There is a new and growing group of PC(USA) leaders who are placing renewed focus on helping churches grow in both faith and numbers. This group is the newly formed PC(USA) Church Growth Network (PCGN). Our presbytery and denomination at large have necessarily, faithfully, and courageously embraced commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice over the past few decades and more. These values and efforts are essential to our expression of Christianity. Yet, amid those vital commitments, we need an additional focus on another missional value: seeing our churches grow in both faith and numbers. Just as the early church grew in faith and numbers (Acts 16:5), we need local churches to grow in faith and numbers. The PCGN is inviting church leaders to engage this aspect of our calling in new and deeper ways.
The PCGN is a learning community open to all PC(USA) leaders who value and believe local congregations and new faith communities are called and created to be “strengthened in faith and increase in numbers.” The PCGN seeks to foster growth in size, vitality, and missions impact for local congregations and new faith communities so that more people experience the life-changing love of Christ.
The PCGN supports healthy and faithful church growth by cultivating new relationships among church leaders, encouraging and celebrating progress, and offering educational experiences that equip and inspire leaders to promote growth in churches or new faith communities. We are laser-focused on providing insanely practical help to all church leaders so they can lead ministries more faithfully and effectively.
We just had our first conference in early October 2025. Attendees were blown away by how helpful and practical the conference was. We had ruling elders, teaching elders, presbytery leadership, and other denominational leaders who participated. Our second annual conference will be October 5-7, 2026, in Cincinnati, Ohio. We hope you might save the date and consider attending!
So, please consider this your invitation to join the learning community that is the PC(USA) Church Growth Network!
There are several ways to get connected to the PCGN.
Join the conversation on Facebook.
Visit the PCGN website.
Join a PCGN Monthly Zoom Call. The PCGN invites all PC(USA) leaders to participate in our learning and relationship-building opportunities. We host two monthly drop-in Zoom calls (2nd Tuesday at 2pm CST and 2ndWednesday at 9am CST). Those calls feature a monthly theme for discussion, and participants leave with actionable next steps to help their churches pursue healthier growth.
PCGN Webinars. We have also launched a series of webinars featuring expert voices from across the denomination. We are also collaborating with local churches, presbyteries, and synods to help plan other online and in-person events. We hope that these collaborative events will help more local and regional connections emerge. We also know that this will help serve local church leaders with more context-specific conversations and learning.
Email List. You can get on the email list by filling out the form on our website or sending an email. You will get regular updates and other invitations sent to you.
Rev. Josh Erickson is senior pastor of Park Ridge Presbyterian Church and moderator of the PCGN board.
