Paul Singer

USA TODAY

Most Americans apparently prefer that churches don't get involved in politics even though a majority believe they shouldn't be punished for doing so.

New survey results released Thursday by the evangelical group LifeWay Research found 79% of respondents — both church-goers and the "unchurched" — said it was inappropriate for a pastor to endorse a candidate from the pulpit.

"The majority of Americans would agree that churches shouldn't be punished for a pastor or church endorsing a candidate," said LifeWay Executive Director Scott McConnell, "but at the same time they really don't think it's a good idea."

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he will repeal a 1950s provision of law that bars churches and other charities from endorsing candidates.

People appear to be more accepting of pastors making political statements outside the confines of the church. In the LifeWay survey, 53% of respondents said it was appropriate for pastors to make endorsements on their own time. But they overwhelmingly opposed the church making an official endorsement.

The new report was taken from a survey of 1,000 people conducted last fall, but McConnell said the results are not likely to be different during this election cycle. LifeWay conducted a similar survey in the heat of the campaign in 2008 and found essentially the same results.

"Even when we are talking about (regular church-goers), most of them don't want their church to be a political organization," McConnell said.