Baptist Press
NASHVILLE — America has its problems and needs to talk. But according to a new study, few Americans agree on who can best lead a conversation about the nation’s woes.
Less than a quarter (23 percent) would turn to the office of the U.S. president. About one in 10 would turn to the nation’s preachers (11 percent) or to college professors (10 percent), a survey by LifeWay Research shows.
“Almost no one would ask a musician or pro athlete,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, “even though they often try to start public conversations.
“Musicians or athletes get a great deal of attention for their public statements about the issues,” McConnell said. “But few Americans seem to look to them as thought leaders.”
Before the recent presidential election, LifeWay Research asked a representative sample of 1,000 Americans this question: “In America today, who is in the best position to generate a healthy conversation on challenges facing our society?” Among possible responses were “our elected president,” preachers, and even pro athletes.
About a quarter of those surveyed said the office of the president has the best chance of fostering healthy public conversations (23 percent).
Eleven percent say pastors of local churches. Ten percent say university professors.
Members of the media (8 percent) fared slightly better than business leaders (7 percent) or members of Congress (6 percent). Few Americans look to professional athletes (1 percent) or musicians (less than 1 percent) to lead healthy conversations about the nation’s challenges.
The most common response: “None of these” (33 percent).
Overall, the survey reflects the reality that Americans are fractured and divided, McConnell said. Few leaders can draw a wide, diverse audience.
“There’s a vacuum of public leadership in America,” McConnell said.
“We know we have problems and that we should talk about them. But there’s no one who can bring us all together.”
