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Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:08 am
by MaxPC
I have also noticed a trend in which families are leaving the mega- and giga- churches to join smaller faith communities.
Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out in Barna survey
Upwards of two-thirds of Americans have positive opinions about Jesus Christ, spirituality, and the Bible – but don't think so highly of those delivering the message of the gospel. According to a Barna Group study conducted in December, 71% of Americans have a positive view of Jesus; 65% are favorable toward spirituality; and 63% are positive toward the Bible.
At the other end of the spectrum, however, only 26% percent view evangelicals, famous worship bands, and Christian celebrities in a positive light. That drops to 17% when talking about celebrity pastors; and megachurches come in last with just 16% of Americans having a positive view.
Re: Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:34 am
by Josh
Megachurches around me have been decimated. Attendance and giving is at 40% of 2019 levels.
MaxPC, I am noticing an interest in young families particularly Catholic converts in Greek Catholic parishes. One of my friends started attending one and has felt very blessed there. (Catholics have unlimited freedom to pick any parish they want for any reason at any time; it is felt some just pick the most convenient drive and Mass time, but the young families and young single people I am referring to are yearning for a historical, rich liturgy and well established communities with strong communities which can often be found in Eastern circles.)
Re: Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:56 am
by mike
Josh wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:34 am
Megachurches around me have been decimated. Attendance and giving is at 40% of 2019 levels.
MaxPC, I am noticing an interest in young families particularly Catholic converts in Greek Catholic parishes. One of my friends started attending one and has felt very blessed there. (Catholics have unlimited freedom to pick any parish they want for any reason at any time; it is felt some just pick the most convenient drive and Mass time, but the young families and young single people I am referring to are yearning for a historical, rich liturgy and well established communities with strong communities which can often be found in Eastern circles.)
Did Covid have an impact on this trend?
Re: Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 11:38 am
by Ken
mike wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:56 am
Josh wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:34 am
Megachurches around me have been decimated. Attendance and giving is at 40% of 2019 levels.
MaxPC, I am noticing an interest in young families particularly Catholic converts in Greek Catholic parishes. One of my friends started attending one and has felt very blessed there. (Catholics have unlimited freedom to pick any parish they want for any reason at any time; it is felt some just pick the most convenient drive and Mass time, but the young families and young single people I am referring to are yearning for a historical, rich liturgy and well established communities with strong communities which can often be found in Eastern circles.)
Did Covid have an impact on this trend?
The trend was already there pre-COVID
But it is certainly the case that COVID disruptions impacted it.
Re: Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 11:41 am
by mike
Ken wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 11:38 am
mike wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:56 am
Josh wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:34 am
Megachurches around me have been decimated. Attendance and giving is at 40% of 2019 levels.
MaxPC, I am noticing an interest in young families particularly Catholic converts in Greek Catholic parishes. One of my friends started attending one and has felt very blessed there. (Catholics have unlimited freedom to pick any parish they want for any reason at any time; it is felt some just pick the most convenient drive and Mass time, but the young families and young single people I am referring to are yearning for a historical, rich liturgy and well established communities with strong communities which can often be found in Eastern circles.)
Did Covid have an impact on this trend?
The trend was already there pre-COVID
But it is certainly the case that COVID disruptions impacted it.
It seems like there were a lot of negative trends that were exacerbated by Covid. For example, for certain types of businesses that were already under stress, Covid was the nail in the coffin.
Re: Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:58 pm
by Grace
mike wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 11:41 am
It seems like there were a lot of negative trends that were exacerbated by Covid. For example, for certain types of businesses that were already under stress, Covid was the nail in the coffin.
Your partially right. The government shut downs and scare tactics provided a certain percentage of those nails. But i suppose the two go hand in hand.
Re: Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 1:01 pm
by Ken
mike wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 11:41 am
Ken wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 11:38 am
mike wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:56 am
Did Covid have an impact on this trend?
The trend was already there pre-COVID
But it is certainly the case that COVID disruptions impacted it.
It seems like there were a lot of negative trends that were exacerbated by Covid. For example, for certain types of businesses that were already under stress, Covid was the nail in the coffin.
Pretty much the whole world frankly. Schools were certainly affected.
Re: Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 1:29 pm
by Ernie
While I would never wish to go back to Covid, I have seen a lot of positive things (and negative things) come out of Covid.
It seems like we might be headed in the direction of there being less bench warmers/cultural Christians and perhaps more sincere seekers. Cultural Christians are either adopting a hedonistic worldview or campaigning for religious rights and religious politics.
Meanwhile sincere seekers are getting weary of all of that, are avoiding the hoopla of both, and heading in the direction of something more authentic.
Re: Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 2:09 pm
by Josh
I actually agree with Ernie’s observations here and have observed the same things.
Re: Celebrity pastors & megachurches bottom out
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 5:28 pm
by MaxPC
Josh wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:34 am
Megachurches around me have been decimated. Attendance and giving is at 40% of 2019 levels.
MaxPC, I am noticing an interest in young families particularly Catholic converts in Greek Catholic parishes. One of my friends started attending one and has felt very blessed there. (Catholics have unlimited freedom to pick any parish they want for any reason at any time; it is felt some just pick the most convenient drive and Mass time,
but the young families and young single people I am referring to are yearning for a historical, rich liturgy and well established communities with strong communities which can often be found in Eastern circles.)
Indeed; furthermore this yearning has been observed amongst the younger generation for 20-25 years, perhaps longer. They are seeking liturgy that is more worship of God and less entertainment in content. Traditional Masses in the Roman Rite are also filled with the younger generation. These young people are also studying the Early Church Fathers as well as the Catechism and the Bible.