Steven Richard Rutt is the leading Roland Allen scholar. I got to know him while editing Roland Allen’s The Ministry of Expansion where Steven contributed a chapter. I had him on Strike the Match two years ago to talk about Roland Allen’s life and missiology. Lord willing, we shall have him back in the near future. Until then, I want you to know about him and his two recently published books by The Lutterworth Press.
Dr. Rutt is an assistant professor of biblical studies at Arizona Christian University. He is a priest in the Reformed Episcopal Church (Anglican Church of North America) and a visiting professor of missiology at the Reformed Episcopal Seminary. He also serves as president and missionary teacher for Covenant Renewal Ministries, Inc.
If you have read any of my writings–including those at Missiologically Thinking–then you know of my great interest in and value for Roland Allen’s life and work. And, as I have shared here, you too might be a Roland Allen fan and not even know it.
Though Allen’s influence is great on missionary practice, few publications exist on his life and work. Before Rutt’s publications, the only book-length biography on Allen was Hubert J. B. Allen’s book Roland Allen: Pioneer, Priest, and Prophet and the only book-length missiology was my book, Roland Allen: Pioneer of Spontaneous Expansion. I have eagerly awaited Rutt’s books, and thankfully, they are here and released at the same time.
In addition to what is in print, Rutt spent countless hours studying unpublished Allen writings. Roland Allen: A Missionary Life examines the people and ideas that influenced the great mission thinker. Rutt examines how Allen’s ecclesiology developed over time. In Roland Allen: A Theology of Mission, he addresses how apostolic principles formed the basis of Allen’s missionary theology, including how both the scriptures and Allen’s ministry experiences shaped his work. Here is what Scot McKnight had to say about the books.
These are two books that should be added to your libraries. They are the definitive works on Roland Allen to date.