How often pastors say it is OK to skip worship for kids' sports
Percent of Protestant pastors, 2024 (in percent)
Key finding
Highest: Never OK (36%). Lowest: Many times a year (3%).
- Never OK: 36%
- Once or twice a year: 29%
- A few times a year: 26%
Source: Lifeway Research, Travel Sports Create Issues and Opportunities for Families and Churches · Phone survey of 1,004 Protestant pastors. Article published 2024-05-21.
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Questions about this statistic
What does this statistic show?
Highest: Never OK (36%). Lowest: Many times a year (3%). Never OK: 36%. Once or twice a year: 29%. A few times a year: 26%.
Who published this data?
Lifeway Research, 2024. Source: Lifeway Research, Travel Sports Create Issues and Opportunities for Families and Churches (https://research.lifeway.com/2024/05/21/travel-sports-create-issues-and-opportunities-for-families-and-churches/).
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More Families & Marriage statistics
- Churchgoing parents who feel supported by their church American Bible Society, 2026
- Other parenting challenges reported by American parents American Bible Society, 2026
- Parents who say their kids like going to church American Bible Society, 2026
- How much teens' families talk about religion at home Springtide Research Institute, 2025
- Living below the poverty line by family type Lifeway Research, 2025
- Marital status of pastors Lifeway Research, 2025
About this data
Leader Insights collects statistics about U.S. churches from published research by organizations such as Lifeway Research, Barna Group, Springtide, the American Bible Society and PRRI. Every number is checked against the wording of the original source before it is published, and each statistic links back to the study it came from. Figures are reproduced from the publishers named above; see the source for full methodology.