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Rise of Megachurches Are They Straying Too Far from Their Religious Mission?

Rise of Megachurches Are They Straying Too Far from Their Religious Mission?

Researcher Published by CQ Press, a division of Congressional Quarterly Inc. CQ www.cqresearcher.com Rise of Megachurches Are they straying too far from their religious mission?

ince the 1970s, the number of so-called megachurches — churches that attract at least 2,000 people to weekly services — has been exploding in the United States and abroad, particularly in Latin America, Africa and SAsia. Many of the more than 1,200 U.S. megachurches sit on large suburban campuses and boast vast sanctuaries with multiple large TV screens and other high-tech amenities. Several serve meals at their own sprawling food courts and cafés and offer gymnasiums and other facilities. Megachurches are typically Protestant evangelical and espouse conservative positions on social issues. Church leaders

A 10-story-high flag hangs on Memorial Day at the are often charismatic ministers who preach the “prosperity gospel,” Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., founded by Dr. Robert H. Schuller. stressing personal fulfillment and success as much as theology. Some researchers suggest megachurches are a unique, collective response I to people’s needs amid sweeping cultural and societal changes. N THIS REPORT S But critics say megachurches are straying from their traditional THE ISSUES ...... 771 I religious mission by focusing on helping parishioners get rich CHRONOLOGY ...... 779 D rather than worshipping God. BACKGROUND ...... 780 E CURRENT SITUATION ...... 784 CQ Researcher • Sept. 21, 2007 • www.cqresearcher.com AT ISSUE ...... 785 Volume 17, Number 33 • Pages 769-792 OUTLOOK ...... 787 RECIPIENT OF SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE ◆ AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION SILVER GAVEL AWARD BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 790 THE NEXT STEP ...... 791 RISE OF MEGACHURCHES CQ Researcher

Sept. 21, 2007 THE ISSUES Top 10 Megachurch States Volume 17, Number 33 772 California and Texas have MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas J. Colin • Do megachurches dilute the most members. [email protected] 771 the Christian message? From Big to Truly ‘Mega’ ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR: Kathy Koch • Do megachurches blur [email protected] the line between church 773 More than 25 percent of and state? megachurches have more ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Kenneth Jost than 4,000 members. • Are megachurches be- STAFF WRITERS: Marcia Clemmitt, Peter Katel coming too worldly? 774 Most Megachurches are CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Rachel S. Cox, BACKGROUND Denominational Sarah Glazer, Alan Greenblatt, are the largest group. Barbara Mantel, Patrick Marshall, Tom Price, Jennifer Weeks Recent Surge 780 The Megachurch Difference DESIGN/PRODUCTION EDITOR: Olu B. Davis Most of the 1,200 U.S. 775 Support groups are among megachurches were the key activities. ASSISTANT EDITOR: Darrell Dela Rosa founded in the past 25 years. ’s Lakewood 776 Church Is Biggest Big-Box Approach Average attendance is 30,000. A Division of 781 Megachurches fit the Congressional Quarterly Inc. suburban mold. Chronology 779 SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER: Key events since 1972. John A. Jenkins Filling Seats 783 Megachurches make ‘Reverse’ Missionaries DIRECTOR, LIBRARY PUBLISHING: economic sense. 780 Aim at Developed Nations Alix Buffon Vance Nigerian church is active in DIRECTOR, EDITORIAL OPERATIONS: New York. Ann Davies CURRENT SITUATION 782 Preaching the Prosperity CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY INC. Business 101 Gospel CHAIRMAN: Paul C. Tash 784 Critics say black megachurches Megachurch VICE CHAIRMAN: Andrew P. Corty know how to market abandon social justice. their message. PRESIDENT/EDITOR IN CHIEF: Robert W. Merry Megachurches Outpacing 784 Nation’s Growth Copyright © 2007 CQ Press, a division of Congres- Church Politics Rise has been dramatic. sional Quarterly Inc. (CQ). CQ reserves all copyright 787 Courts are lowering the and other rights herein, unless previously specified barrier between church At Issue in writing. No part of this publication may be re- and state. 785 Are megachurches too big? produced electronically or otherwise, without prior written permission. Unauthorized reproduction or transmission of CQ copyrighted material is a violation OUTLOOK FOR FURTHER RESEARCH of federal law carrying civil fines of up to $100,000. CQ Researcher (ISSN 1056-2036) is printed on acid- Mirroring Society For More Information free paper. Published weekly, except; (March wk. 4) 787 Experts predict churches 789 Organizations to contact. (June wk. 4) (July wk. 1) (Aug. wk. 2) (Aug. wk. 3) will continue growing. (Nov. wk. 4) (Dec. wk. 3) and (Dec. wk. 4), by CQ 790 Bibliography Press, a division of Congressional Quarterly Inc. An- Selected sources used. nual full-service subscriptions for institutions start at SIDEBARS AND GRAPHICS $667. For pricing, call 1-800-834-9020, ext. 1906. To The Next Step purchase a CQ Researcher report in print or elec- 791 Additional articles. Most Megachurches Are in tronic format (PDF), visit www.cqpress.com or call 772 the South, West 866-427-7737. Single reports start at $15. Bulk pur- Citing CQ Researcher chase discounts and electronic-rights licensing are New England has lowest 791 Sample bibliography formats. number. also available. Periodicals postage paid at Washing- ton, D.C., and additional mailing offices. POSTMAS- TER: Send address changes to CQ Researcher, 1255 Cover: AP Photo/Bob Riha Jr. 22nd St., N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20037.

770 CQ Researcher Rise of Megachurches BY ALAN GREENBLATT AND TRACIE POWELL

Megachurches in particular are proving to be fertile THE ISSUES ground for products, services niversal Pictures de- and messages that cross the voted more than line that divides the sacred from U $200 million to the secular. Twenty-five years “Evan Almighty,” a comedy ago, there were only 74 church- released in June about a con- es in the United States that at- gressman who gives up pol- tracted more than 2,000 peo- itics to build an ark. Most of ple per week. Today, there are that money went into pro- more than 1,200. 3 Megachurch- duction, but a fair share of es have been growing in size it was spent on marketing — and influence at the same time much of it devoted to reach- that the line between church ing out to spiritual leaders and state has been fading, ac- and church groups. cording to religious scholars Universal hasn’t yet made a and historians. profit on the film, but its strat- It’s not just their sheer num- egy appeared to make sense. bers and explosive growth Alerting church groups about that have made megachurch- religious-themed films has paid es friendly to marketers. The off in recent years, translating messages preached in differ- into a $370 million domestic ent megachurches can vary gross for “The Passion of the as much as they do in small- Christ” and $300 million for er churches. Megachurches, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” however, are particularly con- AP Photo/Jessica Kourkounis Mel Gibson’s “Passion” pro- Housed in a former sports arena, Joel Osteen’s ducive to secular messages vided the marketing model, in Houston is reportedly the largest by their very nature. with megachurches — com- and fastest-growing in the country, with 52,000 English They tend to feature the monly defined as those that at- and Spanish-speaking worshipers. There are more than latest communications tech- tract more than 2,000 parish- 1,200 megachurches in the United States, many serving nology — everything from middle-class suburban congregations with a “prosperity ioners on any given Sunday gospel” promoting personal fulfillment and success. high-quality video screens to — buying big blocks of tick- sophisticated in-house broad- ets and generating word of casting centers. They offer not mouth among the faithful. times called “Passion dollars” from only religious services within their sanc- Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, parishioners. Megachurches have be- tuaries but also recreational and dining Calif., home of prominent pastor and come a prime distribution and mar- services in other parts of their facilities, best-selling author Rick Warren, host- keting channel, with companies in- including Starbucks cafés, Subway sand- ed a screening for 4,500 pastors and cluding McDonald’s, Ford, Chrysler, wich shops and top-flight gymnasiums. separately purchased 17,000 tickets for Target and Coca-Cola lining up to spon- Megachurches, in other words, al- its congregants. Two members of a sor conferences and outreach efforts, ready tend to resemble the secular megachurch in Plano, Texas, bought as well as offering free samples and commercial world and imitate com- out 6,000 seats at a local 20-plex so test drives directly to worshipers. mercial strategies for communicating churchgoers could watch “Passion’s” “Forty-three percent of this country their messages. “We do attempt to har- local premiere. A church in Costa Mesa, is in church — that’s a big chunk of ness the full potential of modern tech- Calif., even canceled its weekend ser- folks,” said Jonathan Bock, president nology and business strategies to com- vices during the film’s 2004 opening, of Grace Hill Media, which helps Hol- municate with our members and our sending its parishioners to watch on lywood studios reach out to the faith community,” said Bill Hybels, found- any of 10 rented screens. 1 community. “You get into the once-a- ing and senior pastor of Willow Creek Hollywood producers aren’t alone month [attendee], that’s two-thirds of Community Church, a trend-setting in looking to rake in what are some- the country.” 2 megachurch in South Barrington, Ill. 4

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Despite offering such strong criti- Most Megachurches Are in the South, West cism, Guinness notes that he finds The South and Far West have the highest percentage of America’s nothing wrong either with the size of megachurches; New England has the lowest. megachurch congregations or their use of modern marketing, psychology or communications techniques. “The Concentration of Megachurches megachurch movement’s aim is laud- (by percentage and region) able — to reach out to people and bring them to Christ,” he says.

