Next Generation Leadership Community

Emergent and Megachurches and the Principle of Contradiction

Linda Stanley -
Dave Travis, our Discussion Starter serving the Next Generation Pastors Leadership Community, is one of the smartest guys I know. He probably didn’t realize that by highlighting a couple of data points in the Megachurches Today 2005 survey that are relevant to some of today’s larger emergent churches, he jumped on the bandwagon with modern logicians, Leibnitz and Kant, to support a different statement of Aristotle’s Principle of Contradiction. If you don’t really care about Aristotle, Leibnitz, Kant or the Principle of Contradiction, just read what Dave has to say about the data in the report. But if you’re the curious sort and want to know how all of this relates, check this link to fully satisfy your inner data junkie - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_contradiction - but don’t try this at home if you haven’t had your caffeine quota yet.

There have been many various angles reported by the media for the Megachurches 2005 Summary Report. You can find a copy of the report here. It is the largest ever survey of churches over 2000. (Shameless promotion since I am a listed author)

Here are two parts of the study that impact younger leaders.

1. A good percentage (25%) of the churches are very young in their life cycle. They have grown very large, very fast.
Allow me two observations from experience. First, momentum matters. Once a church gets on a growth roll, it can continue very quickly up to mega church size. Second, many younger churches have learned to delay the purchase of property until they can purchase parcels of at least 40 acres or more. The larger parcels are better suited for building facilities that can handle mega church sized crowds. The alternatives are to find long term leased facilities that can also handle adult worship capacities of at least 500 at a time.

2. A large percentage of these congregations report strong attendance of young adults under 35. The split is almost even of those that report many and most participants under 35 as over 35. This runs contrary to currently accepted speculation that younger adults will avoid mega churches and are instead attracted to “emergent” churches.
My observations here are also two-fold. First, there are some that can carry both labels. Emergent and Mega. Secondly, one does not cancel out the other. The kingdom ecology needs to appreciate both expressions without one being right and the other wrong.

Lots of interesting data in there. At points, not very practical, but interesting nonetheless.

Just Released – The Megachurches Today 2005 survey

Linda Stanley
Yes, it’s another shameless plug for the newly released Megachurches Today 2005 survey – a collaborative effort by Hartford Seminary’s Hartford Institute for Religious Research and Leadership Network. Quoted below is the latest information posted on the Leadership Network website about the report.

According to a groundbreaking research study just released by Leadership Network and Hartford Seminary’s Hartford Institute for Religion Research, many of the most widely held beliefs about megachurches couldn’t be farther from the truth.

The Megachurches Today 2005 survey is the most thoroughly researched study ever made of the Protestant megachurch movement in the United States. Since June 2005, more than 1,800 churches have been contacted by e-mail, phone and mail, with complete data for more than 400 qualifying congregations received, tabulated and analyzed.

The wide-ranging survey includes data on the many attributes that together define the nature and impact of megachurches in our society. Collectively, the results debunk 11 of the most common beliefs about megachurches, namely:

MYTH #1: All megachurches are alike.
REALITY: They differ in growth rates, size and emphasis.

MYTH #2: All megachurches are equally good at being big.
REALITY: Some clearly understand how to function as a large institution, but others flounder.

MYTH #3: There is an over-emphasis on money in the megachurches.
REALITY: The data disputes this.

MYTH #4: Megachurches exist for spectator worship and are not serious about Christianity.
REALITY: Megachurches generally have high spiritual expectations and serious orthodox beliefs.

MYTH #5: Megachurches are not deeply involved in social ministry.
REALITY: Considerable ministry is taking place at and through these churches.

MYTH #6: All megachurches are pawns of or powerbrokers to George Bush and the Republican Party.
REALITY: The vast majority of megachurches are not politically active.

MYTH #7: All megachurches have huge sanctuaries and enormous campuses.
REALITY: Megachurches make widespread use of multiple worship services over several days, multiple venues and even multiple campuses.

MYTH #8: All megachurches are nondenominational.
REALITY: The vast majority belong to some denomination.

MYTH #9: All megachurches are homogeneous congregations with little diversity.
REALITY: A large and growing number are multi-ethnic and intentionally so.

MYTH #10: Megachurches grow primarily because of great programming.
REALITY: Megachurches grow because excited attendees tell their friends.

MYTH #11: The megachurch phenomenon is on the decline.
REALITY: The data suggests that many more megachurches are on the way.

Downloadable copies of the complete Megachurches Today 2005 survey (in both html and PDF versions) are available on the two organizations’ Web sites:
• Leadership Network Megachurches Today 2005
• Hartford Seminary Megachurches

A 15-minute podcast discussion of key survey findings is also archived on the Leadership Network site at www.leadnet.org/links/podcast-MegachurchMyths.asp

About Hartford Seminary and its Hartford Institute for Religion Research: Hartford Seminary is a special kind of seminary, focused on interfaith relations, congregational studies and faith in practice. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research has a 30-year record of rigorous, policy-relevant research, anticipation of emerging issues and commitment to the creative dissemination of learning.  This record has earned the Institute an international reputation as an important bridge between the scholarly community and the practice of faith. For more on the Seminary and the Institute, see www.hartsem.edu or www.hirr.hartsem.edu/ or contact David Barrett at 860.509.9519 or dbarrett@hartsem.edu