Anglican church planting veteran Dan Alger shows pastors how the rich traditions of liturgical worship are a gift to the work of starting new churches. Word and Sacrament provides a robust framework to plant gospel faithful, missionally effective, relationally strong churches. While much of church planting today is approached as a new, innovative effort, church leaders can take comfort in the truth that they are simply stewards of what the faithful church has been doing for millennia. By rediscovering the foundations of our heritage, we are able to build healthier, more faithful, and more effective churches. At the same time, the act of planting new churches can breathe new life into these ancient traditions as they are applied to a variety of cultural contexts. Written from an Anglican perspective to encourage both aspiring and experienced church planters, Word and Sacrament will assist leaders in all traditions to better understand the why, what, and how of the task before them. Outlines and contextualizes the Anglican way of discipleship for a global church - Helps ministry leaders avoid common mistakes in church planting - Helps those in all walks of ministry to discern their role in church planting “Not only does Dan Alger discuss the importance of starting new congregations and the importance of the historical Church (namely Anglicanism), but he brings the intersection of the two to light with passion, depth, and clarity. This is a must-read for anyone interested in reaching the lost through church planting.” The Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, Archbishop, The Anglican Church in North America “While church planting has received a lot of attention in recent years, there is nothing new under the sun. The problem with many of the books on church planting is that they focus on the new at the expense of the time-tested traditions of the church. In Word and Sacrament , Dan Alger has written a timeless book that draws wisdom from the ancient traditions for church planting today. If you are looking for a fresh introduction to church planting for the modern world that is ever ancient, ever new, then this book is for you!” The Rev. Dr. Winfield Bevins, Director, Asbury Seminary Church Planting Initiative; author of Liturgical Mission “I admire Dan Alger’s passion for planting Anglican churches. His experience coaching Anglican church planters saturates the pages of Word and Sacrament: Ancient Traditions for Modern Church Planting. Anyone seeking to plant an Anglican church will benefit from this book.” The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd Hunter, Bishop, The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others; former director, Alpha USA; former President, Association of Vineyard Churches “ Word and Sacrament challenges church leaders to hold important elements of church planting in healthy and holy tension. Dan’s writing is thorough and accessible. It honors the rich tradition of the past and also seeks to join with God in pursuing a hope-filled future—a relevant message for both Anglicans and non-Anglicans alike.” Dr. J.R. Briggs, Founding Director, Kairos Partnerships; affiliate professor of practical theology, Missio Seminary; author of The Sacred Overlap: Learning To Live Faithfully in the Space Between “I’ve spent time with Dan and his missional tribe and was invigorated by their love for Jesus and their passion for word and sacrament. This book isn’t just for Anglicans or those used to high church liturgy. It’s for any church leader, regardless of tradition. When you read this, you’ll better understand that the historic practices of the Church were deeply missional and are what we need today to start missionally effective churches. I highly recommend this book for all church planters and leaders.” Daniel Yang, Director of the Church Multiplication Institute, Wheaton College Billy Graham Center “Dan Alger is both a theologian and a practitioner in the field of missiology. His leadership and voice in the young province of the Anglican Church in North America has been invaluable to its growth and development. This book is a must-read to see the importance of Anglican missiology in our North American twenty-first century context. It is also timely because the church needs not a new vision but a renewed vision for sacramental, liturgical, and biblical mission. I highly commend it to you.” The Rt. Rev. Alan J. Hawkins, Chief Operating Officer, The Anglican Church in North America; Bishop Coadjutor, The Diocese of Christ Our Hope “If we are going to do church planting, and we must, then it is essential that we are clear on what we mean by ‘church.’ Writing from within the Anglican tradition but in a manner accessible to others, Alger beautifully articulates what it means to cultivate new Christian communities that are grounded in both the Word and the Table. This is an essential read for all who care about not only church planting but what it means to be the church.” Gordon T. Smith, PhD, Pr