Wash. Mont. N.D. N.H. Such ambiguity seems to color many Vt. Minn. Maine discussions about megachurches. S.D. Wis. Ore. N.Y. Idaho 1% Their growth itself is evidence that Wyo. Mich. Mass. 6% Iowa they are fulfilling many people’s Neb. 6% 6% Ohio Pa. 14% Conn. R.I. needs. Their preachers are often high- Nev. Utah Colo. Ill. Ind. Kan. Mo. W.Va. N.J. ly charismatic and learned. Equally im- Ky. Va. Calif. portant is their flexibility — their will- Tenn. N.C. Del. Okla. Ark. Md. ingness to offer multiple services not Ariz. N.M. 23% 8% S.C. D.C. only on Sundays but also throughout 18% Ga. La. Ala. the week. In addition, megachurches 19% Texas Miss. typically offer many other convenient options, such as free day care and Alaska Fla. other programs for youth. “They offer a lot of the things that Hawaii churches have always offered — stuff for your kids to do and groups for you to be in and high-production-value Top 10 States with Most Megachurch Members worship services,” says Mark Chaves, a Duke University professor of soci- California and Texas had the most megachurch members in 2001; ology, religion and divinity. “Smaller megachurch-goers represent less than 2 percent of the population or even average-sized churches used of any state. to be able to do that,” he says, but he notes that building and staff costs State Megachurch State Megachurch have made such programs unafford- Attendance Attendance able for many smaller congregations California 364,612 Tennessee 69,319 in recent years. It’s difficult to know whether fre- Texas 267,818 Arizona 57,280 quently heard complaints that Georgia 130,494 56,501 megachurches offer up “theology lite” 112,913 Colorado 48,613 are true, says Scot McKnight, a pro- Illinois 81,802 Minnesota 46,051 fessor of religious studies at North Park University in . He hasn’t seen a formal study that compares mes- Sources: Scott Thumma and Dave Travis, Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn From America’s Largest Churches, Jossey-Bass, 2007, and John N. sages in megachurches with those in Vaughan, Church Growth Today, www.megachurches.net smaller churches. “What we do know that dispels this But such harnessing has led many says Os Guinness, a social scientist idea,” McKnight says, “is that increas- critics to wonder whether megachurch- in Northern and the author ing numbers of [traditional] pastors are es have strayed away from core Chris- of numerous books about faith and using the messages and adapting the tian messages and toward something society. “One of the reasons Chris- messages of megachurch pastors.” that is altogether too worldly. tianity is so strong numerically but But critics say the messages “In this country, the Christian faith so weak culturally in this country is megachurch pastors are sending out has succumbed to consumerism,” the watering down of the message.” often seem to be more about personal

772 CQ Researcher fulfillment and prosperity than finding communion with Christ. They also From Big to Truly ‘Mega’ complain that some megachurch pas- A majority of the nation’s more than 1,200 megachurches have tors have crossed the line not only 2,000-2,999 members, but more than 25 percent boast 4,000 or more. separating the sacred from the secu- lar in terms of letting private compa- 10,000+ nies appeal to parishioners, but also the line separating church from state. 5,000-9,999 4.0% Some megachurch pastors have 12.0% been prominent players in political de- bates, spreading campaign messages Megachurch from their pulpits and lobbying hard 4,000-4,999 on issues such as opposition to gay Distribution by marriage. 11.1% 2,000-2,999 Congregation At the same time, even their crit- 53.8% Size ics recognize there is a broad spec- 3,000-3,999 trum of both messages and ap- proaches among the nation’s 19.1% megachurches. Many are indistin- guishable except in size from tradi- tional churches in terms of their ap- proach to the Gospel and their Source: Scott Thumma and Dave Travis, Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can interaction with secular entities. Learn From America’s Largest Churches, Jossey-Bass, 2007 “My read is not that they’re be- coming secularized but that they are than usual, enabling parishioners to larger culture,” Ben Witherington III, highly adaptable and are not bound stay home with family rather than at- professor of New Testament interpre- by what we think of as traditionally tend church. tation at Asbury Theological Seminary religious,” says Nancy Ammerman, a Willow Creek, which draws as many in Wilmore, Ky., told the Times. “If sociologist at Boston University’s School as 20,000 worshipers on a typical Sun- is an evangelistic religion, of Theology. “They’re not bound to day and is among the nation’s largest then what kind of message is this the notion that you have to have a churches, produced a DVD for the oc- sending to the larger culture — that particular Book of Prayers or liturgy, casion featuring a contemporary Christ- worship is an optional extra?” or even that church always has to be mas story. “What we’re encouraging peo- Indeed, many megachurches, inspired on Sunday morning. ple to do is take that DVD and in the by the examples of Saddleback Church’s “In some ways, you might say they’re comfort of their living room, with friends Warren and others, take what is known more sacrelizing than secularizing, in and family, pop it into the player and as a “seeker-friendly” or “seeker-sensitive” that they take any place and any time hopefully hear a different and more per- approach. That is, they avoid men- as available to have a religious service.” sonal and maybe more intimate Christ- tioning difficult topics such as sin and As megachurches’ influence on mas message, that God is with us wher- judgment in hopes of not scaring peo- American religious practice and the ever we are,” Cally Parkinson, Willow ple off. Instead, they stress God’s love wider culture continues to grow, here Creek’s communications director, told The and mercy. In addition, many are some of the questions people are New York Times. 5 megachurches preach what has been asking: For some, Christian churches clos- called the “prosperity gospel,” promot- ing their doors on Christmas Day ex- ing personal fulfillment and success. Do megachurches dilute the emplified the notion that megachurch- In Surprise, Ariz., Pastor Lee Mc- Christian message? es may have strayed from ’ Farland grew a congregation from In 2005, Christmas fell on a Sun- teachings in favor of making the com- scratch that now draws 5,000 souls on day. A small number of megachurch- fort of their parishioners paramount. weekends with sermons that are light es — but a number that included Wil- “I see this in many ways as a capit- on liturgy and heavy on what he calls low Creek and other influential ulation to narcissism, the self-centered, “successful principles for living,” such congregations — closed their doors me-first, I’m-going-to-put-me-and-my- as how to discipline children, reach that day. Others held fewer services immediate-family-first agenda of the professional goals and debt reduction

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sage. Robert B. Whitesel, who teach- Most Megachurches Are Denominational es church management at Indiana Two-thirds of the megachurches in the United States are affiliated Wesleyan University, says that while baby boomers embraced the produc- with a religious denomination; Baptists are the largest group. A tion values and personal-fulfillment third of megachurches are nondenominational. messages megachurches have become known for, younger worshipers are Nondenominational 34% looking for their church experience to Southern Baptist 16.0% be more “authentic” and “spiritual.” Unspecified Baptist 10.0% The trend is not limited to megachurches. Larry Hollon, head of 6.0% the United Methodist Church’s mar- United Methodist 5.0% keting and outreach arm, similarly notes Calvary Chapel 4.4% that people born during the 1960s and ’70s “want a more traditional under- Christian 4.2% standing of religion and faith. Four Square 1.2% “The contemporary worship that Church of Christ 1.0% we’ve come to see in the past cou- ple of decades appeals to the baby Evangelical Lutheran 1.0% boomer, but younger generations con- Vineyard Christian 1.0% nect with a more traditional style of Fellowship 1.0% worship,” Hollon said. “Quite frankly, that’s surprising to us.” 8 0%5101520253035 In addition to adapting their mes- Note: Percentages do not add to 100 because minor megachurch denominations sages and services to appeal to a are not included. younger, perhaps more theologically Source: Scott Thumma and Dave Travis, Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can rigorous generation, megachurches in- Learn From America’s Largest Churches, Jossey-Bass, 2007 cluding Willow Creek are presenting more small-scale-gathering opportuni- — even how to shake an addiction weight loss, counseling and rock climb- ties, including meals and Bible study to pornography. “If Oprah and Dr. Phil ing leads critics to complain classes, as an alternative to their some- are doing it, why shouldn’t we?” he megachurches are serving up tepid, times overwhelming main services. asked. “We should be better at it be- lowest-common-denominator fare. “Megachurches don’t want a kind cause we have the power of God to “Clearly, they have done to church- of ‘no-accountability’ Christianity,” says offer.” 6 ing what Wal-Mart did to merchan- McKnight of North Park University. Leaders of fast-growing churches say dising,” says James B. Twitchell, a Uni- “They want people in small groups, their popularity doesn’t necessarily trans- versity of Florida English professor who in Bible study, not treating church like late into shallow theology. They say their has written two books about entertainment.” success is based on the potency of their megachurches, including the new Shop- Ammerman, the Boston University message, not its weakness. “They’re not ping for God. “They are the low-cost sociologist, points out that megachurch- marketing just to grow numerically, be- deliverer of salvation.” es, because of their size, can offer any cause then you just become a business,” But Chaves, the Duke sociologist, number of intimate experiences. Peo- George Barna, author of numerous books notes that although some megachurch- ple can sometimes choose from up to on religion, told the Times. es seem to water down their messages 30 different social-outreach ministries “You may do marketing that brings peo- to appeal to their vast audiences, many if they want to do work in their com- ple in, but they’re not going to stay un- others do not. “Although some of munity, she says. A larger megachurch, less there’s something deep and mean- them are into the prosperity gospel, she adds, may offer 50 different Bible ingful spiritually.” 7 others are more traditional, such as study groups, each designed to ap- The fact that basic concepts of Chris- Baptist messages,” he says. peal to a different demographic group. tianity such as sin and repentance are Many church leaders themselves “They may have a group tailored for often missing from megachurch vo- have noticed that younger worshipers 30-year-old divorced women with three cabularies that include terms such as seem to want a more substantive mes- children,” she quips.

774 CQ Researcher In general, Ammerman contends, megachurches are not likely to offer The Megachurch Difference a significant variation from more tra- Support groups are viewed as key activities by nearly two-thirds of ditional pastoring messages due sim- megachurch congregations, compared with 15 percent in other ply to their size. Although the pros- perity gospel has been very visible in churches. In another major difference, nearly 40 percent of some of the large churches, it can megachurch congregations said fundraising was a key activity, also be heard in some smaller church- compared with 20 percent of other churches. Meanwhile, religious es — and not heard at all in many education is considered a key activity among 90 percent of other megachurches. churches compared with 71 percent of megachurches. “I think the difference is not in mes- sage, it really is in form,” Ammerman Percentage of congregations that considered says. “It’s not whether people want to 100% the following as key activities hear that Jesus can change your life. 90% It’s whether people want to have the 80 79% 71% 69% option of going to church on Thurs- 66% 60% day night or being part of something 60 59% 58% 52% 53% 54% really big.” 51% 40% 40% 39% 40 35% Do megachurches blur the line 20% between church and state? 20 15% When the Kansas legislature met in special session in 2005 to consider, 0 Religious Prayer, Study or Fellowships, Support Evangelism Community/ Choirs or Fundraising among other things, new restrictions education meditation discussion club or groups or social- other music activities on abortion clinics, Joe Wright and classes or faith groups other social (12-step, recruitment service programs sharing activities wellness, activities activities Terry Fox — both megachurch pas- groups parenting, etc.) tors in Wichita — walked around the capitol like they owned the place. All churches Megachurches only Hanging around before lunch one day outside the state Senate chamber, the Source: Scott Thumma and Dave Travis, Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can two men offered up hugs and hand- Learn From America’s Largest Churches, Jossey-Bass, 2007 shakes with the effortless familiarity of the most seasoned lobbyists. against a veteran incumbent. Angered ure there. He prompted a walkout back They were in Topeka to make it by the legislature’s refusal to move the in 1996 when he opened that year’s clear that, in the wake of their tri- gay-marriage issue onto the 2004 bal- House session with a prayer in which umph in forcing a vote on a consti- lot, Wright, Fox and other Wichita pas- he told the members, among other things, tutional ban against gay marriage, they tors joined with allies throughout the that they had “abused power and called planned to keep using their influence state’s religious community to register it politics . . . polluted the air with pro- on a variety of political issues to come. tens of thousands of new voters. They fanity and pornography and called it For the most part, they found a warm published voter guides and helped freedom of expression.” welcome. “Topeka, in my opinion, is elect enough conservative legislators “The thing legislators understand is a very dark place, and these people to force a referendum on gay mar- the power of who’s got the votes,” bring some light into this building,” riage, which passed easily in 2005. Fox says. “When we first came up said Republican state Sen. Peggy Palmer. When Wright and Fox started com- here, some were friendly, most were “They keep us on the right path, and ing regularly to the capitol to lobby cordial at best, but after the success I appreciate their help.” against gay marriage, some senators of the marriage amendment, they not Palmer had good reason to feel called them “the Taliban” and “the two only will see us, they’ll buy our lunch supportive. She attends Wright’s Cen- ayatollahs from Wichita.” But they heard anytime.” 9 tral Christian Church — as did two little name-calling on their return visit. Wright and Fox may have been rel- other sitting Kansas legislators — and Honored-guest status at the legislature ative newcomers to partisan politics, Wright had encouraged her to make was particularly gratifying for Wright, but it wasn’t entirely surprising the two a run for the Senate the year before who hasn’t always been a popular fig- Wichita preachers would become so

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Houston’s Lakewood Church Is Nation’s Largest With an average weekly attendance of 30,000, Lakewood Church in Houston is the country’s largest megachurch. Along with California, Texas has five megachurches that boast weekly congregations of at least 15,000 people.

