Includes bibliographical references (pages 269-272) and index.

Effective evangelism view : church growth effectively confronts and penetrates the culture / Elmer Towns -- Gospel and our culture view : church growth lacks a sufficient view of the church, which hinders it from effectively engaging the culture / Craig Van Gelder -- Centrist view : church growth is based on an evangelistically focused and missiologically applied theology / Charles Van Engen -- Reformist view : church growth assumes theology but ineffectively employs it to analyze culture, determine strategy, and perceive history / Gailyn Van Rheenan -- Renewal view : church growth must be based on a biblical vision of the church as the vital community of the kingdom of God / Howard Snyder -- Pastoral reflections / David C. Fisher, Douglas Webster, and Roberta Hestenes.

Although the church growth movement has made a significant impact on evangelicals over the past half century, it has also created controversy and division. This careful five-view analysis helps evangelicals understand the movement's strengths and weaknesses and arrive at their own conclusions on issues that affect the future direction of the church.