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[[Image:LakewoodChurch.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The interior of Lakewood Church, the largest church in the United States]]

[[Image:LakewoodChurch.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The interior of Lakewood Church, the largest church in the United States]]

A '''megachurch''' is a large church characterized by weekly attendance of 2000 [[people]] or more, an active [[congregation]]al community, a large number of outreach and [[social]] [[ministries]], and several other criteria.

A '''megachurch''' is a large church characterized by weekly attendance of 2000 [[people]] or more, an active [[congregation]]al community, a large number of outreach and [[social]] [[ministries]], and several other criteria. While some [[Catholic]] churches may meet the attendance criteria for a megachurch, the term is usually only applied to [[Protestant]] churches.<ref>http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/megachurches.html</ref>

A more recent trend is the "multi-site church", where a megachurch has multiple meeting locations.  The general practice is for each campus to feature local music, but the main service to be simulcast (or re-broadcast) from the main location.  An example involves Texas-based Gateway Church: the 4PM service from the church's main location in Southlake is live, and is simulcast or re-broadcast to the other locations (Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Frisco, Dallas, and Grand Prairie).

A substantial number of megachurches are non-denominational, and most that are associated with denominations are associated with those considered either [[Evangelical]] (such as the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]) or [[Pentecostal]]/[[Charismatic]], as opposed to mainline denominations such as the [[United Methodist Church]].<ref>http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/definition.html</ref> Frequently, those megachurches that are denominationally-affiliated do not promote their affiliation to as to not dissuade people who oppose that denomination from attending or joining.

A substantial number of megachurches are non-denominational, and most that are associated with denominations are associated with those considered either [[Evangelical]] (such as the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]) or [[Pentecostal]] or Charismatic, as opposed to mainline denominations such as the [[United Methodist Church]].<ref>http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/definition.html</ref> Frequently, those megachurches that are denominationally-affiliated do not promote their affiliation to as to not dissuade people who oppose that denomination from attending or joining.

A more recent trend is the "multi-site church", where a megachurch has multiple meeting locations.  The general practice is for each campus to feature local music, but the main service to be simulcast (or re-broadcast) from the main location. An example involves [[Southlake, Texas]]-based Gateway Church: the 4PM service from the church's main location in Southlake is live, and is simulcast or re-broadcast to the other locations (Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Frisco, Dallas, and Grand Prairie).

 

While some [[Catholic]] churches may meet the attendance criteria for a megachurch, the term is usually only applied to [[Protestant]] churches.<ref>http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/megachurches.html</ref>

==Specific examples==

==Specific examples==