Church Pastor Location Average weekly Denomination attendance Lakewood Church Joel Osteen Houston, Texas 30,000 Nondenominational Saddleback Valley Rick Warren Lake Forest, Calif. 22,000 Southern Baptist Community Church Willow Creek Community Bill Hybels South Barrington, Ill. 20,000 Nondenominational Church Fellowship Church Ed Young Grapevine, Texas 19,500 Southern Baptist Southeast Christian Church Dave Stone Louisville, Ky. 18,757 Christian The Potter’s House T.D. Jakes , Texas 18,500 Nondenominational Calvary Chapel Robert Coy Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 18,000 Calvary Chapel New Birth Missionary Baptist Eddie Long Lithonia, Ga. 18,000 Unspecified Baptist Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa Chuck Smith, Sr. Santa Ana, Calif. 16,500 Calvary Chapel Second Baptist Church Edwin Young Houston, Texas 16,000 Southern Baptist Church of the Harvest Clarence McClendon Los Angeles, Calif. 15,000 Nondenominational Harvest Christian Fellowship Greg Laurie Riverside, Calif. 15,000 Calvary Chapel West Angeles Church of Charles Blake Los Angeles, Calif. 15,000 Church of God in Christ God in Christ North Point Community Church Andy Stanley Alpharetta, Ga. 15,000 Nondenominational Prestonwood Baptist Church Jack Graham Plano, Texas 15,000 Southern Baptist World Changers Ministries Creflo Dollar College Park, Ga. 15,000 Nondenominational

Source: Hartford Institute for Religion Research engaged. Abortion is the issue that The state’s church leadership is not tial election. The Bush-Cheney cam- sparked the modern conservative move- only aroused but sophisticated, with paign urged megachurch pastors to ment in Kansas and was a crucial, mo- some 1,200 ministers in constant elec- supply it with their directories to ease bilizing force for religious activists tronic communication about political voter registration and contact efforts. around the country. During the 1991 issues. Of course, many of their parish- “For the first time, we didn’t just en- “Summer of Mercy,” thousands of abor- ioners are engaged as well. gage businesspeople or Second Amend- tion protesters descended on Wichita, Not surprisingly, pastors of ment supporters. We engaged people leading to 2,700 arrests. megachurches — who can preach to who said they were motivated first and The issue has remained an impor- more potential voters from their pul- foremost by their values, and these tant dividing line within the Kansas Re- pits than anyone else — hold the great- people were often churchgoers,” said publican Party ever since. But religious est sway. “If we represent the num- Gary Marx, a Bush-Cheney liaison to leaders have found other issues on bers we do in this state and we pay socially conservative groups. “We asked which they’ve made their opinions taxes, we ought to have a voice like them to reach out to their communi- known. In addition to the gay-marriage everybody else,” says Jerry Johnston, a ty, and their community is the fight, Kansas has been the scene for politically prominent conservative megachurch.” 11 recurring battles since 1999 over the megachurch pastor in Overland Park. But not everyone feels that politics teaching of creationism or intelligent In 2004, megachurches were a cor- properly falls within the purview of design as alternatives to the Darwin- nerstone of Republican strategy for preachers. “I’m uncomfortable with ian theory of evolution. 10 turning out the vote in the presiden- my preacher telling me how to vote,

776 CQ Researcher and mine doesn’t,” says Sheila Frahm, a former lieutenant governor and Re- publican U.S. senator from Kansas. “Our country was built on the sepa- ration of church and state.” The separation issue is being raised across the country. The influence of the Christian right on Republican pol- itics — and the effort among the cur- rent Democratic presidential candidates to talk openly about their faith — have been among the most well-documented stories in contemporary politics. “In the last generation, the Repub- lican Party has been extraordinarily successful at linking being a Republi- can with being a good Christian,” Boston University’s Ammerman says. Indeed, determining whether peo- ple regularly attend church or con- AP Photo/Jessica Kourkounis sider themselves secular is as good a predictor of how they are likely to vote as their stance on almost any par- ticular issue. In 2004, 74 percent of white evangelicals voted for Republi- cans in House races, compared with just 25 percent who supported De- mocrats. Democrats sliced that margin slightly in 2006 but made greater in- roads among Catholics and churchgo- ers in general. 12 But Ammerman and other ob- servers point out that not all religious voters — and not all Christians — vote alike. They also detect a slight wan- ing of Christian conservative influence. There has been a backlash against re- Nunez WireImage/Johnny ligious influence on a variety of is- Pastors with Power sues, from the teaching of intelligent Televangelist and best-selling author Joel Osteen (top), here with his wife design to efforts to keep alive Terri and co-pastor Victoria, is senior pastor of 30,000-member Lakewood Schiavo, a brain-dead Florida woman. Church in Houston, the nation’s largest, housed in a former basketball “God is not a Republican or a arena. Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of The Potter’s in Dallas, Democrat. That must be obvious, but has been called one of the nation’s most influential new religious leaders it must be said,” said Jim Wallis, a by Time magazine. leading evangelical and founder and president of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, It’s not surprising that liberals have in for a while, get disillusioned and a progressive organization concerned grown wary of the Christian right. go out again.” with the intersection of faith and pol- But even many Christian conserva- Evangelicals and other churchgoers itics. “There has been this hijacking or tives seem fed up with their role in have certainly shed their historic re- takeover of the Republican Party by contemporary politics. “Lots of indi- luctance about organized political en- its right wing and hijacking of religion vidual people have come in and gone gagement over the past 30 years, dri- by the religious right.” 13 out,” Ammerman says. “They come ven by anger over the Supreme Court’s

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1973 decision legalizing abortion, as home when it opened directly in 3,200 Megachurches offer many services well as by religious leaders such as churches. “I tell everyone, the most im- — and now one of them, it seems, the late Jerry Falwell, founder and portant 10 minutes of this movie is not is retail commerce. “With 330,000 head of the Moral Majority, who con- on film. It’s when the pastor goes up churches in America, it’s potentially vinced them that such participation afterwards and shares the Gospel with the largest distribution network in the does not amount to consorting with the people who are there and invites country,” said A. Larry Ross, president the devil. Yet many have grown frus- them to make a decision for Christ,” of a Dallas marketing firm with many trated by failures and by the types of Lalonde said. 16 evangelical clients. “But most pastors compromises inherent in politics. Many pastors indeed have embraced are all about changing lives, so they’re “The problem with aligning your religious films as an opportunity to going to be resistant if it’s a product church with a political party is that al- communicate a Christian message with that does not have an evangelistic most invariably the party screws up,” their flock, and perhaps a wider audi- message.” says the University of Florida’s Twitchell. ence. The question some people ask Many megachurches not only host “Aligning yourself with politics is a about megachurches, though, is whether corporate visitors making sales pitch- bad idea when you’re in the business their open-door policy toward many es but also offer commercial services of trying to reveal the truth.” commercial projects goes too far, turn- themselves, running bistros, gymnasi- And, for all the attention that po- ing sermons into sales opportunities. ums and even nightclubs on site. Such litically active preachers such as Wright, “It’s a very intriguing bit of synergy, ventures have opened them up to crit- Fox and Johnston have received in with churches and their messages about icism that their enterprises are too en- Kansas and other states, the reality is the next world getting integrated with trepreneurial and they don’t focus that most of their brethren have shied commercial messages about this world,” enough on theology. away from direct participation in the says Twitchell. “It’s blurring the lines,” says Barry partisan arena. Bishop T. D. Jakes, of The Potter’s Harvey, a professor of contemporary “Only 16 percent of [megachurch- House, a megachurch in Dallas, con- theology at Baylor University in Waco, es] surveyed claim they partnered with vinced companies such as Ford, Coca- Texas, the world’s largest Baptist uni- other churches in political involvement Cola and Bank of America to sponsor versity. “The church is essentially be- in the past five years,” according to a his popular annual Megafest religious coming indistinguishable from its Hartford Institute for Religion Research festival. 17 Coca-Cola and McDonald’s biggest competitor, the mall. To allow study. “And 76 percent of churches have long given out free samples of the commercial enterprise to come say they have never done this.” 14 new products to 18,000-member New into the church is to allow the desire Birth Missionary Baptist Church in for accumulating things, buying things, Are megachurches becoming too Lithonia, Ga. And Chrysler last year to dominate even the relationship worldly? offered test drives of its vehicles at with God.” Megachurches have become more four of the nation’s largest black But some observers say such crit- than just testing grounds for movies megachurches. “We try to go out to icism rings false. The restaurants with religious themes. In addition to our best prospects in their environ- may have gotten fancier, they say, using the megachurch “audience” as ment, where they’re already engaged,” but they are essentially just offer- a means of building buzz, some pro- said David Rooney, director of Chrysler ing an opportunity for fellowship, ducers nowadays are screening movies brand marketing, “and in the African- like humble church suppers of old. in megachurches themselves, rather American community, one of the op- “In the old days, 30 or 40 years than at traditional movie theaters. portunities is the church.” 18 ago, they had potluck dinner on the “We’ve got a theater chain sitting here Some ministers lauded the car grounds, and people would bring that’s empty most of the week,” said company for sponsoring a gospel tour food to the church,” says Mike Peter Lalonde of Cloud Ten Pictures, and for giving parishioners free tick- Buster, Executive Pastor at Preston- referring to the projection and video ets — along with a $5 donation to a wood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, quality available at megachurches. 15 cancer center — for every test drive. which houses an upscale café. “This Lalonde’s company produces movies But one Brooklyn church, while par- is our version of dinner on the based on the best-selling “Left Behind” ticipating in the promotion, didn’t allow grounds, providing an opportunity series. Its first two offerings bombed test drives on its property. The to meet and connect with church at the box office, but the third picture, churches didn’t want to appear to be family and enjoy food and fellow- starring Academy Award winner Louis “in it for the money,” according to ship the Baptist way.” Gossett, Jr., found a more welcoming Senior Pastor A. R. Bernard. Continued on p. 780

