[So Cal Rocket]

I expect the Rick Warren bashers will show up on this thread within 30 minutes.

[Bosco]

Just as an FYI... I'm going to be reading a new book titled "Why Men Hate Going To Church". Just got the notice that it's on reserve at the library and will pick it up tonight.

[PaulaB]

14% Southern Baptist

Proud part of this percentage....if the Devil has anything bad to say about...bring it..I'm ready!!!

[Millee]

Brooklyn Tabernacle, led by Jim and Carol Cymbala, had only 15-20 people attending when they arrived in 1972. The church was literally birthed out of a prayer meeting. Carol started a choir a year later with only nine people; today, the choir exceeds 250 members and is internationally famous.

I love this choir! Does anyone know if they ever go on tour? I have several of their cd's & would love to see them.

[A. Pole]

The author means by the "churches" THE CONGREGATIONS/PARISHES.
And interestingly enough no Catholic or Orthodox parishes are listed.

[Always Right]

Catholics excluded from the list?

[since1868]

bump for later.

[rockthecasbah]

We need a Saddleback style church here in the Bay Area. Lots of lost souls here to harvest.

[wildcatf4f3]

Most influential church here is "Mechanical Repair shop of OH GOD! WHY IS THIS CAR SO HARD TO WORK ON? Why hast thou forsaken me?" ok ok i'm calming down now.......

[newgeezer]

THE FIFTY MOST INFLUENTIAL CHURCHES (Saddleback Church - "Purpose Driven" - is No.1)

. . .with the goal of ranking the nation's fastest growing churches and churches with more than 2,000 weekend attendance.

With a beginning like that, I wonder how hard it would be to pare the list down to represent some 30 or 40 churches to be avoided at all costs. ;)

I just read last week where Rick Warren is alleged to have written something to the effect that "doctrine doesn't matter" on page 34 of his Purpose Driven Church book. Or, it may have been the Purpose Driven Life. In either case, I plan to look it up soon. Sometimes, context is everything. We'll see.

On a related note, this past Saturday my dad mentioned that, while he hates the thought of going to church, he watches Robert Schuller (the Crystal Cathedral guy) once in a while. {{shudder}}

[Ff--150]

Charismatic churches

Praying in tongues is the Answer :>).

[Taliesan]

These big churches can't possibly be right. God doesn't want a big bunch of people gathering in one place.

Also, when I was a kid we walked to school 10 miles uphill in the snow with no shoes, and we liked it.

[Siobhan]

Yep. Catholic Churches just don't exist.

[GeorgiaYankee]

By the way, Ms Mark Morford has written an op-ed expressing his great love and tolerance for MegaChurches

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1456309/posts

Warning! Contains vivid "alternate lifestyle" references!

[Sprite518]

"Another father and son among the top 50 are Charles and Andy Stanley, both leading multi-campus churches. Dr. Charles Stanley is pastor of First Baptist Church (more than 6,000 attendance) of Atlanta and Andy is pastor of North Point Community Church (more than 18,000 attendance) in Alpharetta, a far north suburb of Atlanta. Both sons conduct major annual conferences that have become magnets for younger emerging leaders with high impact potential."


I attend the North Point church sometimes. Not big on the music, but the Sermon without a doubt is coming from God. I have never heard a more gifted pastor than Andy Stanley.

[ksen]

Fifty Most Influential Churches

Um, influential in what way?