Roland Allen's The Ministry Of Expansion: The Priesthood of the Laity

Product DescriptionRoland Allen was one of the most influential mission thinkers of the twentieth century. As a High Church Anglican, he had great respect and value for Church tradition, but was quick to confront cultural preferences when they appeared to contradict biblical prescriptions. The Ministry of Expansion: The Priesthood of the Laity reflects his thoughts that dealt with Communion-related activities in the Majority World where the Anglican Church did not have well-developed church structures and priests. In this work, Allen argues that there are times and circumstances when non-clergy must take the lead in the administration of Holy Communion. Written around 1938, The Ministry of Expansion: The Priesthood of the Laity has remained unpublished until now. The work you hold represents one of the last book-length manuscripts written by Allen and includes a collection of articles by contemporary Allen scholars. Though nearly eighty years since he first put pen to paper, Allen's principles and convictions still speak to the Church with great gravit's. What should be the response when the Church's cultural preferences are unable to keep up with the work of the Spirit on the mission field? This was a not only a question in Allen's day, but one for every generation of believers.ReviewRoland Allen saw clearly in the first half of the twentieth century what few over the last two millennia have seen and even today see: that there is an essential interrelationship between the charismatic working of the Holy Spirit, the dynamic nature of the church as the body of Christ and the fellowship of the Spirit, and the mission of the triune God. Although here applied to the very specific question of sacramental and eucharistic practice, the implications and applications of Allen's vision are extensive for all committed to participating in the work of the Spirit to and from the ends of the earth. While always respecting the role of the institutional dimensions of the church, Allen here prompts us to wrestle again and again with apostolic life in the Spirit as normative for engaging the ongoing missio Dei, however difficult such may be to discern at times. Amos Yong, PhDprofessor of theology and mission Fuller Seminary author of The Missiological Spirit (2014) and Spirit of Love (2012)About the AuthorRoland Allen (1868-1947) served as an Anglican deacon and priest in England, as a missionary to China, and also served the Church in Kenya. He was a prolific author with his most popular writings beingMissionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours? andThe Spontaneous Expansion of the Church. J. D. Payne (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the pastor of church multiplication with The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a missiologist, podcast host (Strike the Match), and blogger jdpayne.org). J. D. is the author and editor of twe've books on missions including Roland Allen: Pioneer of Spontaneous Expansion.