Through a collection of essays and responses, Looking Back, Leaning Forward explores the context of a Canadian church by wrestling with the past story in light of the current realities.

On one hand, this book is for a denomination. It is structured in two parts; first, it revisits issues related to the “fourfold gospel” and then it offers a look at crucial conversations in this specific context. At another level, this book is for more than just a denomination. It is for those in (or on the margins of) other churches across Canada, and even for eavesdroppers beyond. The gospel is universal in scope, but this universality is not mediated by abstract principles. It is mediated by a living Lord Jesus Christ who engages with us in context.

Afterword by David E. Fitch

Contributions by Ray Aldred, Christina Conroy, Christopher Smith, Cynthia Tam, Jon Coutts, Heather Morgan, Alexandra Meek, Wendy Lowe, Mardi Dolfo-Smith, Frances Kim, Joanne Beach, Ric Strangway, and Colleen Jantzen.