778 CQ Researcher Chronology

1995 George W. Bush at a memorial for 1970s Modern-day Pastor Creflo Dollar moves his victims of Hurricane Katrina at the megachurch movement takes World Changers Church Internation- Washington National Cathedral. root. al, a prominent African-American megachurch, to an 8,500-seat sanc- 2006 1973 tuary outside Atlanta. In February, 86 evangelical Christ- Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade deci- ian leaders urge Congress to limit sion legalizing abortion spurs conser- • carbon-dioxide emissions to com- vative pastors to develop an activist, bat global warming. . . . In June politically interventionist Gospel, led 100 black ministers gather at a by the Rev. Jerry Falwell. 2000s Megachurches Dallas summit and denounce wield influence in politics and megachurches, saying many have 1975 public life. abandoned Jesus’ emphasis on so- Bill Hybels launches Willow Creek cial justice in favor of a gospel of Community Church with only 125 2000 wealth. . . . Warren concludes 13- people in attendance. In three years Religious Land Use and Institution- nation tour of Asia in July. . . . it grows to 2,000 members and re- alized Persons Act prohibits local Chrysler launches gospel tour in locates on 90 acres of farmland in governments from applying land- October featuring singer Patti Labelle, South Barrington, Ill. use laws to religious buildings, as part of a promotion that includes enabling megachurches to continue test drives for parishioners at major 1979 to get bigger. . . . Africa counts black megachurches. Falwell, by now the pastor of the some 350 million Christians — Thomas Road Baptist Church in roughly a 30-fold increase since 2007 Lynchburg, Va., helps found the the dawn of the 20th century. On May 6 Dollar begins broadcast- Moral Majority. ing his sermons live via satellite to 2001 a community center in Battle Creek, • Jamal-Harrison Bryant founds Em- Mich., as part of a plan to broad- powerment Temple in Baltimore, cast into churches in all 50 states holding first service in a bank . . . Moral Majority founder Falwell 1980s Megachurch building’s lobby; within six years dies on May 15. . . . Kingway In- pastors build grander churches, the church boasts 10,000 members ternational Christian Center in Lon- begin merging fundamentalist don announces plans to open a doctrine and involvement in 2002 9,000-seat church, the largest in political affairs. Rick Warren publishes The Purpose Britain. . . . Supreme Court rules on Driven Life, based on his sermons July 25 that a group of taxpayers 1980 at Saddleback Valley Community could not sue to block the Bush Dr. Robert H. Schuller builds the Church. administration from directing federal dramatic, all-glass Crystal Cathedral grants to religious organizations. . . . in Garden Grove, Calif., signaling 2004 On Aug. 30 the Taliban releases the the beginning of the modern Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the last of two-dozen South Korean megachurch movement. His Christ,” marketed heavily to Christian missionaries who had “Tower of Power” television min- megachurches, takes in more than been held hostage for six weeks in istry eventually reaches 20 million $26 million on its opening day, Afghanistan. . . . D. James Kennedy people in 180 countries. eventually grossing nearly $400 dies; the influential televangelist million. presided over the 10,000-member Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in • 2005 Fort Lauderdale. . . . Simon & Hartford Institute for Religion Re- Schuster plans Oct. 15 release of 1990s The number search study counts more than 1,200 Become a Better You, the latest of megachurches explodes, megachurches in the U.S. . . . book by Houston megachurch pas- attracting media and scholarly African-American megachurch Bishop tor Joel Osteen, with an initial print- attention. T. D. Jakes appears with President ing of 3 million copies.

Available online: www.cqresearcher.com Sept. 21, 2007 779 RISE OF MEGACHURCHES

‘Reverse’ Missionaries Aim at Developed Nations South Korea has 17,000 people in 170 countries.

he celebrations were muted after the Taliban freed 19 tles into the world — not just to poor countries such as South Korean Christian missionaries in September from Afghanistan but to the United States and Europe as well. T captivity in Afghanistan. The hostages’ return was, of These so-called reverse missionaries are preaching the course, a happy occasion, but they also were widely criticized Gospel where it has fallen out of fashion. In London, a church for proselytizing in a Muslim country in the face of govern- founded by a Nigerian immigrant is building an auditorium at ment warnings not to. its new home that seats 8,000 — or 5,500 more than St. Paul’s “The Protestant churches need to stop their hitherto egocentric Cathedral. 3 “When we became Christians in the East, we read and unilateral missionary style of pushing for their own religion, the Bible and it said, ‘Go out into the world and spread the without respecting the specific, different beliefs and cultural char- Gospel,’ ” says Ravi Chandran, a missionary pastor from Sin- acteristics of those whom they intend to convert,” editorialized The gapore who runs a church in Denmark — one of about 150 Korea Times, an English-language daily in Seoul. 1 run by foreigners there. “And guess what? We came back to The oldest hostage, Yoo Kyung-shik, spoke of the group’s the West!” 4 contrition upon its return to Seoul. As part of the release agree- Many of these missionaries hail from megachurches. The freed ment, South Korea promised to block more missionaries from Koreans all belong to the 5,000-member Saemmul Presbyterian traveling to Afghanistan. Church, which is far from that country’s largest. In part, suggests Although the group’s ordeal and the tense negotiations that Scott Thumma, a professor of the sociology of religion at Con- led to its release triggered anger in some precincts, many ap- necticut’s Hartford Institute for Religion Research, huge churches plauded the group’s efforts. South Korea has become the world’s thrive in foreign capitals because of the density of population. second-largest source of missionaries, after the United States, with “The megachurches there can be 10 times as large because you some 17,000 people spreading the Word in 170 countries. 2 can move 10,000 people in and 10,000 people out if you don’t Asian, Latin American and African countries have long played have to deal with cars and parking ramps,” Thumma says. host to Christian missionaries from the industrialized West. But The new wave of foreign missionaries differs from the tra- now developing nations are starting to send their own apos- ditional way Christianity spreads overseas. Often the Gospel

Continued from p. 778 to Brooklyn’s Plymouth Church in the And although some commercial mid-19th century. Aimee Semple messages can certainly be crass — a BACKGROUND McPherson traveled far in spreading 2002 Chevrolet promotion featured the the word through revival meetings tagline “What Would Jesus Drive?” — but in 1923 established the Angelus the corporate sponsorships are differ- Temple in Los Angeles, which seat- ent in scale but not in kind from the Recent Surge ed 5,300 and was generally packed. local business advertisements long found She grew an even larger audience printed as part of church bulletins. uper-sized churches have been through radio. Similarly, Billy Graham, Megachurches, says Boston Uni- S around since at least the late well-known as a spiritual adviser to versity’s Ammerman, simply offer peo- 1800s, when 5,000 people gathered presidents throughout the post-World ple a variety of ways of interacting weekly at ’s Park War II era, reached thousands with each other and their religious Street Chapel in London, attracted by through his traveling “crusades,” but brethren. “It’s very much a communi- his dynamic sermons. millions more through an active broad- ty center,” she says. In the United States, similarly, a cast ministry. “What they’re trying to do,” said number of notable early preachers Today’s megachurches also are North Park University’s McKnight, “is built enormous congregations, often founded, more often than not, by create a space that permits different emerging as important voices in the charismatic individuals. These pop- kinds of activities — conversation, broader culture. Abolitionist preach- ular pastors differ from their fore- fellowship. I applaud [the chance for] er Henry Ward Beecher became bears, however. Although there the younger generation to think known as “the most famous man in have always been large congrega- about building buildings for church- America” with his widely reprinted tions, the scale and scope of today’s es that can be used other than one sermons preaching love and forgive- megachurches is without precedent, day a week.” 19 ness, which drew thousands weekly with some 1,200 megachurches

780 CQ Researcher has been spread through smaller “cell groups,” which meet in “It was a real shock because we have been good neighbors,” homes and other modest surroundings. says Bado Adeyokunnu, the church’s pastor. “We have been a “Pastors in the United States have more of an infatuation with blessing in the community. We feed people in the community.” 7 size and who can build the biggest church,” says Donald E. “A society that will not embrace the Holy Spirit of God is Miller, director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at encouraging Satanic influences,” said Ajibike Akinkoye, chief the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. “Rather than executive of the Redeemed Christian Church’s media opera- measure success by size, these global churches measure success tions. “We are not introducing Jesus Christ to America, but this by how many daughter churches they can start.” society has become a post-Christian society, and that is a dan- Many of those daughter churches are now in the United gerous thing.” 8 States. In New York City alone, more than 100 churches con- duct services in African tongues. 5 The most prominent African 1 Choe Sang-Hun, “Freed by Taliban, 19 Korean Hostages Will Face Relief church in this country, however, seeks to reach not immigrants and Anger Back Home,” , Sept. 2, 2007, p. A10. 2 Choe Sang-Hun, “Freed Koreans Are Contrite Amid Growing Criticism,” but English speakers. The New York Times, Sept. 3, 2007, p. A5. The Redeemed Christian Church, which was founded in 3 “The £70 Million Mega-Church,” The London Evening Standard, May 18, Nigeria, operates more than a dozen branches in New York 2007. City, with more than 200 parishes nationwide. The church is 4 Kevin Sullivan, “Foreign Missionaries Find Fertile Ground in Europe,” , June 11, 2007, p. A1. building a new national headquarters and conference center 5 6 Daniel J. Waken, “In New York, Gospel Resounds in African Tongues,” on 500 acres in rural Texas, north of Dallas. The New York Times, April 18, 2004, p. A1. Despite its success, the church has not always received a 6 Simon Romero, “A Texas Town Nervously Awaits a New Neighbor,” The warm welcome. Its largest U.S. congregation — a 2,000-member New York Times, Aug. 21, 2005, p. A18. church in Bowie, Md. — was vandalized with racist graffiti last 7 Ovetta Wiggins, “Racial Slurs Startle Commuters,” The Washington Post, April 26, 2006, p. B4. year that included swastikas, the letters “KKK” and anti-black 8 Rachel Zoll, “African Churches Discover America,” The Associated Press, epithets. April 23, 2006. averaging more than 3,500 wor- Warren has not only supplied tion, founded in 1992 to spread his shipers every week. Nearly all of other pastors with thousands of free church’s core philosophies, now boasts them were founded or have achieved copies of his book. He also has trained nearly 12,000 member churches. 22 their most significant growth within some 300,000 ministers through sem- In general, many networks and con- the last 25 years. inars and Internet classes, while well sultants share spiritual and manage- “There have been some that size more than 10,000 churches have of- ment strategies, offering instructional with similar activity levels, but not the fered his 40 Days of Purpose study- “podcasts for pastors” and even pro- proliferation of them and the con- group course. viding advice about what color ties centration of them throughout the “For Purpose-Driven church lead- to wear during services. country,” says Scott Thumma, a rec- ers, he has developed an ‘evangelism ognized expert on megachurches and strategy’ that includes a casual dress coauthor of a new book, Beyond code, convenient parking, bright Big-Box Approach Megachurch Myths. lights, live bands, short prayers and Although the great preachers of the simple sermons that accentuate the past often founded movements that positive,” reported Time magazine in everal reasons help explain why spread their teachings well beyond a 2004 profile. “The result, he says, S megachurches have flourished in their home congregations, they did not will lead not only to filled pews but, recent years. In general, megachurch- establish the vast, systematic networks ultimately, more saved souls.” 21 es have become part of mostly sub- of influence that the best-known Only a few other contemporary urban developments. Increasingly, megachurch pastors oversee today. pastors can rival Warren’s influence. people no longer tend to think of Consider Saddleback Church’s Warren, Hybels, at Willow Creek, also has their community as being limited to author of The Purpose-Driven Life, published many influential works and their immediate neighborhood and which has sold more than 25 million conducted extensive training of other its schools, parks and shops. Instead, copies. 20 pastors. The Willow Creek Associa- they are ready to travel widely within

