First Expressions: Innovation and the Mission of God

Steve Taylor is Principal of the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership, New Zealand.

"First Expressions provides a rich practical theology of how God could be bringing a new ecclesiology for a secular age to birth through the witness of the communities who pioneered new ecclesial communities. Taylor has done a great service to future mission by paying close attention to what has been embodied in the past at the fringes and how this needs to transform the centre of thinking and practice in the future." -- Nick Shepherd, Programme Director for Setting God’s People Free

"This book honours ecclesial innovation in a unique way. It offers a theological framing and affirmation of the impulse towards innovation while grounding it in the specific decisions and actions of particular first expressions. It contains rich data, thoughtful and creative reflection, confrontingly close readings of scripture, and the frank vulnerability of an author with plenty of skin in the game. As we move from a ‘knowledge economy’ to a ‘wisdom economy’, books like this are crucial. Refreshed imaginatively and ecclesiologically by reading it, I’ll be using this book when I teach." -- Andrew Dutney, Professor of Theology, Flinders University, Australia