Megachurch
A
megachurch is a large
church, frequently defined as having more than 2,000 worshippers for a typical weekly service.
Globally, these large congregations are a significant development in
Protestant Christianity, challenging the roles of
denominations as the primary sources of
ministry resources and ministerial training. Most megachurches tend to be
evangelical or
pentecostal.
Yoido Full Gospel Church in
Seoul,
South Korea (with 780,000 members in
2003) is the largest church in the world. Other examples are
Lakewood Church in
Houston,
Texas,
USA (46,000 attending each week),
Hillsong Church in
Sydney,
Australia (19,000 attending each Sunday),
Christian City Churches- Oxford Falls, also in
Sydney (8000+ attending) as well as many other megachurches in the
United States, typically found in
exurban areas of the
Sun Belt. Eleven of the world's twelve largest megachurches are located in
Seoul,
South Korea. The megachurch phenomenon is also reflected in the rapid development of multi-acre campuses featured by numerous Korean-American churches in the United States. The largest Korean-American Protestant church in the United States is
Young Nak Presbyterian Church, located near Los Angeles's Koreatown.
Although there have been large churches throughout history (for example, Charles Spurgeon's
Metropolitan Tabernacle in London attracted 5,000 weekly for years and
religious broadcaster Aimee Semple McPherson's
Angelus Temple in Los Angeles was similarly large), the widespread megachurch movement, with a large number of local congregants who return on a weekly basis, began in the
1950s.
Within the United States, more than half of these large church institutions are
non-denominational churches; those that have ties to a larger body are most often members of the
Southern Baptist denomination, which accounts for perhaps one in five megachurches. The
Assemblies of God claim approximately one in ten. Another one-tenth of the churches with congregations large enough to be included in the class are associated with historically
African American denominations. Denominational megachurches generally have more in common with other megachurches than they do with smaller churches within their own denomination. Megachurches affiliated with the seeker movement do not include their denomination in their name or otherwise publicize their affiliation, so as not to alienate potential visitors.
The exception to this rule is found in church movements begun by megachurches, like
Christian City Churches or
Hillsong Church. Churches in these movements tend to fit the megachurch classification while remaining very similar to other churches in the movement, maintaining a similar appearance, logo, worship style and vision.
Coping with the large numbers of people who attend them requires many adjustments.
Worship in some megachurches tends to be formal in practice, though untraditional in tone. Because megachurches command resources that smaller churches cannot, they typically hire professional
musicians who perform modern, upbeat
praise music in a number of pop styles instead of traditional hymns. Despite the contemporary music, worship at a megachurch is a highly structured occasion. Some worshipers like the feeling of hundreds or even thousands of people worshiping together. In some, the worshipers are more an audience than they are participants, and the entire production is typically
choreographed in minute detail.
The immense
architecture of the megachurch requires that the entire congregation can see and hear. Large open spaces allow line of sight to elaborate
video presentations and projections. To overcome the limits of
acoustics, sound is amplified, often by the use of mixing boards. Words to hymns and songs are projected on screens, reducing reliance on the
hymnals found in the
pews of more traditional churches. Many newer churches use theater-style individual chairs instead of pews.
The need for large parking lots to accommodate worshippers has often led these churches to be located on the outskirts of large cities, on tracts encompassing multiple acres (4,000 m²). A recent trend is for a megachurch to have one or more "satellite" locations away from the main church, which will have a small local staff. However, the main message is presented by the senior pastor via video presentation. This is referred to as the
multi-site movement.
The
ministry of these churches must also be adjusted for size. Much of the actual teaching work of the church is handled by committees and smaller meetings outside the weekly services themselves, which are almost exclusively meant for collective (sometimes enthusiastic) but passive worship. Congregational oversight is generally limited to an annual meeting (where a budget and "board of directors" is approved); in some cases, the senior pastor has complete authority over all decisions.
Many were launched by a single gifted
pastor, a person who combines flamboyant
sermons with the organisational skills needed to turn weekly worship into a production number. Some of the churches have grown using the
Cell church principle developed by
David Yonggi Cho. There is sometimes an element of a
cult of personality within some of these megachurches, which can lead to divisions and organisational difficulties when the founder retires, dies, or in some cases resigns under clouds of suspicion. Some megachurches have been able to weather these difficulties (
Lakewood Church survived the death of its founder); others have failed (when
Robert Tilton left under cloud of suspicion, his church folded shortly thereafter).
