» 11 MegaChurch Myths

The Hartford Institute for Religion Research has been putting the North American MegaChurch under the microscope in 11 Myths About Megachurches.

Here’s the myths they challenge:

1. All megachurches are alike.
2. All megachurches are equally good at being big.
3. There is an over-emphasis of money in all the megachurches.
4. Megachurches are just spectator worship and are not serious about Christianity.
5. These large churches only care about themselves and are not seriously involved in outreach and social ministry.
6. All megachurches are major political players and pawns or powerbrokers to conservative politicians.
7. All megachurches have huge sanctuaries and enormous campuses.
8. All megachurches are nondenominational.
9. All megachurches are homogeneous congregations with little diversity.
10. Megachurches grow primarily because of great programming.
11. The megachurch phenomenon is over and on the decline because it was just a Baby Boomer phenomenon. Gen Xers and Millennials aren’t interested in megachurches.

Summary Report in pdf: MegaChurches Today 2005

Interview in mp3: MegaChurch Myths

The fine print: Megachurch Research and Articles