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Preaching the Gospel of Prosperity Critics say black megachurches abandon social justice.

reflo Dollar is looking to spread his message far be- “The newer version,” he says, “tends to be suburban, pastor- yond his megachurch ministry in suburban Atlanta. He driven and really focused on prosperity gospel, health and wealth.” C hosts a syndicated television show and operates a pub- African-American churches have long been seen as a posi- lishing house and record label. Earlier this year, he announced tive, progressive influence within their communities. A recent plans to open satellite World Changer churches in every state study from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, indicates that the — with the goal eventually to open 500 in all. more young blacks, in particular, are involved with the church, Dollar preaches what is known as “prosperity gospel,” help- the safer their neighborhoods will be. ing people lead not only spiritually fulfilling but also financially “The relationship between religious involvement and seri- rewarding lives. ous crime is inversely related,” according to Baylor sociologist “I define prosperity as total prosperity,” he said. “We take Byron R. Johnson. “That is, the higher the religious involve- the word of God and bring it down to a practical level to let ment, the lower the level of serious crime.” 3 them see that it is relevant and can be applied in every area Some critics charge that the newer megachurches, with their of life.” 1 emphasis on material wealth, threaten the African-American It’s not unusual for megachurch pastors to preach the pros- church’s historic role as a progressive force. perity gospel. But because Dollar is African-American — as are “The prosperity gospel is a distortion of longstanding commit- most of his congregants — some critics charge that he has ments black churches have had to the social well-being of the abandoned the ’s historical mission as an agent black community,” said R. Drew Smith, scholar in residence at the for broader social justice. Leadership Center of Morehouse College in Atlanta. “Historically, “The message of many churches has been co-opted by Amer- where black churches emphasized prosperity, they were generally ican capitalism,” acknowledged Frederick Haynes III, who spreads referring to black prosperity in a collective sense, as opposed to the gospel of prosperity at his 8,000-member African-American this individual focus within the contemporary prosperity gospel.” 4 church in South Dallas. “A megachurch should not just be Dollar’s own lavish lifestyle has been dubbed the “gospel known for the traffic jam it creates on Sunday, but for doing of bling.” Some days he travels on his Lear jet, other times he something more in the community.” 2 flies in his helicopter, or he might decide to drive around in There are basically two types of African-American megachurch- one of his two Rolls-Royces. Still, Dollar maintains that his mes- es, says Scott Thumma, coauthor of the 2007 book Beyond sage has been distorted, that he is concerned about helping Megachurch Myths. One is the inner-city megachurch, which tends others embrace God. to be activist, for the most part, and attached to a predominant- Despite the prominence of liberal black preachers such as ly African-American denomination. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, says Boston University sociol- a suburban region. Driving to a fast-growing Sun Belt states. Church ings or warehouses. This architectur- megachurch out near the Interstate growth reflects not only the growth al anonymity seems to be intentional. falls within that general pattern. of the surrounding population but “We want the church to look like a “Driving to a regionally based in- also may be a byproduct of it. That mall,” said McFarland, the Arizona stitution that’s very big and offers kind is, the megachurch provides an an- megachurch pastor. “We want you to of one-stop shopping, if you will, is chor to people living in communi- come in here and say, ‘Dude, where’s the way we do lots of things,” says ties where they don’t otherwise have the cinema?’ ” 24 This embrace of the sociologist Ammerman at Boston Uni- roots. “Exurban cities tend not to have everyday is part of the typical versity. “A megachurch becomes a typ- immediately recognizable town megachurch’s message — that religion ical, comfortable way of doing things squares,” writes Johnathan Mahler of is part of the whole of life, not some- for people who are used to driving The New York Times, “but many have thing that comes around once a week to the regional mall or the regional some kind of big, new structure where on Sundays. sports stadium.” newcomers go to discuss their lives Amplifying that message is the ef- While megachurches are virtually and problems and hopes: the fort by most megachurches to pro- everywhere, they do tend to locate megachurch.” 23 vide more than inspiration to parish- near Interstates or other major high- Typically, that big, new structure is ioners. Megachurches act as de facto ways out in suburban or exurban rather ordinary looking and almost community centers, providing day care, areas, and are most often located in hard to tell apart from office build- athletic facilities, counseling and

782 CQ Researcher ogist Nancy Ammerman, African- Luther King Jr. and others in 1957, in- American churchgoers and leaders cluded the panel “Financial Empower- tend to be more conservative than ment: Building Wealth” during its golden- the black population as a whole — anniversary convention, alongside more which is one reason, she suggests, accustomed topics such as voter educa- that they draw added attention and tion and conflict resolution. 6 criticism. Meanwhile, however, many black preach- “Dollar pioneered a way of chang- ers remain critical of African-American ing how African-Americans think megachurches that ignore black churches’ about what church is, preaching more historic role in earlier social-justice battles. self-help,” Ammerman says. “God “The church has prospered, but neigh- wants you to be happy and healthy borhoods surrounding them have not,” said and wealthy, and here are things you Mark Whitlock, a pastor in Irvine, Calif., Courtesy World Changers Church International Courtesy World can do to get there.” “I define prosperity as total prosperity,” who provides neighborhood-outreach train- It’s not uncommon, after all, for says Atlanta-area minister Creflo Dollar. ing to other African-American clergy. “The conservative voices of all races and churches must go beyond the walls.” 7 backgrounds to argue that the best way out of poverty is per- sonal responsibility and effort. 1 Margaret Ramirez, “Prosperity Gospel Comes to Chicago,” Chicago Tri- “We live in a capitalistic world, and people in general want bune, Aug. 17, 2007, p. 1. to believe in the promise of capitalism, people want to believe 2 “Black Leaders Blast Megachurches, Say They Ignore Social Justice,” The that there is a way out of poverty,” said Marc Lamont Hill, as- Associated Press, June 29, 2006. 3 Byron R. Johnson, “The Role of African American Churches in Reducing sistant professor of urban education and American studies at Tem- Crime Among Black Youth,” CRIAD Report, Baylor University Center for ple University in Philadelphia. “In many ways, these leaders are Religious Inquiry Across the Disciplines, 2006, p. 8. telling people to dream.” 5 4 Ramirez, op. cit. It’s possible that black churches will learn to marry their 5 Sumathi Reddy, “Minister Rich in Spirit,” The Baltimore Sun, Dec. 3, 2006, twin messages, promoting personal prosperity without aban- p. 1A. 6 Jenny Jarvie, “Civil Rights Group Says It’s ‘Here to Stay,’ ” Los Angeles doning their traditional commitment to help those who are less Times, Aug. 6, 2007, p. A8. fortunate. In summer 2007, the Southern Christian Leadership 7 Stephen Clark, “Black Clergy Pass the Mantle of Social Consciousness,” Conference, a civil rights group founded by the Rev. Martin Los Angeles Times, July 22, 2006, p. B2. schooling as well as occasional ex- means they can keep the money that tras such as surfing programs and car Filling Seats they raise at home, using it for pro- repair. They are designed to compete gramming, production and ministries, with other potential destinations uke sociologist Chaves agrees that rather than sending portions of their col- seven days a week. D economics has a lot to do with lections to a hierarchical church bureau- University of Florida megachurch megachurch growth. Megachurches are cracy elsewhere. In 1970, Chaves says, critic Twitchell says megachurches able to offer programs beyond the strict- about 8 percent of Southern Baptists at- “clearly are meeting consumer de- ly religious in a way smaller churches tended the largest 1 percent of church- mand.” He says churches don’t like to no longer can afford. “There’s been an es. Today, an estimated 15 percent of discuss the notion that they are com- economic shift,” Chaves says. “The run- Baptists attend the biggest churches. peting with each other for attendance, of-the-mill 150- to 200-person church “There’s an unwritten code involved but megachurches clearly have can no longer afford a youth minister, in this,” says North Park University’s learned from modern marketing tech- musicians, high-quality programming for McKnight. “You can enter into the church niques. “They’ve taken the efficiencies all ages. That has led to people shift- to the degree that you want. There’s a of mass production into a realm that ing from smaller to larger churches.” guaranteed anonymity, if you want it.” has always been competitive, but not More than a third of the nation’s If you enter a church with 120 peo- quite this effective.” megachurches are nondenominational, ple, he says, you can’t walk in the according to the Hartford Institute. That door without people knowing you are

