Church Growth

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Church Growth is a movement within Evangelical Christianity which emphasizes missionary work combined with sociological awareness of the target population. The seeker sensitive label for this approach characterizes the would-be converts as "seekers".

Contents

[edit] History

Church Growth began with the publication of Donald McGavran's book "The Bridges of God." McGavran was a third generation Christian missionary to India, where his observations of "How Churches Grow" (the title of another of his books) went beyond typical theological discussion to discern sociological factors that affected receptivity to the Christian Gospel among non-Christian peoples. In 1965, he organized the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, which was the institutional homebase for Church Growth studies until after his death, and has been the training ground for tens of thousands of pastors and missionaries of one hundred mainly Evangelical denominations.

[edit] Methods

Two key attributes of Church Growth are a passion for the Great Commission and a willingness to apply research, including quantitative methods. Scholars and leaders from many denominations continue to meet annually to discuss the implications of these insights as the American Society for Church Growth.[1]

The "seeker sensitive" label is associated with some megachurches in the United States where Christian messages are often imparted by means of elaborate spectacles with elements drawn from secular popular culture, such as rock music, which may appeal to teenagers and other groups less drawn to traditional "stuffy" forms of worship.

[edit] Criticism

Critics from other Christian groups suggest the movement is "only about numbers", "slick" and "success" oriented.[2][3][4]

Apologists respond that most advocates have a real concern for the salvation of the individuals represented by the numbers. Some Church Growth groups distance themselves from the "showbiz" approach of megachurches and believe these may be counterproductive.

Willow Creek Community Church recently conducted a major survey that shows heavy involvement in "seeker sensitive" programs and activities contributed to church growth, but did not translate into spiritual growth and maturity. Church leaders have stood up and admitted, "We made a mistake."[5]

If the church gets back to pursuing church health principles rather than church growth principles, this will allow church leadership to focus on the legitimate desire to see the collective church flourish without some of the impure motivations getting in the way.[6]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ American Society for Church Growth. official website.
  2. ^ Newton, Phil A. (May 2007). "The Package Matters: Problems with the Church Growth Movement". Areopagus Journal (Troublesome Movements in the 21st-Century Church). Apologetics Resource Center. 
  3. ^ Prewett, Rebecca (1994). "Online Conversations About...Seeker-Sensitive Churches". 
  4. ^ Armstrong, John H. (May-June 1994). "PROBLEMS RELATED TO SEEKER-SENSITIVE WORSHIP" 3 (3). Carol Stream, Illinois: Reformation & Revival Ministries. 
  5. ^ Rethinking Church, BreakPoint, December 5, 2007.
  6. ^ Church Growth Principles-Leadership Transformations.

[edit] External links