One of the key principles of church growth was to identify the characteristics of a healthy church. During the 1980s and 1990s the BCGA, led by Monica Hill, was at the forefront of research in this field.
The foundations of the European Church Growth Association had been established in the 1980s, and the Institute for Natural Church Development in Germany became a major original contributor in the 1990s. Both these organisations recognised the need for a healthy church.
The Institute for Natural Church Development, led by Christian Schwarz, identified and developed foundational principles which were agreed internationally at that time. These principles are continuing to operate effectively through NCD International today. In the 1990s the BCGA ran the NCD project in Britain, producing many books and publications, running leadership training courses and working with churches to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
The BCGA archive material is gradually being digitalised and will be added here when available.