American Society for Church Growth
The American Society for Church Growth (ASCG) is an international organization which seeks to provide a networking system for those individuals or organizations associated with church growth. The society was founded by Donald McGavran, and is currently led by president Dr. Alan McMahan of Biola University.
The ASCG define 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 Commision 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. The journal is currently edited by Gary L. McIntosh. 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
- Bill Sullivan
- Carl F. George
- Flavil Yeakley, Jr.
- John Vaughan
- Gary L. McIntosh
- R. Daniel Reeves
- Ray Ellis
- Charles VanEngen
- Charles Arn