 4. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.

McCartney stepped down as the organization's president last year to care for his ailing wife. Longtime Promise Keepers executive Tom Fortson took over in October.