- Church Growth
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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".
Contents
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. It has been the training ground for tens of thousands of pastors and missionaries of one hundred mainly evangelical denominations.
Methods
Two key attributes of Church Growth are a passion for the "Great Commission" 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.[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. 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.[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]
Notes
- ^ "American Society for Church Growth". http://www.ascg.org. official website.
- ^ Newton, Phil A. (May 2007). "The Package Matters: Problems with the Church Growth Movement". Areopagus Journal (Apologetics Resource Center) (Troublesome Movements in the 21st–Century Church).
- ^ Prewett, Rebecca (1994). Online Conversations About...Seeker-Sensitive Churches. http://www.fix.net/~rprewett/seeker.html. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ^ Armstrong, John H. (May-June 1994). "PROBLEMS RELATED TO SEEKER-SENSITIVE WORSHIP". Reformation & Revival Journal (Carol Stream, Illinois: Reformation & Revival Ministries) 3 (3). http://www.brfwitness.org/Articles/1994v29n6.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ^ "Rethinking Church, BreakPoint, December 5, 2007". http://www.informz.net/pfm/archives/archive_529389.html.
Literature
- Schacke, Rainer (2009). Learning from Willow Creek? [1]. Göttingen: Cuvillier. ISBN 978-3-86955-104-3.
- The Attractional Church - Billy Hornsby - Publisher Faith Words - Hachette
External links
- Church Growth Today Center for the Study of Growing Churches
Categories:- Christian evangelicalism
- Practical theology
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