The American Society for Church Growth (ASCG) 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

Donald 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...

 and C. Peter Wagner

C. Peter Wagner

Charles Peter Wagner Christian missionary, writer, teacher, and church growth specialist, notable for his controversial spiritual warfare practices and beliefs...

, and is currently led by president Bob Whitesel of Indiana Wesleyan University

Indiana Wesleyan University

Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located in Marion, Indiana that is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church denomination...

. The organization changed its name to the Great Commission Research Network in 2009.

Profile

The ASCG defines church growth as follows:

"Church growth is that careful discipline which investigates the nature, the function, and the health of Christian churches, as they relate to the effective implementation of the Lord's Great Commission to make disciples of all peoples (Matthew 28:19-20). It is a spiritual conviction, yet it is practical, combining the eternal principles of God's Word with the practical insights of social and behavioral sciences."

In 1991 the ASCG began publishing the Journal of the American Society for Church Growth (JASCG) annually, and in 1997 this became thrice yearly. This Journal has recently been renamed to the Great Commission Research Journal and is published by Biola University twice yearly. The journal is currently edited by Alan McMahan

Alan McMahan

Dr. Martin Alan McMahan is an associate professor of Intercultural Studies, and Chair of the Undergraduate Department of Anthropology and Intercultural Studies at Biola University, and past president of the American Society for Church Growth.-Biography:...

. The society also hosts an annual conference.

Past Presidents

Past presidents include:

• C. Peter Wagner (founding president)
• George Hunter III
• Kent R. Hunter
• Elmer Towns
• Eddie Gibbs
  Eddie Gibbs
  Eddie Gibbs is an American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and bassist.Gibbs began his career late in the 1920s, playing with Wilbur Sweatman, Eubie Blake, and Billy Fowler. As a banjoist he was strongly influenced by Elmer Snowden. He played with Edgar Hayes from 1937 and played with him on a tour of...
  
  
• Bill Sullivan
• Carl F. George
• Flavil Yeakley, Jr.
• John Vaughan
• Gary L. McIntosh
• R. Daniel Reeves
• Ray Ellis
• Charles VanEngen
• Charles Arn
• Alan McMahan
  Alan McMahan
  Dr. Martin Alan McMahan is an associate professor of Intercultural Studies, and Chair of the Undergraduate Department of Anthropology and Intercultural Studies at Biola University, and past president of the American Society for Church Growth.-Biography:...
  
  

8Bob Whitesel