AN INDEPENDENT SURVEY LED BY ZACH ZEHNDER THROUGH RED LETTER CHALLENGE
Listening
carefully.
Sharing clearly.
Explore what 3,070 survey respondents said about leadership, worship, pastoral formation, mission, the next generation, and life together in the LCMS.
Independent research, not an official publication of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Survey Snapshot
3,070
respondents
45
closed-ended charts
7
written prompts
35
LCMS districts represented
2026
survey year
Published snapshot: August 13, 2026
WHY THIS SURVEY EXISTS
A clearer conversation begins with careful listening.
The 2026 State of the LCMS Survey was created to better understand the perspectives of pastors, church workers, and laypeople across the Synod. The goal is not to manufacture a verdict, but to make room for evidence, disagreement, hope, and honest conversation.
Results are presented in aggregate. The site describes survey respondents, not every LCMS member, congregation, district, or leader.
AT A GLANCE
Six findings worth noticing.
69.6%
Extremely committed to remaining in the LCMS
2,137 of 3,070 respondents
VIEW CHART 43 →
75.0%
Invited someone to church in the past six months
At least once, 2,302 respondents
VIEW CHART 42 →
66.9%
Support expanded formation pathways if standards remain strong
2,054 of 3,070 respondents
VIEW CHART 34 →
73.4%
Rate digital ministry highly for the LCMS future mission
Selected 4 or 5 on a five-point scale
VIEW CHART 38 →
64.7%
Express high concern about a future pastoral shortage
Selected 4 or 5 on a five-point scale
VIEW CHART 32 →
48.9%
Report no intentional young-adult ministry
1,502 of 3,070 respondents
VIEW CHART 35 →
Reasonable Interpretation
Commitment and concern live side by side.
Respondents report strong personal commitment and meaningful mission activity, while also expressing concern about pastoral supply, divided views of denominational direction, and uneven ministry to young adults. These are patterns to explore, not proof of cause or a mandate from the whole LCMS.
CHART EXPLORER
Follow the question that matters to you.
Every numbered card opens a full page with graphics, exact counts, and comparisons by role, gender, age, and church size.
01
Who Responded
Respondent roles
OPEN
Congregation Member30.5%
Pastor29.9%
Lay Leader16.0%
Church Worker (Other)9.2%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
02
Who Responded
Gender
OPEN
Male69.0%
Female30.3%
Prefer not to say0.7%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
03
Who Responded
Age
OPEN
18-2911.5%
30-3916.8%
40-4918.5%
50-5915.7%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
04
Who Responded
Congregational attendance
OPEN
0-4911.1%
50-9922.2%
100-19925.0%
200-49927.7%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
05
Who Responded
LCMS district
OPEN
Michigan13.3%
Texas9.6%
Missouri6.2%
Nebraska4.8%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
06
Direction & Leadership
Confidence in the LCMS future
OPEN
18.9%
219.8%
327.4%
427.4%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
07
Direction & Leadership
Confidence in national leadership
OPEN
123.6%
219.5%
318.5%
419.7%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
08
Direction & Leadership
Confidence in district leadership
OPEN
16.6%
211.5%
321.1%
429.9%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
09
Direction & Leadership
Support from national leadership
OPEN
121.3%
223.7%
322.8%
417.8%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
10
Direction & Leadership
Hope compared with one year ago
OPEN
About the same35.3%
Somewhat less hopeful24.1%
Much less hopeful15.3%
Somewhat more hopeful15.2%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
11
Direction & Leadership
Current feeling about the LCMS
OPEN
Frustrated29.2%
Concerned20.9%
Encouraged19.4%
Hopeful17.6%
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12
Direction & Leadership
Direction after the 2026 Convention
OPEN
About the same25.5%
Much less encouraged25.3%
Somewhat less encouraged17.0%
Somewhat more encouraged15.0%
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13
Direction & Leadership
Presidential candidate preference
OPEN
Joel Biermann51.2%
Matthew Harrison27.9%
Unsure11.4%
Ben Ball9.4%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
14
Direction & Leadership
Is the LCMS moving in the right direction?
