Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, is selling its 19-acre campus for $28.5 million. The sale marks a significant shift for the congregation, which was once considered one of the largest churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. Current pastor Lee Merck confirmed that downsizing is part of a strategic plan to reshape the church’s future.
Decline in Membership
When Dauphin Way moved to its current location in 1988, membership reached 8,000. Today, the congregation consists of approximately 600 members. The sanctuary, originally built to hold 3,000, is now configured to accommodate 1,900. The church, founded in 1904, experienced growth surges in the 1940s and 1980s, when it often ranked among the nation’s largest in terms of Sunday school enrollment and attendance.
Influential Leadership Legacy
The church’s history includes a roster of notable pastors. Jerry Vines later became president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Darrell Robison went on to serve as a vice president of the SBC’s former Home Mission Board. More recently, Clint Pressley, the immediate past SBC president, led the congregation before moving to Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Broader Trends in Church Decline
Dauphin Way’s decision reflects a larger trend affecting older congregations. Lifeway Research reports that nearly half of churches founded between 1950 and 1999 are now in decline. Churches established between 1900 and 1949 also face significant downturns. Analysts note that while these churches thrived during earlier decades, the model of expansive single-site campuses has grown less sustainable.
Changing Models of Growth
Church growth researcher Sam Rainer highlights a shift in strategy that has occurred since the early 2000s. Instead of building massive facilities, many growing congregations now focus on multisite campuses or smaller worship spaces. Rainer notes that sanctuaries seating between 200 and 600 people are increasingly considered ideal. Supporters of this change believe downsizing better reflects modern realities, while critics fear the sale signals a deeper decline in traditional megachurch models.
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Once the largest Baptist church in Alabama, this congregation is downsizing
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