Stalking the Spirit

What happens when a church chooses to subdivide instead of getting bigger? In 1976, the Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC, did just that. Stalking the Spirit is the story of Seekers Church, a second-generation Church of the Saviour community known for its creative worship, open pulpit, shared leadership, strong matrix of mission groups, and generous giving. Seekers Church inherited a tradition of intentional spiritual life (the inward journey) to support ministry in daily life (the outward journey). All members understand themselves to be called and equipped for ministry. As a model for other emerging churches within or outside of traditional structures, Stalking the Spirit tells the story of Seekers Church, whose members sought the Spirit''s guidance again and again for the next steps, both individually and as a community.""Marjory Zoet Bankson provides an insightful, moving story of how the Seekers Church continues the rich legacy of the Church of the Saviour. This well runs deep. No experience of the church has influenced me more deeply than the Church of the Saviour, and Bankson demonstrates how its principles can be translated into other emerging models . . . She''s written a superb case study and textbook for anyone seeking to shape a faithful Christian community.""--Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, Reformed Church in America, New York, NY""Before anyone was talking about ''emerging church,'' the small group of highly committed Christians who called themselves Seekers Church were experimenting with shared leadership, an open pulpit, and a radical understanding of the priesthood of all believers. Bankson''s evident passion to share what she and others have experienced in their collective ''pilgrim'' journey will inspire and challenge anyone who is looking for a different way to do church.""--Deborah Sokolove, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC""Marjory Zoet Bankson has not only chronicled the important story of Church of the Saviour but has provided an inspirational model for congregations struggling with how to be the church. Stalking the Spirit outlines a comprehensive template for the inclusiveness of lay leadership, the crucial need for intentionally committed participation/investment, and the essential balance of the inward and outward spiritual journey. If even a fraction of current churches followed just a portion of Seekers'' modus operandi, the world could be transformed.""--Tracy Radosevic, Academy for Biblical Storytelling, Indianapolis, IN""Rare is the opportunity to get an inside look at the challenges and discouragements of being community in this way, to listen in on the conflicts as well as witness the faithful responses. This story of one small laity-led church, striving to be an authentic expression of Christ''s body in a local setting and not a mere replica of its founding prototype, is sure to spark conversation for other churches who seek to be uniquely alive and relevant today.""--Kayla McClurg, Church of the Saviour, Washington, DC""The story of the Seekers Community, a lay-led, spirit-guided church in Washington, DC, provides helpful history for other emerging congregations. Shared leadership, spiritual formation, attention to ministry in daily life, and its own gracious style make Seekers a service-oriented church where all are welcome. Marjorie Bankson tells the story she lives so well with verve.""--Diann L. Neu, WATER: The Women''s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual, Silver Spring, MDMarjory Zoet Bankson is a conference and retreat leader based out of Seekers Church in Washington, DC. Her books include The Soulwork of Clay: A Hands-on Approach to Spirituality (2008) and Creative Aging: Rethinking Retirement and Non-retirement in a Changing World (2010). She holds an honorary doctorate from Virginia Theological Seminary and has served as the president of Faith@Work, a national small-group ministry, and as the editor and publisher of Faith@Work''s magazine.