Leadership Network just released their bi-annual Large Church Salary and Benefits Report, which explores the results of their latest survey of many of the largest Protestant churches in America and Canada. For the purpose of the research “large churches” are those with 1000+ in average weekly worship attendance while “megachurch” status is reserved for those with 2000+ in weekly worship attendance. For those interested in more details, the full 31 page report is available as a free download (registration is required).
Just how big of an impact do these churches have on American (and Canadian) Protestantism? Consider these statistics:
- 253 churches participated and 142 were classified as megachurches
- Each weekend approximately 13 million people attend worship at a large church or megachurch
- While large churches and megachurches make up only about 2% of Protestant churches, they account for almost 1 in 4 church attendees on a given weekend (23%).
- 83% of large churches and megachurches experienced numeric growth in the past year
- Megachurches provide higher average salaries than smaller congregations: Senior/Lead Pastor: $147K, Executive Pastor: $99K, Teaching Pastor: $85K, Associate Pastor: $82K, Business Administrator: $78K, Worship Pastor/Director: $75K, Family Pastor: $70K, Communications Pastor/Director: $65K, Children’s Pastor/Director: $58K, High School Pastor/Director: $54K, Middle School Pastor/Director: $48K
- Megachurches provide better benefits than smaller congregations: 100% provide medical insurance, 92% provide a retirement plan (and 72% contribute or provide some level of matching), and 82% provide dental insurance
- Megachurches are located near big cities, but primarily in the suburbs (72% are suburban)
So What?
Megachurches are a relatively new development in American Protestantism. According to research by the Hartford Institute, there are currently 1339 congregations with average weekly worship attendance of 2000+. Their free database is searchable by size, state, and denomination (no registration required).
Large churches are growing larger and the smallest of small churches are struggling to remain operational. Because many of the smallest congregations cannot afford to pay the salary of a pastor at the level recommended or required by their denomination, many mainline traditions are now offering multiple paths to ministry including options that no longer require a seminary education. In rural areas and small cities with declining populations church mergers that cross denominational lines are increasingly common. The greatest percentage of megachurches are classified as non-denominational (34%) and many that are affiliated with a denomination do not have the strong ties nor stand with their denomination as fully as smaller congregations. From almost no one worshipping in a megachurch a generation ago to 1 in 4 doing so today it isn’t a stretch to imagine half or more doing so in ten or fifteen years. As megachurches make up a greater percentage of American Protestantism and as they are increasingly non-denominational or marginally denominational it is likely that denominations, at least in our modern understanding of their role, will wane in importance or that many will simply die. If this happens, how might it be the greatest step toward greater unity in the body of Christ this nation has ever experienced?
Clearly the shift toward a greater percentage of church members affiliating with megachurches changes more than just ordination standards and the role of denominations. How has this shift impacted your congregation? If megachurches continue to grow as a percentage of overall worshippers in American Protestantism, how will this impact your church in the next ten to fifteen years? your denomination?