Pastors and churchgoers alike believe an individual’s unique gifts and talents point to God and draw people to him. So are churches adequately helping to identify, support and celebrate congregants’ gifts?

For a recent report titled em class="ac-designer-copy"Gifted for More, Barna explored how U.S. adults and practicing Christians identify, develop and use their unique skills and abilities, both inside and outside church walls. The study, conducted in partnership with Lutheran Hour Ministries, also examined how pastors view giftedness in their church—and suggests the U.S. Church is due for a fresh framework for gifts.

Below, new data from Gifted for More present some of church leaders’ varying views on giftedness, as well as how U.S. adults and practicing Christians believe the Church could assist in their giftedness journey.

Pastors Believe Gifts Reflect God—But Have a Moderate Sense of Gifts in Their Congregation Church leaders overwhelmingly believe people’s giftings reflect the God who created them (98% agree overall, 79% “strongly” so). Of many possible perspectives about giftedness that Barna presented to pastors, this statement generated the most enthusiastic response.

Overall, four out of five pastors also agree to some extent that helping people discover and develop their giftings is an important priority in their church. Nearly nine in 10 agree at least somewhat that helping people deploy, explore or practice generosity with their gifts is a priority of their church community. Looking only at the percentages of pastors who “strongly” agree with these statements, however, tempers the picture of pastoral support of gift development.