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TechnoratiIn an attempt to classify the U.S. megachurches, researchers developed four "streams" to categorize distinct types in a way other than attendance numbers, location or worship style. About 30 percent of megachurches are categorized into the "Old Line/Program-Based" stream. These churches are usually the established First Churches in their locales, apt to be part of a denomination and more likely to have traditional worship, among other things.
Another 30 percent of megachurches were categorized into the "Seeker" stream. These churches strongly embrace an unconventional approach to Christianity, are strongly influenced by current corporate business practices and values, and tend to have a focused mission statement aimed at the evangelization of those who are seeking God. In other words, they describe themselves as "not your typical church."
Twenty-five percent of megachurches belong to the "Charismatic Pastor-focused" group. This stream is more often nondenominational and much of the identity of these congregations is formed around the vision and passion of their founding minister. They are more apt to be within a Pentecostal or charismatic theological tradition.
Fourthly, 15 percent of megachurches were placed in the "New Wave/Re-Envisioned" category. These churches were founded since 1990 and have grown to thousands of attendees in a very short time. New Wave churches are more likely to be multisite and multileader churches. They also reject a Seeker approach and embrace overtly traditional Christian symbols, language and teaching. A large percentage of attendees at these churches are under the age of 35 and are from all racial groups.
As Thumma and Travis plan for a Megachurch 2010 study, the two predict they will be reporting perhaps 1,500 megachurches.
While some claim the megachurch era will just be a brief reign and begin to die out in the next couple of decades, the researchers say megachurches will continue to be around for many more decades.
"The more than 1,200 megachurches that currently exist show few signs of imminent collapse," they wrote. "Likewise, the pattern of increase in the numbers of megachurches over the past two decades suggests that many more very large congregations may come into existence in the first half of the twenty-first century.
"We expect these churches to be around at least until the societal characteristics that created them change dramatically."
And today, the current primary factors shaping the American culture and landscape ensure that young people will continue to flow into megachurches, the authors further noted. In 2005, 47 percent of the megachurches indicated that 40 percent or more of attendees were under the age of 35.
Just look at the numbers, they stressed.
Beyond Megachurch Myths is scheduled for release in August.
