While most Americans remain distrustful of the church, a growing number say they have confidence in the institution. Currently, 36% say they trust the church, according to Gallup’s annual tracking poll.
For the past three years, the percentage of U.S. adults who said they had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the church or organized religion has hovered near record lows. In 2022, trust fell to 31% of Americans and has been at 32% the previous two years.
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For the first time since 2020, however, the church has experienced a significant jump in trust. In 2025, 36% say they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the church as an institution. The church was last that high in 2021 (37%).
Historic trends
Gallup began tracking U.S. adults’ confidence in the church as an institution in 1973. In 1975, 68% expressed a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the church.
After a downward trend, the church experienced a boost of confidence in 2001, as did most other national institutions after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The church rebounded to 60% for the first time since 1987. That year marked the last time at least 3 in 5 Americans had confidence in the church.
Most U.S. adults (52%) said they had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the church as an institution in 2019, the last year a majority held that belief. In 2018, confidence levels fell below 40% for the first time. They edged above that mark in 2020, only to drop back below in 2021 and even further in 2022. Despite the 1-point increase in 2023 and the steady percentage in 2024, those years still marked the second-lowest percentages ever.
Political motivations
The increase since last year was driven primarily by a jump among Republicans. Compared to 2024, Republicans’ trust in the church increased by 15 points, from 49% to 64% this year.
With the election of President Donald Trump, Republicans grew in their trust of every institution measured in 2024 and 2025, except for the Supreme Court, which remained statistically flat by falling one percentage point.
Trust of the church among political independents grew by two percentage points — 28% to 30%. Democrats’ confidence in the church hovered around 1 in 5, falling one point to 21%.
As churchgoers increasingly say they prefer to be part of a congregation that shares their politics and non-Republicans are most likely to never attend church, congregations may grow politically segregated and struggle to reach those who aren’t GOP voters.
Low and growing trust areas
In addition to Democrats and independents, other demographics also report lower levels of confidence in the church.
Black (31%) and Hispanic Americans (33%) are less likely than white Americans (37%) to express a great deal or quite a lot of trust in the church or organized religion. Last year, however, just 30% of all non-white Americans said they trusted the church. Many groups that have previously had low levels of trust in the church grew in their confidence in 2025.
While Americans 55 and older are the most likely to express high trust in the church, all age demographics increased in their confidence. Older Americans grew from 39% to 42%, those 38 to 54 increased from 28% to 31%, and young adults had the highest jump, moving from 26% to 32%.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Aaron Earls and originally published by Lifeway Research.