Megachurches appeal to
baby boomers and others who enjoy the polished nature of the services, and who find the size of the organisation and the upbeat style of these churches appealing. Typically, such churches offer a wide variety of special-interest opportunities and outreaches; e.g., sports, music, dance, foreign languages, pre-schools, mission groups, and support groups, allowing members to be involved with others of similar interests or needs and a similar faith. Some worshippers like the size because it allows them to retain more anonymity if they choose than would be possible in a smaller church. The large numbers of worshippers is not for these believers a problem of scale; it is a demonstration of the dynamism of the institution. Due to the dynamics of a large group worshipping together, some participants feel that the
Holy Spirit or "spirit of worship" is manifested better and the worship experience is therefore more rewarding.
Concerns have been expressed about the
orthodoxy of a number of churches and their popularization of evangelical and pentecostal Christianity. They are seen by some as being
middle of the road, avoiding unconventional doctrinal positions or
asceticism. Particular concerns have been expressed about megachurches including the
Crystal Cathedral,
Willow Creek,
Saddleback Church,
Prestonwood Baptist Church, and others.
An illustration of the divergence from
evangelicalism and
pentecostalism that occurred recently was the failure of a number of US megachurches to hold worship services on
Christmas Day in 2005 where it fell on a Sunday.[
1].
Critics have raised issues with the application of
secular business models[
2], e.g., from
Walmart, a
humanist or
seeker-friendly approach, unconventional worship styles, and Eastern influences.
Another controversy that has arisen is concern from some communities about providing tax-exempt status to large churches locating on high-value land (especially near freeway exits). Some communities have reacted by abolishing property tax-exemptions from them to help pay for providing city services (such as emergency services).
Another criticism falls along
cultural lines, including the fact that many megachurches are located in the
United States. For example, in a December
2005 issue of
The Economist, a British reporter who visited Willow Creek church suggested that megachurches reflected U.S. trends Europeans consider negative, such as
urban sprawl and the proliferation of
McMansions.
*
List of megachurches* Thumma, Scott; Dave Travis & Warren Bird (February 2006)
"Megachurches Today 2005: Summary of Research Findings". Hartford Institute for Religious Research. Hartford Seminary, Hartford Connecticut.
* Thumma, Scott (March 2001)
"Megachurches Today 2000: Summary of Research Findings. Hartford Institute for Religious Research. Hartford Seminary, Hartford Connecticut.
* Thumma, Scott (February 2006)
Overview of megachurches in the United States. Hartford Institute for Religious Research. Hartford Seminary, Hartford Connecticut.
* Thumma, Scott. (1996)
Exploring the Megachurch Phenomenon, excerpts from Doctoral Dissertation entitled "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: Megachurches in Modern American Society." Emory University.
* Kelly, Joyce and Michael Conlon. (November 22, 2005) "
'Megachurches' draw big crowds".
Reuters (accessed Nov. 22, 2005)
* "
Jesus, CEO: Churches as businesses", (December 20, 2005).
The Economist.
*
Evaluating the Megachurch Movementby Charles Martin from Evangelical Ministries of Sylvania
*
Interview with Gary Bryson, It's A God Thing: The Rise of the Megachurch on
Encounter ABC Local Radio, Sunday
24 April 2005*
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life "Myths of the Modern Mega-Church", Monday, May 23, 2005, Rick Warren, Senior Pastor and Founder, Saddleback Church, Orange County, California and David Brooks, Columnist, The New York Times*
Seeker Sensitive, Purpose Driven Churches*
Joel Osteen, the Megachurch, and the Mini-Gospel by Justin Taylor
*
Megachurches, Megabusinesses by Luisa Kroll (Forbes.com)
*
The Church Growth Movement by Jack Sin
*
Mega Churches: Postmodern Seeker Sensitivity by Craig W. Booth
*
CHURCH GROWTH MOVIE Looking to "grow" your church? An animated tutorial.
*
The Ethnocentricity of The American Church Growth Movement by Michael Horton
*John H. Armstrong at
Reformation and Revival**
The Modern Megachurch Phenomenon July 18, 2005,
Further Analysis ... July 25, 2005 and
A Few Final Observations ... August 1, 2005**
"Church Growth, Dying Small Churches, and a New Strategy" August 8, 2005 John H. Armstrong
*
The Purpose Driven Church (a critique) Michael J. Penfold
*
Megachurch Association of America a satire of church growth philospohy by Frank Chase