OPEN
Mostly Not26.7%
Mostly23.7%
Yes19.2%
Unsure17.7%
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15
Direction & Leadership
Issue needing greatest attention
OPEN
Pastoral Formation16.9%
Congregational Revitalization13.2%
Worship Practice11.8%
Other write-in10.5%
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16
Direction & Leadership
Likelihood to recommend the LCMS
OPEN
12.6%
22.5%
34.5%
43.1%
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17
Worship & Doctrine
Worship styles offered
OPEN
Traditional (Liturgical, Divine Service)81.8%
Blended31.3%
Contemporary (Modern)30.7%
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18
Worship & Doctrine
Preservation and outreach priorities
OPEN
Pursue both equally41.6%
Prioritize preserving identity31.0%
Prioritize reaching more people27.4%
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19
Worship & Doctrine
Worship resources and congregational freedom
OPEN
Significant freedom41.4%
Common order/hymnal38.4%
Both equally important20.2%
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20
Worship & Doctrine
Communion practice
OPEN
Close Communion52.4%
Closed Communion32.2%
Open Communion12.9%
Unsure2.5%
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21
Worship & Doctrine
Frequency of the Lord's Supper
OPEN
Every week65.5%
Two or three times each month33.3%
Once each month1.1%
Less than once a month0.1%
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22
Worship & Doctrine
Ordination of women
OPEN
Continue reserving to qualified men85.6%
Ordain both men and women9.6%
Unsure4.8%
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23
Worship & Doctrine
Women reading Scripture in worship
OPEN
Yes58.4%
No36.1%
Unsure5.5%
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24
Worship & Doctrine
Reading the Book of Concord
OPEN
Within the past year28.3%
Only ever read portions23.6%
Within the past five years20.6%
More than five years ago19.3%
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25
Worship & Doctrine
Ministry philosophy
OPEN
Balanced36.6%
More confessional31.9%
Slightly more missional11.4%
Slightly more confessional10.4%
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26
Pastoral Formation
Importance of Greek and Hebrew
OPEN
12.6%
28.9%
320.1%
427.6%
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27
Pastoral Formation
Confidence in current formation routes
OPEN
18.1%
217.9%
325.3%
428.1%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
28
Pastoral Formation
Confidence in residential formation
OPEN
16.2%
213.6%
319.9%
422.6%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
29
Pastoral Formation
Confidence in the SMP program
OPEN
111.4%
216.0%
328.9%
429.4%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
30
Pastoral Formation
Recommended pathway to pastoral ministry
OPEN
Either pathway depending on circumstances47.0%
Residential Seminary38.8%
Unsure5.7%
Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP)5.0%
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31
Pastoral Formation
SMP minimum age requirement
OPEN
No49.3%
Yes31.2%
Unsure19.4%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
32
Pastoral Formation
Concern about the pastoral shortage
OPEN
18.6%
210.7%
316.0%
422.8%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
33
Pastoral Formation
Online Master of Divinity option
OPEN
Yes44.5%
No37.3%
Unsure18.2%
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34
Pastoral Formation
Expanding formation pathways
OPEN
Yes66.9%
No19.0%
Unsure14.1%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
35
Mission & Next Gen
Intentional young-adult ministry
OPEN
No48.9%
Yes31.6%
Somewhat15.8%
Unsure3.6%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
36
Mission & Next Gen
Why young adults leave
OPEN
Other write-in17.0%
Never deeply connected16.6%
Lack of meaningful relationships14.3%
Lack of intentional discipleship13.4%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
37
Mission & Next Gen
Age group needing greatest investment
OPEN
Families34.6%
Young Adults (18-29)31.6%
Youth (Middle/High School)15.9%
Children9.2%
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38
Mission & Next Gen
Importance of digital ministry
OPEN
11.8%
25.3%
319.5%
434.4%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
39
Mission & Next Gen
Congregational disciple-making effectiveness
OPEN
B35.4%
C34.8%
A15.2%
D11.1%
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40
Mission & Next Gen
Approach to ministry
OPEN
Balanced: members and new people74.9%
More focused on existing members15.4%
Primarily focused on existing members4.5%
More focused on reaching new people4.4%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
41
Mission & Next Gen
Adult baptisms in the past year
OPEN
1-237.6%
3-527.0%
Unsure13.8%
6-1011.0%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
42
Mission & Next Gen
Personal invitations in the past six months
OPEN
Yes, multiple times55.7%
No25.0%
Yes, once19.3%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
43
Mission & Next Gen
Commitment to remain in the LCMS
OPEN
Extremely committed69.6%
Somewhat committed16.7%
Unsure9.0%
Somewhat unlikely2.7%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
44
Mission & Next Gen
Optimism about remaining united
OPEN
112.6%
222.3%
329.4%
424.5%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
45
Mission & Next Gen
Unity amid disagreement
OPEN
Work to remain united51.9%
Willing to divide31.9%
Unsure16.2%
VIEW FULL RESULTS, GROUPS, AND COUNTS →
WRITTEN RESPONSES
19,844 comments across seven open-ended prompts.
Written responses are meaningful evidence, but they also require careful thematic coding and privacy review. Raw comments are not displayed publicly because names, congregations, locations, and combinations of details could identify a respondent.
Explore Now
Open each numbered prompt to search recurring themes and read exact, privacy-screened excerpts from differing viewpoints.
01
What gives you the greatest hope for the future of the LCMS?
3,063 responses · EXPLORE THEMES AND EXCERPTS →
02
What do you believe is the greatest challenge facing the LCMS today?
3,065 responses · EXPLORE THEMES AND EXCERPTS →
03
What do you believe is the greatest opportunity for the LCMS over the next decade?
3,064 responses · EXPLORE THEMES AND EXCERPTS →
04
If you could discuss one ministry issue with LCMS leadership, what would you want them to better understand about your congregation or community?
3,025 responses · EXPLORE THEMES AND EXCERPTS →
05
What is one change you believe would most strengthen the LCMS?
3,059 responses · EXPLORE THEMES AND EXCERPTS →
06
Complete this sentence: Five years from now, I hope the LCMS is known for…
3,063 responses · EXPLORE THEMES AND EXCERPTS →
07
Optional: Is there anything else you'd like to share about the future of the LCMS?
1,505 responses · EXPLORE THEMES AND EXCERPTS →
ABOUT THE DATA
What this site can, and cannot, say.
01
Source
The chart explorer is calculated from the provided raw CSV containing 3,070 responses. Its question set and denominators match the 45-chart PDF.
02
Percentages
Each percentage uses people who answered that question. Most questions have n=3,070; national-leadership support has n=3,069 and adult baptisms has n=2,556.
03
Multiple choice
The worship-style question allowed multiple selections, so its percentages can total more than 100%.
04
Scope
No weighting, probability sample, margin of error, or statistical-significance testing was provided. Findings describe these respondents only.
05
File reconciliation
Seven provided Excel files contain identical processed data with 3,068 rows. The raw CSV controls because it matches the PDF’s 3,070-response chart captions.
06
Privacy
Personally identifying information is not published. Free-text “Other” entries are grouped, and written comments require de-identification before quotations or detailed themes appear.
