__Once upon a time, the church was deeply involved in the arts__, leading the way in beauty, technical ability, and even funding. In many churches today the arts are an afterthought at best and forbidden at worst. This insightful book takes you beyond "how we've always done it," beyond fads, beyond mere imitation of the culture, and beyond utilitarianism to develop a robust, dynamic, and substantive vision for the place of the arts--and artists--in our churches.   
  
"The church ought to be synonymous with all good gifts and stewardship of the earth. And it most certainly ought to be synonymous with the stewardship of the arts. For the Beauty of the Church reminds us of this essential truth and many more."--Charlie Peacock, codirector, Art House America; author of New Way to Be Human  
  
"Pragmatic and theologically astute at the same time, For the Beauty of the Church is a gem-packed collection for those navigating between the realms of the arts and the church."--Makoto Fujimura, artist; founder and creative director, International Arts Movement  
  
"One reason the church exists is that our hunger for beauty will not go away. These essays remind us why."--John Ortberg, author of God Is Closer Than You Think and Love Beyond Reason; pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church  
  
"This book is an urgently needed wake-up call for the church! I pray that it will encourage more artists and churches to offer each other their respective gifts."--Marva J. Dawn, author of In the Beginning, God and A Royal "Waste" of Time; teaching fellow in spiritual theology, Regent College  
  
"This book is encouraging, celebrative, and hopeful, but it is also explosive. This conversation is critical not only for its practical suggestions about the arts but also for its bracing theological framework that will help make artistic and spiritual worship the transforming experience God intends it to be."--William Dyrness, professor of theology and culture, Fuller Theological Seminary  
  
Contributors include:  
   
Eugene Peterson  
W. David O. Taylor  
Lauren Winner  
John Witvliet  
Jeremy Begbie  
Andy Crouch  
Barbara Nicolosi  
Joshua Banner  
  
W. David O. Taylor is an artist, author, and advocate for the arts. He is a graduate of Regent College and served for eight years as the arts pastor of Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies at Duke Divinity School.

W. David O. Taylor is a pastor, artist, and author. He is a graduate of Regent College and served for eight years as the arts pastor of Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas. He's currently pursuing doctoral studies at Duke Divinity School.

Think of your local church. Without art--music, song, dance, etc.--it would be a much poorer place. But if protestants have any vision for the arts, it tends to be a thin one. This unique book is an attempt to contribute to a robust, expansive vision for the church and the arts. Its specific aim is to show how the many parts of the landscape of church and art hold together. You can think of it as a kind of helicopter flyover, but one with expert pilots. The guides include the likes of Eugene Peterson, Lauren Winner, Jeremy Begbie, Andy Crouch, and John Witvliet, helping to inspire readers and empower pastor-leaders with a vision of the church and the arts that is compelling, far-seeing, and profoundly transformative.

This unique book contributes to a robust, expansive vision for the church and the arts, with insights from Eugene Peterson, Lauren Winner, Jeremy Begbie, Andy Crouch, and John Witvliet.

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

COPYRIGHT PAGE

DEDICATION

FOREWORD

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

1. THE GOSPEL: HOW IS ART A GIFT, A CALLING, AND AN  OBEDIENCE? 

2. THE WORSHIP: HOW CAN ART SERVE THE CORPORATE  WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH?

3. THE ART PATRON: SOMEONE WHO CAN’T DRAW A STRAIGHT  LINE TRIES TO DEFEND HER ART-BUYING HABIT

4. THE PASTOR: HOW ARTISTS SHAPE PASTORAL IDENTITY 

5. THE ARTIST: WHAT EXACTLY IS AN ARTIST, AND HOW DO  WE SHEPHERD THEM? 

6. THE PRACTITIONER: NURTURING ARTISTS IN THE LOCAL  CHURCH

7. THE DANGERS: WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF ARTMAKING IN  THE CHURCH?

8. THE FUTURE: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: A HOPEFUL  SUBVERSION

AFTERWORD: MY HOPE AND PRAYER

NOTES

CONTRIBUTORS

Think of your local church. Without art - music, song, and dance - it would be a much poorer place. This book aims to show how the many parts of the landscape of church and art hold together. It helps to inspire readers and empower pastor-leaders with a vision of the church and the arts that is far-seeing, and profoundly transformative.

Think of your local church. Without art - music, song, dance, etc. - it would be a much poorer place. But if evangelicals have any vision for the arts, it tends to be a thin one. This unique book is an attempt to contribute to a robust, expansive vision for the church and the arts. Its specific aim is to show how the many parts of the landscape of church and art hold together. You can think of it as a kind of helicopter flyover, but one with expert pilots. The guides include the likes of Eugene Peterson, Lauren Winner, Jeremy Begbie, Andy Crouch, and John Witvliet, helping to inspire readers and empower pastor-leaders with a vision of the church and the arts that is compelling, far-seeing, and profoundly transformative.

W. David O. Taylor is an entrepreneurial artist, advocate, and author. He is a graduate of Regent College and served for eight years as the arts pastor of Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas. He's currently pursuing doctoral studies at Duke Divinity School.

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