Roland 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 Written around 1938, The Ministry of Expansion: The Priesthood of the Laity has remained unpublished until now.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 gravitas. 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.

J.D. Payne (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is a writer, speaker, and church planter and currently serves as Professor of Christian Ministry at Samford University. He previously served with the North American Mission Board and as an associate professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he directed the Center for North American Missions and Church Planting. J. D. is the author of numerous books including Missional House Churches, The Barnabas Factors, Discovering Church Planting, Strangers Next Door, Kingdom Expressions, and Pressure Points.

Roland 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 being Missionary Methods: St. Paul or Ours? and The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church.