Scott Thumma

Professor of Sociology of Religion

Office hours: 12pm to 5pm daily by appointment arranged by email
Email: sthumma@hartfordinternational.edu
Phone: (860) 509-9571

Dr. Scott Thumma

Biography

Dr. Scott Thumma is Professor of Sociology of Religion and director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford International University. He has published numerous research reports, website documents, articles, and chapters on religious life in addition to co-authoring three books, The Other 80 Percent, Beyond Megachurch Myths and Gay Religion. He has researched and written on megachurches, evangelicalism, gay religious life, the rise of nondenominationalism, and the changing religious landscape.

Scott is the PI for a Lilly Endowment Thriving in Ministry grant and a large 5-year grant to study the impact of the pandemic on churches. He co-leads the Faith Communities Today national research project and has conducted 7 national studies of megachurches and 3 national studies of nondenominational churches.

Background

  • Ph.D. (Emory University)
  • M.Div. (Candler School of Theology)
  • B.A. (Southwestern University)

Areas of Study

  • Megachurch characteristics and dynamics
  • The increase in nondenominational churches
  • The impact of the Internet on congregational dynamics
  • Congregational studies of healthy growth and member engagement
  • Congregational/Denominational trends of Religion in America

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