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Students taking many theological cours- Megachurches Outpacing Nation’s Growth es now have to pass business cours- Since 1900, the nation’s population quadrupled while the number es in order to graduate, according to John N. Vaughan, founder of Church of megachurches increased 121-fold. In 2005 there were four mega- Growth Today, a -based churches for every million people — 30 times more than in 1900. megachurch research center and con- sultantcy. “They must know how to No. of Megachurches Per Million People, 1900-2005 successfully market their message to save souls,” Vaughan says. Year Population Number of Megachurches per Megachurch pastors are certainly ex- (in millions) megachurches million people perts at marketing, spreading their mes- 1900 76 10 0.13 sages to thousands in their sanctuaries, 1970 205 50 0.24 the Internet and broadcasting. Their church complexes may comprise sev- 1980 227 150 0.70 eral buildings spread across dozens of 1990 250 310 1.20 acres, offering worshipers a choice of 2000 275 800 2.90 contemporaneous services in a number 2005 300 1210 4.00 of different styles. “At the really big ones, you can choose a jazz service or Source: Scott Thumma and Dave Travis, Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can a contemporary service or a traditional Learn From America’s Largest Churches, Jossey-Bass, 2007 service,” says author and social scientist Guinness. “You can literally choose the a stranger. That’s not an issue in a facilities and management and argue it one you want.” megachurch that seats 2,000 or more. is all in service of the larger goal of Church members and guests are For a generation accustomed to large, bringing more souls to salvation. greeted by large lobbies and well-lit fairly anonymous institutions, says “If there is a common message signs that guide them on their way Thumma of the Hartford Institute, “They shared by all megachurches, it is that along courtyards that often offer re- find the megachurch to be ‘home.’ they want to portray what they do as freshments, says Thumma. The sanc- They are willing to drive past dozens more vital than other congregations, tuaries are usually spacious with com- of other congregations, fight to find a somehow better than ‘ordinary’ Chris- fortable seating but sparsely parking space, follow the signs to get tianity,” says Thumma. “The image decorated, containing a minimum of to the nursery and worship in a com- these congregations want to portray religious symbols. “The sermon, prob- munal setting with 5,000 other rela- is, ‘This is your parents’ religion, but ably delivered from a clear, plexiglass, tively anonymous persons, just like bigger and better.’ The choirs are su- removable podium,” says Thumma, they do every day of their lives.” perb, the preaching is first-rate, the “conveys a biblical but practical, non- But to attract such large crowds, church-school choices are over- dogmatic, this-worldly message.” megachurches have to be more than whelming and their attendance and Both the sermon itself and the comfortable. They not only offer ex- are climbing.” lack of religious decoration, he con- tras such as day care and free park- tinues, are meant to convey that re- ing but also, to put it in secular terms, ligion is not something that stands when it comes to the main event they apart from the concerns of this world can be counted on to put on a good CURRENT and daily life. Megachurch pastors show. “They’ve taken advantage of all approach their enterprises like CEOs, the innovations in music and video to while so much about both their ser- make it very unstressful in church,” SITUATION vices and ancillary church activities says Twitchell. “A lot of music, no conveys a connection with both con- hymns and they make it very easy to temporary and commercial life. see the ministers.” Business 101 “They have used, for better or worse, Megachurch ministers speak quite the best modern ideas in terms of openly about their use of technology in n order to run such large opera- messages and marketing and so on,” spreading the Gospel. They study each I tions, megachurch pastors need to says Guinness. other’s offerings in terms of message, know business as well as the Bible. Continued on p. 786

784 CQ Researcher At Issue:

AreYes megachurches too big?

RUTH TUCKER EDDIE GIBBS FORMER PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY, PROFESSOR OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY; FULLERTON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY; AUTHOR, LEFT BEHIND IN A MEGACHURCH AUTHOR, CHURCHNEXT WORLD WRITTEN FOR CQ RESEARCHER, AUGUST 2007 WRITTEN FOR CQ RESEARCHER, AUGUST 2007 ome megachurches are criticized because they have egachurches are a blight on the landscape of Ameri- mainly drawn their attendees from other churches. Oth- ca — as physical structures and as authentic expres- ers come under fire because of their undue focus on a sions of religion. Their sprawling campuses, consum- s m high-visibility, celebrity preacher and their promoting of “con- ing vast tracts of land beyond the suburbs, are comprised of sumer” religion, which does not forge authentic Christian com- buildings and parking lots that are put to full use only one day a munity. There is some basis in fact for these criticisms, and I week. They draw worshipers who drive their SUVs dozens of fully understand and appreciate the concerns articulated by miles each way. Their large auditoriums utilize air-conditioning, some highly respected and close friends and colleagues. How- heating and other utilities far beyond normal per capita use. Their ever, one might balance these concerns with the positive contri- tax-exempt status is supported by all of us. butions of megachurches. Although megachurches declare that their message is biblical, Megachurches have played a strategic role during the past in line with historic Christianity, they unconsciously — if not three decades of high population mobility, especially in consciously — promote a religion of materialism and status to areas of the country where there has been extensive subur- self-absorbed consumers. Stars fill the stage. Worship is a show. ban development. Entrepreneurial leaders with a vision for Pews are filledyes with people who have abandoned the old, red- these burgeoningno communities have established churches brick church in the neighborhood or the white clapboard that are attractive and readily accessible to previously chapel amid rolling farmland. churched people moving into the area — people searching There are exceptions to the rule. Megachurches do not al- for a worship experience that has cultural relevance and a ways follow the above pattern — particularly certain urban range of high-quality programs that meet their personal and megachurches that have reclaimed run-down inner-city neigh- family needs. If such churches had not been established, it borhoods. Consider Living Word, in Chicago’s Forest Park is questionable whether these people would have reconnect- Mall, only recently considered an eyesore and a so-called ed with a church at all. deadmall. Now the mall is filled with spiritual life and eco- Megachurch leaders with ability, integrity and a message nomic vibrancy. Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York is another that brings hope and purpose have high public profiles that example of a church that has reversed urban blight. may extend beyond their region to the national and interna- But whether they are sprawling campuses beyond the sub- tional level. They may have access to leaders in political, fi- urbs or re-designed downtown malls, megachurches suck the nancial and military circles that would be out of reach of the life out of smaller neighborhood churches. Like a Wal-Mart that small church pastor. For instance, last year, just before Christ- lures customers from the family-owned shoe store on the town mas, Tim Russert, moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” con- square, the megachurch attracts customers. It offers everything ducted an hour-long interview with Pastor Rick Warren, of in the realm of religion — and more — that a middle-class Saddleback Community Church in Southern California. family could want. The little neighborhood church, like the A most significant distinction among megachurches is be- shoe shop, closes its doors. It simply cannot compete. tween “parasite” churches and those that seek to attract peo- This little “left-behind” church is often romanticized — as ple who have given up on church or have little or no knowl- in the fiction of Jan Karon’s Mitford series. But the small edge of the Christian message. The latter are more concerned church has as many moral malfunctions (per capita) as do the about life transformation taking place than on a Sunday morn- megachurches. It has also bought into a materialistic lifestyle, ing head count. though it is often more dream than reality. It has grown in- According to recent surveys, the majority of megachurches are ward and has become complacent in many instances. Maybe not independent but belong to a traditional denomination. They it deserves to die, so the reasoning goes. conduct a wide range of social and relief ministries and seek to No one can deny the “success” of the megachurches. The establish branch congregations. While these megachurches strug- little churches are left behind — sometimes in a mode of gle to retain the “under 35s,” the aging Boomer generation slumber. They must wake up and take up the cross and fol- means they will continue to play a significant role in the nation’s low Jesus, ever aware of the biblical admonition, “When I am religious life.

weak, Nothen I am strong.”

Available online: www.cqresearcher.com Sept. 21, 2007 785 RISE OF MEGACHURCHES

Continued from p. 784 Megachurch pastors say that what might be called their side offerings — day-care facilities, soccer fields, cafés and the like — are merely an attempt to provide further opportunities for fel- lowship among their flock. Some of their neighbors, however, complain that megachurches can take their forays into business a bit too far. After all, megachurches, like any other religious organization, operate as tax-exempt nonprofits. Competing restaurateurs and other businesses don’t seem to mind the megachurch operations, but some local governments worry such enterprises will eat into their tax base. With this in mind, some churches have sought ways to give back to their communi- ties, Thumma says. “Some churches are trying to offset most of these [con- cerns] by donating land for parks,” he added. “Or they open their tennis courts or soccer field to the public.” Local governments have also oc- casionally sought to block new megachurch construction or expan- sion due to worries about their im- pact on traffic, parking and other such issues. “We [Americans] left Eu- rope for religious freedom, and now we have zoning ordinances that pre- vent the ability to practice your faith,” said David C. Watkins, a lawyer for a Korean whose plans to construct a 24,000-square-foot home were put on hold this year by Rock- leigh, N.J. “It’s more sophisticated, but it’s still discrimination.” 25 Such zoning disputes have become fairly common, but in recent years churches nearly always have prevailed, thanks to the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Enacted Courtesy Prestonwood Baptist Church (all) in 2000, it bars governments from im- Mega-Amenities posing “land use regulation in a man- ner that imposes a substantial burden The state-of-the-art sanctuary at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, on the religious exercise of a person, Texas, features two mammoth TV screens (top). The 15,000-member church also boasts a gymnasium and fitness center (center) and a full- including a religious assembly or in- service food court (bottom). stitution,” unless there is a compelling government interest in doing so.

