Most U.S. adults hold a positive perception of pastors. In Barna’s 2017 The State of Pastors report, the data showed two out of three U.S. adults (66%) and nine in 10 practicing Christians (91%) viewed pastors’ presence as a benefit in their community, while nearly the same percentage (64% U.S. adults, 87% practicing Christians) had a very positive opinion of a pastor they personally knew.

In light of October being Pastor Appreciation Month and October 13th being Clergy Appreciation Day, Barna wanted to shed more light on pastoral perceptions on a personal level, outside of regular church services and events. In this article, we will learn more about those who view their pastor in a role other than church leader—and more specifically, as a friend.

Frequency of Interaction with Pastors Outside of Church Service & Events When asked if they regularly met with or spoke to the lead pastor of their church outside of weekly church service and events, one in five Christian adults (20%) answers yes. What about respondents who not only identify as Christian but also exhibit some level of commitment to their local church? One-third of churched adults (32%)—those who have been to church at least once in the last six months—say they regularly interact with their lead pastor outside of formal church settings. Forty-three percent of practicing Christians—self-identified Christians who say their faith is very important in their lives and have attended a worship service within the past month—answer similarly.

It’s possible these numbers are simply affected by the frequency with which the respondents attend church, adding to the likelihood of them having a direct relationship with their pastor. Another scenario to consider is that some pastors more often position themselves within the community by attending events outside of church at which congregants are also present.

More than one in four Christians (28%) says the lead pastor of their church often attends community or social events, while more than one in four practicing Christians (44%) and 38 percent of churched adults answer the same. Forty-three percent of all Christians report their pastor’s “occasional” attendance at a community or social event, with almost identical percentages shown for both churched adults and practicing Christians (47% vs. 45%). Only a minority of all these groups says their pastor “rarely” (15% all Christians, 11% churched, 8% practicing Christians) or “never” (14%, 4% and 3%) socializes in this way.