For MAINLINE Protestants: Do non-denominational mega-churches help or hinder growth for your church, in your 'territorial' area?

[CMatt25]

While I don’t have a problem with a diversity of worship styles, where I draw the line is church shopping for a theology that “speaks to you.”

That is the essence of creating a god in one’s own image, no?

I hope that isn’t what the Episcopal rector was advocating!

No PR, the Episcopal priest who was a former Roman priest was referring to his church’s diversity of worship styles.

 

[PRmerger]

No PR, the Episcopal priest who was a former Roman priest was referring to his church’s diversity of worship styles.

Then I am cool with that.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

By mainline I mean, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Reformed ect., the historical Protestant denominations.

Both of the last churches I attended were small, but you’ll find small churches tend to have a fairly faithful group of parishioners. You might have your occasional drama or the occasional person who has to leave for personal reasons, but you get that with every church. We’ve never felt any major threat from the megachurches in the area, and both of my churches had large, seriously large (and seriously heretical) churches in the area.

God will keep His own in place, and He will give them a place to be edified and grow in the community of saints.

 

[ltwin]

I realize that is the stereotype. And, as with all stereotypes there is some truth to it. But I’m not sure THAT is the reason MCs are popular or successful. Liberal churches are just as capable of creating MCs as well.
From what I saw on the other side of the Tiber was, as with many things, MONEY talks.
When I lived in a much larger city and was still an evangelical I remember several mainline Protestant churches in a certain section of town complaining thier memberships were dwindling because the local “mega-church” was stealing sheep.
And, IMHO, they had a right to complain.
These tiny Protestant mainline churches could not afford a “million dollar sound system” (actually heard a young dude who attends a local MC here brag about that once) nor the “hottest acts in town” with “closed circut TV” and internet streaming.
They had a modest choir with a piano and organ, they were not on TV with thier “dynamic preaching”, they taught the Word as best they could. The choir sang the best they could.
I felt so sorry for these men, they watched thier young people leave even though they had a youth group. They watched thier older people hang on as best they could until one day the doors closed.

Well, in my experience “money does talk” but its the other way around. The mainline churches, such as the Methodists and Episcopalians (and even the uppity Southern Baptist Churches in my town) are the churches with lots of money. All the wealthy people go to those kind of churches, while working class people attend the contemporary evangelical churches.

In my experiences, if mainline churches don’t have million dollar sound systems or other things the mega churches have it isn’t because they don’t have the money–its because those things aren’t included in their idea of “church”.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

This is an Apples and Oranges discussion. Yes they are both fruit, or churches, but other than that pretty much different.

 

[andrewstx]

The Episcopal church I attend on occasion was one that the “Christ churches” schismed away from, the original Episcopalians got to keep the church while the break aways worship in a steel building.

When they left a million dollar sound system along with video screens, They are still there because the church can’t afford to have them removed. But they remain unused, Right now the focus is in installing a pipe organ to replace the old Rogers electronic.

I think it would be logical to sell the sound system to the splinter group for just the cost of removing it and the video screens. But logic does not seem to have much pull amoung fueding church groups.

 

[TimeEntrance]

The big no denominational church near us draws ridiculous numbers on Sundays, when the full on Anglo Catholic Solemn Mass gets nothing like it. Dunno why. What I’m hoping is that these non denominational rock and roll churches introduce young people to Christ, and they then evolve into more traditional forms of worship as they get older.

They don’t speak well of the Church of England or any of the “high” Protestant churches they do see as much different from “Rome.”

The “non-denominational” label sounds attractive and consistent and coherent with “I just go by the bible.” To me this is there great attraction. In Milwaukee on the black North side we have about as many “store front” churches now as we do liquor stores and corner stores that sell beer. That’s saying a lot. To be a bit light hearted and comical about it let me say, “There ain’t that many Mexicans in the United States.” Point is there are a lot of them.

Plus, people love a good secret and to feel like a pseudo-Gnostic or pseudo-Freemason, and with so many Protestant denominations what’s more secrets discovering than to say, “See! look what it says in the bible but they weren’t telling you.”

