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Servant Leaders Servant Structures
Elizabeth O'Connor traces the history and struggle of The Church of The Saviour as we have sought to be Christ's people for over four decades. She uses the concrete history of a specific people to raise issues that any church anywhere must encounter and resolve if true community is to be experienced.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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About the author
Elizabeth O'Connor
10 booksElizabeth O'Connor worked for the ecumenical Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C. since 1953 and directed its residence and support group for elderly low-income persons.
Miss O'Connor wrote a number of books about church renewal and community service. The first was "Call to Commitment," describing the founding and development of Church of the Savior, which works toward racial integration through small groups.
Miss O'Connor began and facilitated the Compassion Group counseling program at the church, where she was also a lay leader, a teacher and a workshop leader.
She was founder in 1983 of Sarah's Circle, a program for the elderly in Adams-Morgan. The residential facility has 34 apartments and a community center serving 200 people. Miss O'Connor originated the idea and raised money for the facilities. Miss O'Connor was born in New Jersey and raised in the Bronx, N.Y. She attended New York University and the New School for Social Research. She did publicity work for the company that produced "America's Town Meeting of the Air" for radio and worked for the American Bankers Association before moving to Washington in 1949.
Miss O'Connor, who was a public speaker and leader of retreats, was given an honorary doctorate from Virginia Theological Seminary.
Miss O'Connor wrote a number of books about church renewal and community service. The first was "Call to Commitment," describing the founding and development of Church of the Savior, which works toward racial integration through small groups.
Miss O'Connor began and facilitated the Compassion Group counseling program at the church, where she was also a lay leader, a teacher and a workshop leader.
She was founder in 1983 of Sarah's Circle, a program for the elderly in Adams-Morgan. The residential facility has 34 apartments and a community center serving 200 people. Miss O'Connor originated the idea and raised money for the facilities. Miss O'Connor was born in New Jersey and raised in the Bronx, N.Y. She attended New York University and the New School for Social Research. She did publicity work for the company that produced "America's Town Meeting of the Air" for radio and worked for the American Bankers Association before moving to Washington in 1949.
Miss O'Connor, who was a public speaker and leader of retreats, was given an honorary doctorate from Virginia Theological Seminary.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 16, 2014
The first of two books I'm reading on the small group dynamics of the Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC. It's impressive stuff, as a O'Connor lays out both the stories and the ethos that formed this unique spiritual community.
This slender volume...just a tick under 100 pages...is nonetheless a rich and insightful exploration of a church that chose not to allow itself any but the most elemental of infrastructures. It was all small groups, all the time...and whenever it looked like it might become more institutional, it shattered and reformed itself again.
It's not quite detailed enough to lend itself to replication, but the ethos of that little community is clearly presented.
For those interested in organic small groups, cell groups, or little teeny-tiny churches, this one's a valuable read.
This slender volume...just a tick under 100 pages...is nonetheless a rich and insightful exploration of a church that chose not to allow itself any but the most elemental of infrastructures. It was all small groups, all the time...and whenever it looked like it might become more institutional, it shattered and reformed itself again.
It's not quite detailed enough to lend itself to replication, but the ethos of that little community is clearly presented.
For those interested in organic small groups, cell groups, or little teeny-tiny churches, this one's a valuable read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review