Megachurches: The current reality and new

directions.

Numbers Continue to Increase

There are 1,210 Protestant churches in the United States with weekly attendance over 2,000

Size Continues to Increase

In 2005, megachurches reported average regular weekly attendance of 3,585 persons. 

An average increase in attendance of 57%

in 5 years

These same churches 5 years earlier had an average attendance of 2,279

All the megachurches in the US togetherhave income of 7 billion dollars a year.

Large Attendance but not Always Large Buildings

Twenty years ago the largest church was 12,000Now the largest is around 35,000 –

Still small by Korea’s standards.

This growth is not experienced by all megachurches.

A number actually declined in attendance. 

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Megachurch pastors always dominate lists of most influential religious leaders in the country.  

One pastor’s book has over 26 million sales and is the best-selling hardcover non-fiction book in U.S. history.

The Attention Megachurches Get is Increasing

Press Figures:Before 1990 megachurch 5 1990-1995 megachurch 180 1996-2000 megachurch 469 2001-2006 megachurch 1297

They Are Evident throughout the United States

The four states with the greatest concentrations of megachurches are California (14%), Texas (13%), Florida (7%) and Georgia (6%)

Growth in Northeast and mid central states – outside of Sunbelt and Bible belt

Increasing in the newest suburbs by newly established churches and by those moving from older suburbs,

Not by megachurches moving from the downtown and older established inner city areas.

They are on the move

More are becoming Nondenominational

Between 35- 40% of megachurches claim to be nondenominational

20% of megachurches, and 9% in the last 5 years, changed their name, often dropping the denominational label. 

Megachurches founded since 1991 are more likely to be nondenominational and less likely to describe their congregation as traditional, moderate, Pentecostal or charismatic.

Denominations with the largest numbers of megachurches included: nondenom-inational, Southern Baptist, United Methodist, and Assemblies of God.

The Newest Megachurches Are Growing Faster

Newer Megachurches have:

Younger members - More families

More multiracial - More new converts

More electric guitars - More excitement

Clearer mission - More evangelistic fervor

More member recruitment

The larger the church, the more its resources

Church Size

Average Income

FT Ministerial & Admin Staff

Volunteers 5hr+

5yrGrowth Rate

1,800 – 1,999

3.17 million 21 126 38%

2,000 – 4,999

5.20 million 36 236 44%

5,000 – 9,999

9.14 million 64 533 56%

10,000 or more

24.80 million 131 904 74%

Worship Continues to Change

The megachurches exhibit great adaptation to cultural changes

They show even greater willingnessto change worship style and format

than 5 years ago

2000 2005

No Change 22% 15%

Changed a little 37% 26%

Changed some 21% 36%

Changed a lot 21% 23%

The megachurches with the highest rate of growth are the most likely to consistently use contemporary forms of worship.   

They are having more services, at different days and times, and are using more contemporary worship forms

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They Are Becoming More Multi-Racial

On average 19% of persons in the congregations were of the non-majority racial group. 

Thirty-six percent of churches reported having a 20% or more minority presence.

Ten percent of congregations claimed to have no majority racial group.

The Megachurches Seem To Be Employing More Leadership Staff

Total full-time   2000 Average =  13                              2005 Average =  20         Total part-time  2000 Average =    3     

                       2005  Average =   9        

And Using Less Support Staff and Volunteers

Total full-time   2000 Average =  25                              2005 Average =  22         Total part-time  2000 Average =  14                             2005  Average =  22

Number of Volunteers who work over 5 hrs a week? 2000 Average =  297    2005  Average = 284  

When asked whether the congregation experienced disagreements or conflicts in the past two years

40% of respondents reported some minor conflict and 8% reported major conflict. 

It is interesting, however, that those churches with the highest rates of growth,

also have the lowest levels of conflict

In 2005, the average income per megachurch was approximately 6 million dollars. 

This is a significant increase compared to the 1999-2000 study results, even adjusting for inflation. 

The average expenses for these congregations increased to 5.6 million dollars. 

This is almost the exact ratio between income and expenses as reported in 2000. 

So megachurches are both making more and spending more!

SOCIAL OUTREACH – increase in efforts

•Partner with others

•Web distribution – streaming media, etc.

•Highly active social ministry – local, national, global •National & Global networking

Partnering with others

40 days of Partnership – Rick Warrenhttp://www.pastors.com/rwmt/?id=254&artid=9332&expand=1

Recent Easter Celebrations

54% of megachurches partnered with other churcheson local community service projects in thelast five years.

Spiritual Mapping – Oversight for a city & nation Peter Wagner

Web distribution – streaming media, audio, web sites

95 percent of megachurches have web sites

In a study of these sites, the intended audiences for the sites were reported to be

23% mostly for visitors, 20% primarily for members,

and 57% aimed both at visitors and members.

Fifty percent of the sites have password-protected

sections for church members.

The vast majority of sites (83%) have audio files, and 31% have video files.

New companies assist in this, such as….www.goodnewsline.com/megachurch/

Highly active social ministry – local, national, global

National Responses to Hurricane Katrina

The Dream Center Philosophy www.dreamcenter.org/

City-wide rallies

AIDS – Rick Warren

Social Ministry Among Megachurches•food assistance (a food pantry or soup kitchen) 99%

•programs for youth and teens 99% •counseling services or support groups 95%

•prison ministries 91% •substance abuse & 12 step programs 85%

•senior citizen programs 84% •hospitals & nursing homes 80%

•temporary or permanent housing/shelter 78%

National & Global networking

• Pastors.com•www.purposedriven.com/en-US/International/Home.htm•www.willowcreek.com/international/

•Roughly 25 percent of megachurches have a network of churches they are responsible for.

•46 percent of megachurches partnered with other churches to engage in international mission projects.

The Future Is Sure To IncludeLarge Scale Worship

Are you a part of it?