I never tell our church staff, volunteers or congregation that we need to grow. And I never use the term Church Growth when I speak or write about churches getting healthier, stronger and having greater ministry impact.
The phrase Church Growth is packed with too much emotional baggage. It’s interpreted by different people in such different ways that it’s become virtually useless in my context.
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While the Church Growth Movement created larger churches and opportunities, it also created larger dangers.
“In the first twenty years of the movement, research focused on principles; lately the focus has been on discovering new techniques, programs, or methods.” (Elmer Towns)
A conversation with Eugene Peterson’s biographer on how simple pastoral presence is the healthy alternative to Christian celebrity.