What we need is more of a sense of mission and evangelism. These guys are always out there recruiting, where we are just hoping they notice us it’s a shame, because our music, theology and liturgy is so much more edifying.

I hope to God the Catholic Church doesn’t go out recruiting.

I see these people on the campus of UW-Milwaukee and many of the young students use them as a source of entertainment. Worst yet are the Mormon. Actually, no. Or maybe yes. I don’t know. The Mormons just walk around campuses passing out pamphlets and trying to strike up conversation. But they are neo-Christians. The non-denoms are on bullhorns warning people they’re going to hell.

That’s why I like Jews and the many, many, many Muslims walking around on campus taking classes. They don’t bother anyone.

Everyone has heard of Jesus. This is not the year 1 A.D. and walking up to people like me (or Muslims or Jews or atheists) that already know of Jesus to tell me about “Jesus” turns Him into a sales pitch or product like Coca Cola.

 

[JustaServant]

Well, in my experience “money does talk” but its the other way around. The mainline churches, such as the Methodists and Episcopalians (and even the uppity Southern Baptist Churches in my town) are the churches with lots of money. All the wealthy people go to those kind of churches, while working class people attend the contemporary evangelical churches.

In my experiences, if mainline churches don’t have million dollar sound systems or other things the mega churches have it isn’t because they don’t have the money–its because those things aren’t included in their idea of “church”.

You’re right. Churches with money tend to put their resources into other things in contrast to MCs.
But I have seen MP churches that struggle, for whatever reason. And they aren’t necessarily liberal. I know of of one UM pastor who is very orthodox in his theology, and continues to pastor UMC churches. And they lose young people to MCs all the time.

 

[JustaServant]

The Episcopal church I attend on occasion was one that the “Christ churches” schismed away from, the original Episcopalians got to keep the church while the break aways worship in a steel building.

When they left a million dollar sound system along with video screens, They are still there because the church can’t afford to have them removed. But they remain unused, Right now the focus is in installing a pipe organ to replace the old Rogers electronic.

I think it would be logical to sell the sound system to the splinter group for just the cost of removing it and the video screens. But logic does not seem to have much pull amoung fueding church groups.

Is it somehow built into the building itself?

 

[andrewstx]

Is it somehow built into the building itself?

No the stadium speakers are on the very high ceiling and were built in origianlly. It would take proffesionals to remove them and then the ceiling would have to be redone.
The video screens are built into the walls themselves and the walls would have to be rebuilt. Both would be very exspensive and beyond the means of this poor parish that draws about 70 on a good sunday.

There are other speakers, but not loud enough to cover the whole area. Those are used.

 

[ltwin]

The Episcopal church I attend on occasion was one that the “Christ churches” schismed away from, the original Episcopalians got to keep the church while the break aways worship in a steel building.

When they left a million dollar sound system along with video screens, They are still there because the church can’t afford to have them removed. But they remain unused, Right now the focus is in installing a pipe organ to replace the old Rogers electronic.

I think it would be logical to sell the sound system to the splinter group for just the cost of removing it and the video screens. But logic does not seem to have much pull amoung fueding church groups.

What is a “Christ church”?

 

[andrewstx]

What is a “Christ church”?

They are an independent group that broke away from the Episcopal church, They are mostly fundamentalist and very conservative and politically. They are conected loosely with other break away ex Episcopal churches.

They are a lot like ND MCs and pentecostal, hence tge video screens and loud sound systems.

You might like them.

 

[ltwin]

They are an independent group that broke away from the Episcopal church, They are mostly fundamentalist and very conservative and politically. They are conected loosely with other break away ex Episcopal churches.

They are a lot like ND MCs and pentecostal, hence tge video screens and loud sound systems.

You might like them.

Interesting. I read sites like Stand Firm and generally take an interest in the crisis in the Anglican Communion and the global Anglican Realignment. I was just curious because I had never heard of this breakaway group before.

Is it one single congregation or is it a group of churches?

 

[andrewstx]

AFAIK it is very local limited to Midland and Odessa Tx. they have one church in each city.

Another group that spit away is the Charismatic Episcopal Church. Much more wide spread they have a parish in Odessa that meets in an Independent Christian church.