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Megachurches
Megachurches form the ecclesial context within which a large segment of evangelical Christianity is nurtured. America contains more than 1,000 megachurches, defined as a church with an average weekly attendance of 2,000 or greater, and they also play a substantial role in the evangelical culture of such countries as South Korea. Some of evangelicalism’s most important institutions, such as Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church network, are megachurches. The development of a megachurch culture has, however, produced a significant backlash, with critics often railing against theological superficiality, vapid worship music, and a seeker-sensitive, consumeristic ethos. Church growth strategies that emphasize upward movement in attendance figures over community cohesion and discipleship formation have also come in for criticism.
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News
Deep in the Heart of Megachurch Country, Dallas Mourns a Summer of Pastor Scandals
One leadership failing after another has affected more than 50,000 congregants in North Texas. Will the hurt they’ve experienced lead them out of the church?
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Canadian Megachurch Puts Ministry on Pause After Insurer Pulls Abuse Coverage
It’s been two years since its former pastor resigned and was arrested, but The Meeting House continues to feel the impact of its past.
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Robert Morris Resigns from Gateway Following Past Abuse Allegations
While the Texas megachurch said it “did not have all the facts” about Morris’s earlier misconduct, the woman who spoke out said she had informed its leaders years ago.
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Sunday Silence: Gateway Church Doesn’t Tell Congregation About Historic Abuse Allegations
According to the Texas megachurch, founder Robert Morris properly disclosed his misconduct and has had “no other moral failures” since he touched a child in the 1980s.
News
Tony Evans Steps Away from Ministry, Citing Old Sin
The first African American to have both a study Bible and a full Bible commentary bearing his name said he will submit to the “biblical standard of repentance and restoration.”
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Died: Ferdie Cabiling, Philippines’ ‘Running Pastor’
One of the founding leaders of Victory megachurch, he never stopped running to share the gospel.
Singing About Jesus’ Blood Is Weird, But We Do It Anyway
Even if Elevation’s Easter invites don’t spotlight the Crucifixion, it remains central to their worship.
At McLean Bible, Mike Kelsey Is Reimagining the Multiethnic Church
After trials and turmoil, the first Black lead pastor at the DC-area megachurch will be commissioned with a nod to his heritage.
Tim Keller: The Pastor of Record
Tim Keller didn’t court the approval of ‘secular elites,’ but he did serve as a parson in their neighborhood.
Wire Story
Steven Furtick’s Elevation Church Leaves the SBC
The megachurch, known for its popular Elevation Music, has voluntarily withdrawn two weeks after the recent Southern Baptist annual meeting.