786 CQ Researcher Local governments have found government support,” Witte contin- A single 2,000-person church is that a high bar to reach. “Basically, ues, “part of this has given religious much easier to mobilize for social the law makes it easier [for church- groups unusual new political power and political action than 10 200- es] to get relief in the federal courts and access, with all the dangers that member churches, says Duke’s if their building plans are challenged, entails.” Chaves. Politicians are more likely to said Samuel E. Wynkoop, former di- Religious leaders have certainly want to address the larger congre- rector of the Prince George’s County made their presence felt in politics gations, while their pastors will find (Maryland) Department of Environ- and government in recent years, en- it easier to gain the ear of policy mental Resources. 26 joying unusual access to the Bush makers. White House. Many megachurch pas- For all the attention given to reli- tors, along with other religious lead- gious voters, Chaves argues that the ers, actively campaigned for President political activism of a very few Church Politics Bush in 2004, distributing voter guides megachurches, or their pastors, skews to their congregations and spreading the public view of how politically ac- ourts in recent years have tend- mostly pro-GOP messages from their tive these churches are. It’s much more C ed to look favorably on argu- pulpits. “Praying for a candidate in typical for churches not to participate ments from the religious community and of itself does not present diffi- in politics, he says. that they have been excluded from culties,” said IRS spokesman Frank “The ones that do are so big that the public square. Some courts have Keith at the end of that campaign sea- even if only 10 percent of megachurch- issued rulings that some critics com- son, when questions about whether es are active, then that would be a lot plain threaten to melt the barriers be- politicized churches were putting their of people,” Chaves says. “It’s just that tween church and state. tax-exempt status at risk. 30 there are a lot more who aren’t.” In June, the U.S. Supreme Court Organized religious groups have ruled, 5-4, that a group of taxpayers tended to favor the GOP since the could not sue to block the Bush ad- Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ministration’s faith-based initiatives, decision legalizing abortion. Large- OUTLOOK through which religious groups were scale mobilization efforts led by con- counseled at White House seminars servative pastors, including Falwell and on ways to receive federal grants. 27 Pat Robertson, founder of the 700 In 2001, the court ruled that pub- Club, have also encouraged church- Mirroring Society lic schools must make their facilities goers to side with Republican causes. available to religious activities on the Democratic presidential candidates in same basis as any other after-school next year’s race, including Sens. here has been a pronounced programs. 28 A year later, the court Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York T counter reaction to megachurch- gave the green-light to a school- and Barack Obama of Illinois, have es in recent years. Known variously voucher program that mainly benefit- consciously sought to neutralize this as house churches, organic church- ed religious schools in Cleveland. 29 Republican advantage by reaching out es or churches without walls, gath- John Witte, Jr., director of the Cen- to the faith community. erings of small groups to worship in ter for the Study of Law and Religion Church groups also have banded private settings are, in the view of at Emory University, says court rul- together to take the lead on issues some, a return to the earliest days ings have led to a retreat from “strict other than gay marriage and abor- of Christianity. separationism,” with Congress and state tion. Christian organizations provid- Such gatherings enable people to legislatures now building into statutes ed early and persistent voices trying get together in intimate groups and special accommodations and exemp- to point out and stop the genocide share their thoughts and prayers, tions for religious groups, “which cer- in the Darfur region of Sudan. A rather than all sitting face-forward lis- tainly do benefit megachurches and group of 86 evangelical leaders tening to a single individual preach. other strong religious organizations banded together last year to pressure “People are creating a new form of especially. Congress to limit carbon-dioxide emis- church, and it’s really exciting,” said “While part of this might be sions as a means of curtailing glob- California-based author and researcher viewed as religious affirmative ac- al warming. 31 The faith communi- Barna. “We predict that by the year tion, designed to undo decades of ty, however, is hardly unanimous in 2025 the [megachurches’] market share treating religion as undeserving of its views about climate change. will be cut in half.” 32

Available online: www.cqresearcher.com Sept. 21, 2007 787 RISE OF MEGACHURCHES

That great a sea-change may sound at other churches, parishioners also vol- coauthor Dave Travis predict the far-fetched, but a 2006 survey by his unteer through church ministries or enjoy number of megachurches will have firm found that 9 percent of U.S. adults networking at the myriad athletic and increased by 50 percent, to 1,800. attend house churches weekly — a dining facilities that amplify both the The number of churches that draw ninefold increase from the 1990s — spiritual and social experience of be- 1,000 or more worshipers but fall and some 70 million Americans have longing to their church. short of the megachurch “cut-off” of experienced a home church. 33 According to Duke University’s 2,000 attendees has been growing Megachurches are nothing if not Chaves, the growth of megachurches rapidly as well. adaptable, and many are now en- has not been the result of their abil- After all, megachurches mirror many deavoring to provide more intimate ity to bring new people into the flock. other aspects of American society, experiences by forming “cell groups,” Overall has not in- such as retailing, that have experi- size-limited Bible study groups, youth creased during the megachurch boom, enced enormous consolidation. “As groups and ministries. suggesting that people are shifting from members of this society continue to For the most part, however, there smaller churches to larger ones. That be raised in and nurtured by these appear to be relatively few takers. A sort of consolidation is happening mega-institutional realities,” they write, single megachurch may offer 80 small among churches in general, he says, “it seems very unlikely that the entire groups of various kinds, but it’s rare not just in megachurches. U.S. population will reject this form for more than 30 percent of church “In every denomination on which of church that has so much in com- members at any given megachurch to we have data,” he writes, “people are mon with the rest of our large-scale participate in any of them, according becoming increasingly concentrated in world.” 37 to Gibbs, at Fuller Theological Semi- the very largest churches, and this is For that reason, Chaves predicts, nary in Pasadena. 34 true for small and large denomina- “For some more years, we will see in- Still, it’s clear megachurch congre- tions, for conservative and liberal de- creasing concentration of people in gants are more than passive viewers of nominations, for growing and declin- bigger churches. big-screen presentations. Megachurches ing denominations.” 36 “There’s a limit to it — we’re not require enormous numbers of volun- As megachurch expert Thumma all going to wind up in one big church teers to keep their doors open. Willow writes in Beyond Megachurch Myths, — but I don’t know what that limit Creek, for example, requires 1,000 vol- the megachurch phenomenon is will be.” unteers a week to conduct its services going to continue into the foresee- in South Barrington, Ill. 35 There and able future. By 2010, Thumma and Notes About the Authors 1 Bob Baker and William Lobdell, “A Tie-in Alan Greenblatt is a staff writer at Governing magazine. Made in Heaven,” Los Angeles Times, Jan. 30, He previously covered elections, agriculture and military 2004, p. A1. spending for CQ Weekly, where he won the National Press 2 Sara Ivry, “Makers of Comedy Film Aim for Club’s Sandy Hume Award for political journalism. He grad- Religious Audience,” The New York Times, uated from San Francisco State University in 1986 and re- May 28, 2007, p. C3. 3 Mark Chaves, “Supersized,” Christian Cen- ceived a master’s degree in English literature from the Uni- tury, Nov. 28, 2006, p. 20. versity of Virginia in 1988. His recent CQ Researcher reports 4 Fara Warner, “Prepare Thee for Some Se- include “The Partisan Divide” and “Media Bias.” rious Marketing,” The New York Times, Oct. 22, 2006, Sect. 3, p. 1. Tracie Powell is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C., 5 Laurie Goodstein, “When Christmas Falls and a 2007-08 American Political Science Association Con- on Sunday, Megachurches Take the Day Off,” gressional Fellow. She has been a reporter for the Austin The New York Times, Dec. 9, 2005, p. A1. American-Statesman and the Augusta Chronicle, where she 6 Jonathan Mahler, “The Soul of the New won the Georgia Associated Press’ Freedom of Information Exurb,” The New York Times, March 27, 2005, Award. Her work also has appeared in Newsweek, People and Sect. 6, p. 1. 7 The American Prospect. She graduated from the University of Barbara Bradley, “Marketing That New-Time Religion,” Los Angeles Times, Dec. 10, 1995, Georgia with a bachelor of arts in journalism. p. 30. 8 Warner, op. cit.

788 CQ Researcher 9 Alan Greenblatt, “Church and State,” Gov- erning, July 2005. 10 For background see Marcia Clemmitt, “In- FOR MORE INFORMATION telligent Design,” CQ Researcher, July 29, 2005, Candler School of Theology, Bishops Hall, Suite 10, Emory University, Atlanta, pp. 637-660. GA 30322; (404) 727-6322; http://candler.emory.edu. 11 Mahler, op. cit. For background see David Masci, “Religion and Politics,” CQ Researcher, Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California, 825 July 30, 2004, pp. 637-660. Bloom Walk, Suite 439, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1481; (213) 740-8562, 12 Alan Cooperman, “Democrats Win Bigger www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc. Share of Religious Vote,” The Washington Post, Nov. 11, 2006, p. A1. Center for the Study of Growing Churches, P.O. Box 47, Bolivar, MO 65613; 13 Lisa Anderson, “Christian Middle Seeking (417) 326-3212; www.churchgrowthtoday.org. a Turn at the Bully Pulpit,” , Sept. 21, 2006, p. 1. Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University School of Law, 14 Scott Thumma, Dave Travis and Warren 310 Gambrell Hall, 1301 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322-2770; (404) 712-8710; Bird, “Megachurches Today 2005: Summary www.law.emory.edu/index.php?id=1570. of Research Findings,” Hartford Institute for Religion Research, www.hartfordinstitute.org/ Fuller Theological Seminary, 135 North Oakland Ave., Pasadena, CA 91182; megachurch/megastoday2005_summaryre- (625) 584-5200; www.fuller.edu. port.html. Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary, 77 Sherman St., 15 Rob Walker, “God Is in the Distribution,” Hartford, CT 06105-2260; (860) 509-9543; http://hirr.hartsem.edu. The New York Times, Nov. 13, 2005, Sect. 6, p. 38. 16 J. M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies, Baylor University, One Bear Alan Cooperman, “Coming Soon to a Church Place, Suite 97308, Waco, TX 76798-7308; (254) 710-1510; Near You,” The Washington Post, Oct. 21, 2005, www.baylor.edu/church_state/splash.php. p. A1. 17 “Onward, Christian Shoppers,” The Econ- The Leadership Center at Morehouse College, 830 Westview Dr., S.W., Atlanta, omist, Dec. 3, 2005. GA 30314; (404) 614-8565; www.morehouse.edu/centers/leadershipcenter/index.html. 18 G. Jeffrey MacDonald, “Chrysler Takes Latest Pitch to Church,” Chicago Tribune, People For the American Way, 2000 M St., N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC Dec. 24, 2006, p. 3. 20036; (202) 467-4999; www.pfaw.org. 19 Cathleen Falsani, “Church Playing it Cool,” Chicago Sun-Times, March 4, 2007, p. A16. Pew Forum for Religion & Public Life, 1615 L St., N.W., Suite 700, Washington, 20 Josh Getlin and K. Connie Kang, “Left Be- DC 20036-5610; (202) 419-4550; www.pewforum.org. hind? Not This Book Series,” Los Angeles Times, April 3, 2007, p. A1. Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace, 3333 14th St., N.W., Suite 200, 21 Sonja Steptoe, “The Man With the Purpose,” Washington DC 20010; (202) 328-8842; www.sojo.net. Time, March 29, 2004, p. 54. Texas Freedom Network, P.O. Box 1624, Austin, TX 78767; (512) 322-0545; 22 Manya A. Brachear, “The Father of Willow www.tfn.org. Creek,” Chicago Tribune, Aug. 6, 2006, p. 1. 23 Mahler, op. cit. 24 Ibid. York Times, June 12, 2001, p. 8. The citation is ronment Crusade,” Chicago Tribune, Feb. 9, 25 John Chadwick, “Church and Real Estate,” Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 536 U.S. 639 (2002). 2006, p. 1. 29 32 The Bergen Record, Feb. 19, 2007, p. A1. Jan Crawford Greenburg, “Top Court Backs Quoted in David Haldane, “Seeking the 26 Hamil R. Harris, “Officials Wary of New Vouchers,” Chicago Tribune, June 28, 2002, Living Word — in Their Living Rooms,” Los Land Use Law,” The Washington Post, Oct. 5, p. 1. The citation is Good News Club v. Mil- Angeles Times, July 23, 2007, p. A1. 33 2000, p. M12. ford Central School, 533 U.S. 98 (2001). For Ibid. 34 27 Linda Greenhouse, “Justices Reject Suit on background see Kenneth Jost, “School Vouch- Mahler, op. cit. 35 Federal Money for Faith-Based Office,” The ers Showdown,” CQ Researcher, Feb. 15, 2002, Russell Chandler, “Customer Poll Shapes New York Times, June 26, 2007, p. A18. The pp. 121-144. a Church,” Los Angeles Times, Dec. 11, 1989, 30 citation is Hein v. Freedom from Religion Dana Milbank, “The Devout Need Not Fear p. A1. 36 Foundation, Inc., 551 U.S. —- (2007). an Audit,” The Washington Post, Oct. 31, Chaves, op. cit. 37 28 Linda Greenhouse, “Justices Reject Ban on 2004, p. A4. Scott Thumma and Dave Travis, Beyond 31 Religious Group at Primary School,” The New Frank James, “Evangelicals Launch Envi- Megachurch Myths (2007).

