The interior of Rev. Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral illustrates the stage lighting, space, audio, and seating facilities often found in a megachurch.

A megachurch is a large church, frequently defined as having more than 2,000 worshippers for a typical weekly service. Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1162 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1162 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Robert Harold Schuller (born September 16, 1926) is an American televangelist known around the world through his weekly broadcast The Hour of Power. ... Crystal Cathedral The Crystal Cathedral campus is a Christian megachurch in the city of Garden Grove, within Orange County in Southern California. ... A church building (or simply church) is a building used in Christian worship. ...

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. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as recounted in the New Testament. ... Note that this kind of denomination is not that of a coin or banknote. ... The word evangelicalism usually refers to a tendency in diverse branches of conservative Christianity, typified by an emphasis on evangelism, a personal experience of conversion, biblically-oriented faith, and a belief in the relevance of Christian faith to cultural issues. ... The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. ...

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. Yoido Full Gospel Church is a Pentecostal Christian church in Seoul, South Korea. ... Seoul (Sŏul|서울) ) is the capital and largest city of South Korea (Republic of Korea). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lakewood Church Lakewood Church is a megachurch located in Houston, Texas. ... Houston redirects here. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq. ... The Hillsong Church Logo Hillsong Church is a Pentecostal and evangelical Christian church. ... The Sydney Opera House is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, and since its opening it has become an international symbol of Sydney Sydney (pronounced ) is the state capital of New South Wales, located on the east coast of Australia. ... CCC Logo // Christian City Church International Christian City Churches International Christian City Church International (C3I) currently (2003) consists of over 100 churches situated throughout Australasia, New Zealand, North America, Africa, Asia and the European community. ... The Sydney Opera House is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, and since its opening it has become an international symbol of Sydney Sydney (pronounced ) is the state capital of New South Wales, located on the east coast of Australia. ... The expression exurb (for extra-urban) was coined in the 1950s, by Auguste Comte Spectorsky in his book The Exurbanites, to describe the ring of prosperous rural communities beyond the suburbs that, due to availability via the new high-speed limited-access highways, were becoming dormitory communities for an urban... The Sun Belt, highlighted in red For the NCAA Division I conference, see Sun Belt Conference The Sun Belt is a region of the United States generally considered to stretch across the South and Southwest. ... Seoul (Sŏul|서울) ) is the capital and largest city of South Korea (Republic of Korea). ...

History

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. Metropolitan Tabernacle The Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. ... In the USA and Canada, a televangelist (portmanteau for television evangelist) is a religious minister (often a Christian priest or minister) who devotes a large portion of his (or her) ministry to TV broadcasts to a regular viewing and listening audience. ... Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944) Aimee Semple McPherson (October 9, 1890 – September 27, 1944), also known as Sister Aimee or simply Sister, was an evangelist and media sensation in the 1920s and 1930s, founder of the Foursquare Church. ... Angelus Temple Angelus Temple is the central house of worship of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the [[Echo Park]] district of Los Angeles, California. ... The 1950s were the decade that spanned the years 1950 through 1959, although some sources say from 1951 through 1960. ...

Denominational links

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. Even those megachurches that belong to denominations generally have more in common with other megachurches than they do with smaller churches within their own denomination, and (among those affiliated with the seeker movement) do not include their denomination in their name or otherwise publicize their affiliation, believing that such would "turn off" many potential visitors. A non-denominational church (usually Christian) is a religious organization which does not necessarily align its mission and teachings to an established denomination. ... The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a United States-based cooperative ministry agency serving Baptist churches around the world. ... A religious denomination, (also simply denomination) is a large, long-established subgroup within a religion that has existed for many years. ... The Assemblies of God is the worlds largest Pentecostal Christian denomination. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black), is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

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 clasification while remaining very similar to other churches in the movement, maintaining a similar appearance, logo, worship style and vision. CCC Logo // Christian City Church International Christian City Churches International Christian City Church International (C3I) currently (2003) consists of over 100 churches situated throughout Australasia, New Zealand, North America, Africa, Asia and the European community. ... The Hillsong Church Logo Hillsong Church is a Pentecostal and evangelical Christian church. ...

Adjustments to cater for size

Coping with the large numbers of people who attend them requires many adjustments.

Worship in some megachurches tends to be more formal in practice, even as it becomes less traditional 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. Worship usually refers to specific acts of religious praise, honour, or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as a god or goddess. ... Music is a form of expression in the medium of time using the structures of tones and silence. ... A praise song is a song of praise to God in the traditions of certain Christian churches. ... Choreography literally dance-writing, also known as dance composition), is the art of making structures in which movement occurs, the term composition may also refer to the navigation or connection of these movement structures. ...

The architecture of the megachurch needs to ensure everyone can see and hear what is happening. Large open spaces allowing line of sight, but using elaborate video presentations and projections are common. Amplified sound dominates overcoming limits imposed by acoustics, mixing boards and high levels of production are found generally. 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 Parthenon on top of the Acropolis, Athens, Greece Architecture (from Latin, architectura and ultimately from Greek, αρχιτεκτων, a master builder, from αρχι- chief, leader and τεκτων, builder, carpenter) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... Look up Video in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Acoustics is a branch of physics and is the study of sound, mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids. ... A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a god or other religiously significant figure. ... Pews in rows in a church A pew is a long bench used for seating of a church congregation. ...

