PrefaceI added to this blog, back in September last year, the text of Servant Leaders, Servant Structures. Back in 1996, I had scanned and put it online with the permission of Elizabeth O’Connor as I told her of my desire to do some sort of online collection of reources akin to their Servant Leadership School, and in support of their many misison groups who are always exploring certain books.

Later that year, Gordon Cosby sent me a handwritten letter thanking me for the work I did in getting that and other things about The Church of the Saviour online. Even to this day, when I Google Church of the Saviour , Washington, I get several hits at the top of the list from my Web site.

This September “intention” never proceeded vey far after I moved that book text over to this blog. Ironically, the political issues of the fall last year were allowed to overshadow what I still believe could be an invaluable discussion of the content of this book, Servant Leaders, Servant Structures. There was a previous “trilogy” of the history of The Church of the Saviour, all by Elizabeth O’Connor. Call to Commitment, Journey, Inward Journey Outward, and The New Community. Servant Leaders, Servant Structures is a more concise summary, with a few updates from the late 70’s and 80’s and early 90’s, but as you will see if you read some of this, still written with a narrative style that the author is particularly gifted: for that of story which communicates the sense of expectation and prescence that accompanies life in this community. Perhaps I am making a connection here with my own experiences when I have gone to visit, but Elizabeth’s style is as gifted in that regard as any other writer I know. Although she can never be replaced, I cannot help but think that this is a seriously important role that needs to be passed on in some way, so that the story of this unique community (now a “community of communities”; several independent but related by tradition and the same lineage)