It is currently estimated that there about 1800 megachurches in America. The featured image of this post shows the spread of these churches. Note the emphasis on both coasts as well as the heavy concentration of Baptist in the Southeast (“Bible Belt”).

The Hartford Institute is the primary source for this data (details here). They have been collecting data on large churches since 2000, including detailed trends and interests of nearly fifty thousand megachurch attenders since 2007.

Definition – The definition of a megachurch is a large Protestant congregation with (a) two thousand or more attending each week, including children and adults, (b) a strong senior pastor, (c) strong community outreach, and, (d) typically a contemporary worship style.

Theology – The largest group of megachurches are nondenominational (40%), followed by Southern Baptist (15%). Most (65%) consider themselves evangelical while a much smaller percentage view themselves as moderate (5%), charasmatic (5%), pentecostal (7%) and progressive (2%).

Growth – Because of the charismatic and often authoritarian nature of their pastors, megachurches typically grow at a much faster rate with males almost exclusively in the primary leadership position. Typically, the church sees a significant drop in attendance at the departure of the founding pastor. However, approximately 30% of existing churches currently have leaders who were not the original founders. It is currently unclear if the “age of megachurches” has reached its pinnacle or if the movement will continue to grow in numbers.

Summary Thoughts

One could speculate on the reason megachurches have come into existence. Perhaps technology has played a role (multi-site simulcasts). However, it is also possible that as cultural pressures to conform to an anti-Biblical, anti-church, anti-Christian worldview increases, evangelicals increasingly band together in their own affinity groups. Sadly, it could also be true that megachurches provide not only good preaching, but engaging theatrical performances and a place where one can hide out from the typical commitments pressed on members of smaller congregations.