New Megachurch Research A major new study of megachurches shows that 93% of churches with an average weekly attendance of at least 2,000 are found in the South, the West and the Midwest. The states with the largest concentration are California, Texas, Florida and Georgia. Dr. Scott Thumma, faculty associate at Hartford Seminary’s Institute for Religion Research, conducted the survey. Over the past 20 years, the attendance at the churches in this study increased by an average of 90%. In the last 5 years, the weekly worship attendance for 75% of these congregations grew by 10% or more. The average megachurch senior pastor is 52 years old, has been with the church over 12 years, and leads a workforce of 13 full-time paid ministerial staff and 25 full-time paid program staff. (PWB 11/9/01)
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