Megachurches Profiled

At the latest count, there are 1,210 Protestant churches in the United States with weekly attendance over 2,000 — nearly double the number that existed five years ago. This is one of the many significant finds in the Megachurches Today 2005 survey conducted by Hartford Seminary's Hartford Institute for Religion Research and Leadership Network.

The majority of megachurches belong to a denomination: Only 34 percent are nondenominational. Based on entire megachurch population, the Southern Baptists have 16 percent of all megachurches, other Baptists have 10 percent, with Assemblies of God following at six percent on down to Foursquare, Church of Christ, Evangelical Lutheran and Vineyard at one percent. According to the survey, many of the megachurches downplay their denominational affiliation. It is likely that many of these churches, at least for 20 percent in the past and nine percent in the last five years, will change their name, often dropping the denominational label.

Typically, the survey shows, megachurches draw younger people and families with contemporary programming and conservative values, notes the Church Report. They also commonly have contemporary worship services with electric guitars and drums.
As a region, the South has the largest share with 49 percent. California is the state with the most megachurches at 14 percent.

(from FotF's Pastor's Weekly Briefing)

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