Megachurch changes

Megachurches are seeing more participants in worship than ever, but individual attendance is down to once or twice a month — or less. One in 10 Americans who typically worship at a Protestant church attend a megachurch (2,000 or more in weekend attendance), according to a study by the Leadership Network. But these large congregations still have similar challenges to smaller ones. “[People] think ‘regular attendance’ is ‘I get there when I can,’ ” said sociologist Scott Thumma, director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research and co-author of the study. “Today, people are seekers and shoppers looking for a temporary experience of worship, not a long-term commitment.” The study also showed that megachurches are still being built, but with smaller main sanctuaries and more campuses.