This seminar provides an introduction to the philosophy of church growth as originally developed by Dr. Donald McGavran. The student can expect to receive a thorough grasp of the scientific principles developed to date in the expanding field of church growth, to cover the relevant contemporary literature on the subject, to acquire the basic skills necessary for diagnosing the health of a local church, and to gain understanding of basic church growth rules of thumb.

This course provides a basic introduction to the history of the Church Growth Movement and a critical assessment of its main tenets as a theologically undergirded, research-based field of study, and as a distinctive approach to practical missiology. The heart of this course is an in-depth study and critical appraisal of the work of Donald McGavran, particularly as expressed in Understanding Church Growth. The course also trains students in Church Growth research methodology.