For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts by W. David O. Taylor

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

Table of Contents:
Foreword / Luci Shaw

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. The Gospel: How Is Art a Gift, a Calling, and an Obedience? / Andy Crouch
2. The Worship: How Can Art Serve the Corporate Worship of the Church? / John D. Witvliet
3. The Art Patron: Someone Who Can't Draw a Straight Line Tries to Defend Her Art-Buying Habit / Lauren F. Winner
4. The Pastor: How Artists Shape Pastoral Identity / Eugene Peterson
5. The Artist: What Exactly Is an Artist, and How Do We Shepherd Them? / Barbara Nicolosi
6. The Practitioner: Nurturing Artists in the Local Church / Joshua Banner
7. The Dangers: What Are the Dangers of Artmaking in the Church? / W. David O. Taylor
8. The Future: Looking to the Future: A Hopeful Subversion / Jeremy Begbie 
9. Afterword: My Hope and Prayer
10. Notes
11. Contributors.
    

W. David O. Taylor (ThD, Duke Divinity School) is associate professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. An Anglican priest, he has lectured widely on the arts, from Thailand to South Africa. Taylor has written for the Washington Post, Image Journal, and Religion News Service, among others. He is the author of several books, including Glimpses of the New Creation: Worship and the Formative Power of the Arts and Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life. In 2016, he produced a short film on the psalms with Bono and Eugene Peterson. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Baker Books

Pub Date: March 01, 2010

0.54" H x 8.52" L x 5.6" W

204 pages

paperback