Available online: www.cqresearcher.com Sept. 21, 2007 789 Bibliography Selected Sources

Books Holley, Joe, “Harnessed the Political Power of Evangelicals,” The Washington Post, May 16, 2007, p. A1. Ellingson, Stephen, The Megachurch and The Mainline: Holley examines how the late Jerry Falwell, who built one Remaking Religious Tradition in the Twenty-first Cen- of the first megachurches, convinced evangelicals to engage tury, The University of Chicago Press, 2007. in — and influence — American politics. An assistant sociology professor at Hamilton College ex- amines how Lutheran churches in the San Francisco area try Mahler, Jonathan, “The Soul of the New Exurb,” The New to compete with megachurches, sacrificing hymns in favor York Times Magazine, March 27, 2005, p. 30. of rock music and scrapping traditional white robes and Mahler examines how megachurches are serving not just as spir- stoles for Hawaiian shirts. itual homes but community centers in fast-growing communities.

Guinness, Os, Dining With the Devil: The Megachurch Ramirez, Margaret, “Prosperity Gospel Comes to Chicago,” Movement Flirts with Modernity, Baker Books, 1993. Chicago Tribune, Aug. 17, 2007, p. 1. An author specializing in faith, society and public policy Famed Atlanta megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar is ex- examines the then-nascent megachurch movement and asks panding to other cities, but critics argue his “prosperity key questions, such as, Should churches’ missions be formed gospel” message betrays the black church’s historic role. by the Word or by the world? Reddy, Sumathi, “Minister Rich in Spirit,” The Baltimore Loveland, Anne C., and Otis B. Wheele, From Meetinghouse Sun, Dec. 3, 2006, p. 1A. to Megachurch: A Material and Cultural History, 2003. Reddy’s profile of a prominent Baltimore pastor examines Two emeritus professors at Louisiana State University trace the controversies surrounding black megachurches in general. how evangelical megachurches evolved from multiple models and influences. Sullivan, Kevin, “Foreign Missionaries Find Fertile Ground in Europe,” The Washington Post, June 11, 2007, p. A1. Thumma, Scott, and Dave Travis, Beyond Megachurch Churches from places such as Ghana and South Korea are Myths: What We Can Learn From America’s Largest sending thousands of missionaries to European countries. Churches, Jossey-Bass, 2007. An academic (Thumma) and a consultant explore the phe- Van Biema, David, and Jeff Chu, “Does God Want You nomenon of contemporary church growth while debunking a to Be Rich?” Time, Sept. 18, 2006, p. 48-56. number of “myths” that have accumulated about megachurches. This cover story delves into the controversy over “,” the belief promoted in some megachurches that God Warren, Rick, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth With- wants all Christians to be wealthy. out Compromising Your Message & Mission, Zondervan, 1995. Warner, Fara, “Prepare Thee for Some Serious Marketing,” The best-selling Christian author and founder of one of the na- The New York Times, Oct. 22, 2006, Sect. 3, p. 1. tion’s largest churches outlines his “purpose-driven” life theology. Megachurches are shifting their internal strategies as part of a larger trend of churches attempting to provide more intimate, Articles spiritually rigorous programming.

“Onward, Christian Shoppers,” The Economist, Dec. 3, 2005. Zoll, Rachel, “African Churches Discover America,” The Corporations are embracing megachurches as a marketing Associated Press, April 23, 2006. opportunity and ready-made distribution channel. So-called reverse missionaries from Nigeria have opened hundreds of churches in the United States. Chaves, Mark, “Supersized,” Christian Century, Nov. 28, 2006, p. 20. Studies A Duke University sociologist examines the megachurch movement and the economic reasons behind it. Thumma, Scott, Dave Travis and Warren Bird, “Megachurches Today 2005: Summary of Research Find- DiIulio, John D. Jr., “Spiritualpolitique,” The Weekly ings,” http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/megasto- Standard, May 14, 2007. day2005summaryreport.pdf. The former head of President Bush’s Office of Faith-Based The most recent survey of large congregations by the Hart- Initiatives discusses how Christianity is growing and becoming ford Institute for Religion Research and the Leadership Net- revivified in developing countries. work finds 50 percent more megachurches than previously thought, located in all but five states.

790 CQ Researcher The Next Step: Additional Articles from Current Periodicals

Church and State Salmon, Jacqueline L., and Hamil R. Harris, “Reaching Out With the Word — and Technology,” The Washington Chorneau, Tom, “Conservatives Hope California Church Post, Feb. 4, 2007, p. A1. Strategy Builds Momentum for Schwarzenegger,” The As- Megachurches are beginning to televise their sermons and sociated Press, Nov. 5, 2005. build satellite campuses in order to accommodate their grow- With support from megachurches, backers of an abortion ing congregations. initiative are planning a substantial push to motivate Christian voters to go to the polls. Van Sickler, Michael, “Houses of God? Try Sprawling Campuses of Worship Events,” St. Petersburg Times, Dionne Jr., E. J., “Message from a Megachurch,” The Aug. 28, 2005, p. 1A. Washington Post, Dec. 5, 2006, p. A29. A new evangelical awakening has reshaped America’s re- By inviting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to speak about AIDS ligious landscape through a surge in the construction of at his megachurch, Pastor Rick Warren sent the signal that megachurches. his megachurch is not under the influences of the Republican Party. Prosperity Ministry

Gergen, David, “Dueling for Values,” U.S. News & World Fulbright, Leslie, “Singing the Praises of God and Prosper- Report, May 23, 2005, p. 72. ity,” The San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 23, 2006, p. B1. An increasing number of Christian conservatives have been Creflo Dollar, a nationally known prosperity preacher in moving into politics, stimulated by favorable Supreme Court suburban Atlanta, told an audience in Oakland that being rulings on abortion, school prayer and other issues. rich should not be considered a sin.

Faith and Teachings Singletary, Michelle, “When Pay Seems Too Charitable,” The Washington Post, Nov. 6, 2005, p. F1. The Associated Press, “Megachurches Have Wrong Focus, One drawback of attending a megachurch is having to defend Black Leaders Say,” Houston Chronicle, July 2, 2006, p. B5. the size of the pastor’s personal finances. Several prominent black leaders, including Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, have said that megachurches have abandoned Zoll, Rachel, “Fraud Plaguing Churches, Congregants,” Jesus Christ’s emphasis on social justice by preaching a The Washington Post, Sept. 10, 2006, p. A10. gospel of wealth and self-help. Preaching of the “prosperity gospel,” which teaches that the truly faithful are rewarded with wealth, is partly to blame Goodstein, Laurie, “When Christmas Falls on Sunday, for recent religion-related fraud. Megachurches Take the Day Off,” The New York Times, Dec. 9, 2005, p. A1. In keeping with their “family friendly” approach, many megachurches have decided not to hold services when Christ- CITING CQ RESEARCHER mas falls on a Sunday. Sample formats for citing these reports in a bibliography Grossman, Cathy Lynn, “Dissatisfaction, Yearning Make include the ones listed below. Preferred styles and formats Churchgoers Switch,” USA Today, April 23, 2007, p. 6D. vary, so please check with your instructor or professor. Many worshipers have switched to megachurches because they say their old churches failed to engage their faith, ac- MLA STYLE cording to a new study. Jost, Kenneth. “Rethinking the Death Penalty.” CQ Researcher Growth and Commercialization 16 Nov. 2001: 945-68. APA STYLE “The Glue of Society,” The Economist, July 16, 2005. Jost, K. (2001, November 16). Rethinking the death penalty. Megachurches have become popular because their founders have made them attractive to mildly religious individuals. CQ Researcher, 11, 945-968. CHICAGO STYLE Lampman, Jane, “Megachurches’ Way of Worship Is On the Rise,” The Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 6, 2006, p. 13. Jost, Kenneth. “Rethinking the Death Penalty.” CQ Researcher, Researchers have identified 1,210 American megachurches November 16, 2001, 945-968. with an average weekly attendance of 3,612.

Available online: www.cqresearcher.com Sept. 21, 2007 791 In-depth Reports on Issues in the News

Are you writing a paper? Need backup for a debate? Want to become an expert on an issue? For 80 years, students have turned to CQ Researcher? for in-depth reporting on issues in the news. Reports on a full range of political and social issues are now available. Following is a selection of recent reports:

Civil Liberties Education Health/Safety Social Trends Prison Reform, 4/07 Racial Diversity in Public Schools, 9/07 Wounded Veterans, 8/07 Corporate Social Responsibility, 8/07 Voting Controversies, 9/06 Stress on Students, 7/07 Fighting Superbugs, 8/07 Shock Jocks, 6/07 Right to Die, 5/05 Presidential Libraries, 3/07 HPV Vaccine, 5/07 Consumer Debt, 3/07 Immigration Reform, 4/05 Universal Coverage, 3/07 Television’s Future, 2/07 Environment Combating Addiction, 2/07 Crime/Law Fish Farming, 7/07 Terrorism/Defense Gun Violence, 5/07 Factory Farms, 1/07 International Affairs/Politics Real ID, 5/07 Patent Disputes, 12/06 The New Environmentalism, 12/06 Cuba’s Future, 7/07 New Strategy in Iraq, 2/07 Sex Offenders, 9/06 Biofuels Boom, 9/06 Prosecutors and Politics, 6/07 Youth Treatment of Detainees, 8/06 Nuclear Energy, 3/06 Electing the President, 4/07 War on Drugs, 6/06 Climate Change, 1/06 Rethinking Foreign Policy, 2/07 Debating Hip-Hop, 6/07 Drinking on Campus, 8/06 Upcoming Reports Crumbling Infrastructure, 9/28/07 Product Safety, 10/12/07 AIDS, 10/26/07 Coal’s Comeback, 10/5/07 Aging Baby Boomers, 10/19/07 Mortgage Crisis, 11/2/07

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