Church growth theories and the Salvation Army in the United Kingdom : an examination of the theories of Donald McGavran and C Peter Wagner in relation to Salvation Army experience and practice (1982-1991)
The Church Growth movement, originating with Donald McGavran in 1955 and popularised principally by C Peter Wagner since 1971, has influenced evangelical mission internationally. Though originating in the context of cross-cultural 'missionary' work, it is perhaps now identified as a typically American approach, apparently relying on method and technique to accomplish its objective, which as the name implies, is the growth of the church, both locally and world-wide, since this is understood as the requirement of the 'Great Commission' (Matthew 28: 18-20). The Salvation Army (founded 1865) has been in decline in Britain certainly since the Second World War, and probably since the 1930s. In 1986 the Army formally Espoused the Church Growth approach to mission. There has been little published research into the effectiveness of Church Growth methods, especially in the UK, despite voluminous outpourings of inspirational and motivational literature. Virtually the only test of the principles (Turning the Tide) was produced in 1981 by Paul Beasley-Murray and Alan Wilkinson, investigating the reliability of Wagner's' Vital Signs' in larger Baptist churches in England. This thesis follows Beasley-Murray and Wilkinson
Escott, Phillip
Church growth Great Britain ; Great Britain Church history 20th century ; Salvation Army ; Church Growth Movement ; McGavran, Donald Anderson 1897-1990 ; Wagner, C. Peter, 1930-
Church growth theories and the Salvation Army in the United Kingdom : an examination of the theories of Donald McGavran and C Peter Wagner in relation to Salvation Army experience and practice (1982-1991). The Church Growth movement, originating with Donald McGavran in 1955 and popularised principally by C Peter Wagner since 1971, has influenced evangelical mission internationally. Though originating in the context of cross-cultural 'missionary' work, it is perhaps now identified as a typically American approach, apparently relying on method and technique to accomplish its objective, which as the name implies, is the growth of the church, both locally and world-wide, since this is understood as the requirement of the 'Great Commission' (Matthew 28: 18-20). The Salvation Army (founded 1865) has been in decline in Britain certainly since the Second World War, and probably since the 1930s. In 1986 the Army formally Espoused the Church Growth approach to mission. There has been little published research into the effectiveness of Church Growth methods, especially in the UK, despite voluminous outpourings of inspirational and motivational literature. Virtually the only test of the principles (Turning the Tide) was produced in 1981 by Paul Beasley-Murray and Alan Wilkinson, investigating the reliability of Wagner's' Vital Signs' in larger Baptist churches in England. This thesis follows Beasley-Murray and Wilkinson
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