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Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn from America's Largest Churches (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) ReviewBeyond Megachurch Myths offers a counterpoint to megachurch critics, using survey data to overturn nine myths about megachurches, including the charge that the megachurch era is quickly fading into history. Scott Thumma and Dave Travis believe that the data demonstrates that not only will megachurches be with us for the foreseeable future, but that they are a much more complex phenomenon than most of us give them credit for being.To understand this phenomenon, we must first have a definition. According to Thumma and Travis, a megachurch is "a Protestant church that averages at least two thousand total attendees in their weekend services" (p. xviii). More than 1250 congregations fit this description.
The nine myths are as follows: They're all alike, they're just too big, they're based on personality cults, they're concerned only about themselves and their attendees, they water down the faith, are bad for other churches, are homogeneous in race, class, and political affiliation, grow because they entertain, and finally, that they're in the process of dying because young people don't like them. As with any stereotype there is truth to the critiques, but the very fact that the movement is extraordinarily diverse means that the stereotypes easily fall apart. Megachurches may not be for everyone, but many people find them just right - and for many different reasons. And, whether we're fans of them or not, they have left a significant footprint on American religious life.
Megachurches have been with us for some time, but their numbers are increasing rapidly - almost exponentially. In demonstrating that megachurches aren't all alike, they authors distinguish four basic types- the "old-line/program-based" church, the "seeker church," the Charismatic/pastor-focused church, and finally the New Wave/Re-Envisioned Church. The first type tends to be the oldest, the New Wave the newest, and the Seeker church may be the focus of many of our stereotypes. Some megachurches are quite homogeneous, many are conservative, but there are many that are quite diverse and even quite liberal. While some are personality centered, many others aren't.
Although some of the older churches - which tend to be more liturgical in nature - buck the trend of modern culture, most of these churches are very in tune with modern culture - choosing an informal, pop music oriented format for worship, while being increasingly tech savvy. Most of all, these congregations have discovered how to adapt and evolve - something churches of all sizes need to consider.
Although the shadow side of this movement doesn't get the attention the positives do, the authors are quite aware that pastoral care and assimilation happens in very different ways. These churches have to be much more intentional about their work and it's quite likely that the person in the pew will have little contact with the senior leadership.
The future poses significant questions to these churches - most pressing of which might be logistical. Things like land use restrictions and rising gas prices, both of which are acknowledged in the book, though not considered overwhelming obstacles at this point.
One issue that some readers might be interested in is largely avoided, and that's theology. The authors generally steer clear of the topic, except to say that largeness doesn't necessarily lead to the watering down of the Christian message. What would be interesting to pursue would be the question of the role theology does play in growing churches, that question would simply be, does a conservative theology better enable this kind of growth - not because it's correct but because it offers more security to people.
Whether you're involved in leadership of large or small churches, there is something to be learned from reading this book. The very fact that each chapter ends with lessons to be learned suggests that the authors intended this not to be just an apologia for megachurches. They intend for this book to enhance the ministries of churches of all sizes. You don't have to aspire to mega status to learn a few lessons!
Rev. Dr. Robert Cornwall
Editor, Sharing the Practice (Academy of Parish Clergy)
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