Clerical mortality rates in the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod have been studied in relation to selected social characteristics.Overall mortality rates in the two study groups are more favourable than those for both the general US male population and for the total US white clergy. For most specific causes, the rates for the Presbyterian group are slightly less favourable than for the Lutherans but a high degree of similarity exists.Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.