Tithes support the local "show," but a "Extension Tithe" (usually 10%) is often remitted to the denomination's HQ. It is a franchise fee for the spiritual brand.
The "Sunday Morning Experience" is calibrated like a rock concert. The goal is emotional engagement (dopamine) rather than intellectual contemplation.
High demand for volunteer labor. The business model relies on unpaid "servants" to run the parking, coffee, and childcare that make the paid staff's jobs possible.
Massive impervious surface (parking lots) and energy consumption for lighting/HVAC in cavernous auditoriums used primarily once a week.
The Verdict: The "Corporate Ecclesia." There is a structural conflict between "community ownership" and "denominational asset holding." You pay for the building, but you don't own it.
Slick, Professional, Safe. It is the "Starbucks of Church." You know exactly what you are going to get, the branding is consistent, and it is designed to be consumed easily.