HARTFORD, Conn. (ABP) — The megachurch phenomenon may be even bigger than the experts thought. New research underway suggests there may be 1,200 or more of the biggie-sized congregations in the U.S. — not 850 as earlier studies showed.
The states with the largest number of megachurches are Texas (174), California (169), Florida (83) and Georgia (64), researchers said.
Most researchers require a weekly attendance of 2,000 before labeling a congregation a megachurch. A study by the Dallas-based Leadership Network and the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, which is part of Hartford Seminary, has turned up 350 more.
“I would never have guessed that either of our groups could have missed so many additional megachurches,” said Scott Thumma, a professor of sociology at Hartford Seminary, who has been studying megachurches since 1988.
The two organizations each maintain a list of the large congregations, most of which are Protestant. About 600 showed up on both lists but many others did not.
Although the 1,200 churches account for less than 1 percent of U.S. congregations, they make up a much larger percentage of total membership — perhaps 8 to 12 million — and about 4 million weekly worshipers, say the two research groups.
Author Mark Chaves, in Congregations in America, said “the largest 10 percent of congregations contain about half of all churchgoers.”
The largest group of megachurches are non-denominational, the new study said. The most common denominational affiliations are, in order, the Southern Baptist Convention, Assemblies of God, Presbyterian Church USA, and United Methodist Church.
The latest data is preliminary, said the Hartford Institute and Leadership Network. A more complete study is underway. Leadership Network, founded by businessman Bob Buford in 1984, provides resources and networking opportunities for megachurches.
In addition to attendance, Hartford Seminary researchers also associate other characteristics with a megachurch — a charismatic and authoritative leader, complex organizational structure, seven-day-a-week community, and multiple social and outreach ministries.