THEOLOGY AND THE POSITION OF PASTORS ON SOCIAL-ISSUES - CONTINUITY AND CHANGE SINCE THE 1960S

A 1987 follow-up study of pastors of six Protestant denominations in O regon reveals that theologically based differences on various controve rsial issues were more pronounced than they had been in 1962. Three fa ctors appear, however, to mitigate the effects of the increased diverg ence of views. For one thing, the scope of conflict is narrowed becaus e many of the issues of chief concern to the members of one camp are o f less concern to members of the other. Another mitigating influence i s the tendency of liberals and conservatives in theologically heteroge neous denominations to moderate their views in the interest of harmony . A third factor is the continuing existence of common concerns, such as alleviating world hunger An examination of the issues that have rec ently mobilized rheological conservatives demonstrates that their resi stance to cultural innovations is selective and that they have abandon ed or neglected several causes they once championed.