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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 multiacre 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 Koreatown.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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).

Demographics

Megachurches appeal to baby boomers and others who enjoy the polished nature of the worship 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, i.e. sports, music, dance, foreign languages, pre-schools, mission groups, support groups, etc., allowing for 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.

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 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.*.

Critics have raised issues with the application of secular business models*, 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.

See also

References

Overview of megachurches in the United States. Hartford Institute for Religious Research. Hartford Seminary, Hartford Connecticut.

External links

Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity | Christian evangelicalism | Christian fundamentalism | Christian group structuring | Megachurches | Television evangelists

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Megachurch".

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