Church growth
Encyclopedia
Church Growth is a movement within evangelical Christianity which emphasizes mainly missionary work combined with sociological awareness of the target population. The "seeker sensitive" label for this approach characterizes the would-be converts as "seekers".
'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. It has been the training ground for tens of thousands of pastors and missionaries of one hundred mainly evangelical denomination
s.
" and a willingness to apply research to attracting members, 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
.
The "seeker sensitive" label is associated with some megachurch
es in the United States
where Christian messages are often imparted by means of elaborate spectacle
s 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
. Such churches also develop a wide range of activities to draw in families at different stages in their lives.
Please note that the terminology "stuffy" applies to the thought process that someone not professing to be a "born again" Christian might have whereas someone who professes to be a "born again" Christian would more than likely view it as being a more reverent setting in which worship in song and teaching would be experienced.
Apologists respond that most advocates have a real concern for the salvation
of the individual
s 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."
History
Church Growth began with the publication of Donald McGavranDonald McGavran
Donald A. McGavran was the founding Dean and Professor of Mission, church growth, and South Asian studies at the School of World Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California...
's book "The Bridges of God". McGavran was a third-generation Christian missionary
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where his observations of How Churches Grow (the title of another of his books) went beyond typical theological discussion to discern sociological factors
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
that affected receptivity to the Christian Gospel among non-Christian peoples. In 1965, he organized the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, which was the institutional homebase for Church Growth studies until after his death. It has been the training ground for tens of thousands of pastors and missionaries of one hundred mainly evangelical denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
s.
Methods
Two key attributes of Church Growth are a passion for the "Great CommissionGreat Commission
The Great Commission, in Christian tradition, is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they spread his teachings to all the nations of the world. It has become a tenet in Christian theology emphasizing missionary work, evangelism, and baptism...
" and a willingness to apply research to attracting members, 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
American Society for Church Growth
The American Society for Church Growth is an international organization which provides a professional network for those individuals or organizations associated with the Church Growth Movement. The society was founded in 1986 by Donald McGavran and C. Peter Wagner, and is currently led by...
.
The "seeker sensitive" label is associated with some megachurch
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
es in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where Christian messages are often imparted by means of elaborate spectacle
Spectacle
In general, spectacle refers to an event that is memorable for the appearance it creates. Derived in Middle English from c. 1340 as "specially prepared or arranged display" it was borrowed from Old French spectacle, itself a reflection of the Latin spectaculum "a show" from spectare "to view,...
s with elements drawn from secular popular culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
, such as rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, which may appeal to teenagers and other groups less drawn to traditional "stuffy" forms of worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
. Such churches also develop a wide range of activities to draw in families at different stages in their lives.
Please note that the terminology "stuffy" applies to the thought process that someone not professing to be a "born again" Christian might have whereas someone who professes to be a "born again" Christian would more than likely view it as being a more reverent setting in which worship in song and teaching would be experienced.
Criticism
Critics from other Christian groups suggest the movement is "only about numbers", "slick" and "success" oriented.Apologists respond that most advocates have a real concern for the salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
of the individual
Individual
An individual is a person or any specific object or thing in a collection. Individuality is the state or quality of being an individual; a person separate from other persons and possessing his or her own needs, goals, and desires. Being self expressive...
s 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
Willow Creek Community Church
Willow Creek Community Church is a non-denominational, multi-generational Evangelical Christian megachurch located in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington, Illinois. It was founded on October 12, 1975 by Bill Hybels, who is currently the senior pastor...
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."
External links
- Church Growth Today Center for the Study of Growing Churches