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 of an acre (4,000 m²) or more. 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 A Multi-Site church is one church that meets at multiple locations, often through the use of satellite and video technology. ...

The ministry of these churches must also be adjusted to cope with their 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. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

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). Main article: Minister of religion A pastor is the head minister or priest of a Christian church. ... A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. ... Cell church refers to a church structure based on the regular gathering of small groups. ... David Yonggi Cho is a Korean Christian minister. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Lakewood Church Lakewood Church is a megachurch located in Houston, Texas. ... Robert Tilton on his television program Robert Tilton is an American televangelist who achieved notoriety in the 1980s and 1990s through his paid television program Success-N-Life. ...

Demographics

Megachurches appeal to baby boomers and others who enjoy the polished showmanship of the worship services, and who find the size of the organisation and the upbeat style of these churches appealing. 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. Also some worshipers feel that in a bigger church the Holy Spirit is felt more and is manifested better. Demographics is a shorthand term for population characteristics. Demographics include race, age, income, mobility (in terms of travel time to work or number of vehicles available), educational attainment, home ownership, employment status, and even location. ... A baby boom is any period of greatly increased birth rate within temporal and usually geographical bounds. ... In various religions, most notably Trinitarian Christianity, the Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost; in Hebrew רוח הקודש Ruah haqodesh) is the third Person of the Holy Trinity. ...

However, other Christians find the polish of the services and the impersonal nature of worship in these megachurches disconcerting, even among those churches using the Cell System of small groups.

As stated earlier, they are typically exurban in the Sun Belt in the southern United States. The expression exurb (for extra-urban) was coined in the 1950s, by Auguste Comte Spectorsky in his book The Exurbanites, to describe the ring of prosperous rural communities beyond the suburbs that, due to availability via the new high-speed limited-access highways, were becoming dormitory communities for an urban... The Sun Belt, highlighted in red For the NCAA Division I conference, see Sun Belt Conference The Sun Belt is a region of the United States generally considered to stretch across the South and Southwest. ...

Controversy

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 at different times about the then current successful megachurch, 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). It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Megachurch. ... The word orthodoxy, from the Greek ortho (right, correct) and doxa (thought, teaching , Glorification), is typically used to refer to the correct theological or doctrinal observance of religion, as determined by some overseeing body. ... Middle of the road or MOR is a broad term encompassing a number of musical styles. ... Asceticism denotes a life which is characterized by refraining from worldly pleasures (austerity). ... Crystal Cathedral The Crystal Cathedral campus is a Christian megachurch in the city of Garden Grove, within Orange County in Southern California. ... Willow Creek Community Church is a large American nondenominational church in the suburb of South Barrington, Illinois near Chicago, Illinois. ... Saddleback Church is a large Evangelical Christian church in Lake Forest, situated in southern Orange County, in Southern California. ... Prestonwood Baptist Church is one of the first megachurches to appear in North America. ... The word evangelicalism usually refers to a tendency in diverse branches of conservative Christianity, typified by an emphasis on evangelism, a personal experience of conversion, biblically-oriented faith, and a belief in the relevance of Christian faith to cultural issues. ... The Pentecostal movement within Protestant Christianity places special emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as shown in the Biblical account of the Day of Pentecost. ... Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ... A business model (also called a business design) is the instrument by which a business intends to generate revenue and profits. ... Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ... Humanism is a system of thought that defines a socio-political doctrine (-ism) whose bounds exceed those of locally developed cultures, to include all of humanity and all issues common to human beings. ... A Seeker is: a traditional term for a religious pilgrim or one who aspires to enlightenment, Nirvana, Salvation, or God Realization. ...

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 reporter who visited Willow Creek church (and who happened to be British, like the magazine), suggested that megachurches reflected U.S. trends Europeans consider negative, such as urban sprawl and the proliferation of McMansions. The British reporter found the Willow Creek church's appearance so secular that he ended exclaiming, at the beginning of his article, "Where in God's name is the church?!?" The word culture comes from the Latin root colere (to inhabit, to cultivate, or to honor). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Economist is a weekly news and international affairs publication of The Economist Newspaper Ltd edited in London, UK. It has been in continuous publication since September 1843. ... Urban sprawl (also: suburban sprawl) is a term for the rapid and expansive growth of a greater metropolitan area, traditionally suburbs (or exurbs) over a large area. ... A McMansion in Needham, Massachusetts, emulating a modest farmhouse original construction on the right and a grandiose later addition to the left, simulating local historic buildings that evolved by accretion in the 18th and 19th centuries A California flat top McMansion with indefinite architectural references An Arizona McMansion incorporating extensive... This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ...

See also

• List of megachurches

This is a list of megachurches (Churches with an average weekly attendance of 2000 or more). ...

References

• 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.

Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY) is best known as a news service that provides reports from around the world to newspapers and broadcasters. ... The Economist is a weekly news and international affairs publication of The Economist Newspaper Ltd edited in London, UK. It has been in continuous publication since September 1843. ...

External links

• 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