I ordered a used hardback copy of Call to Commitment (I had one that was borrowed and never returned in 1996 that had been in my collection since 1976). It should get here anyday now. That will mark the beginning of a more disciplined walk-through of the history of The Church of the Saviour, in my attempt to keep myself ready, alert, and reflective on the task of finding a place and a people where such a journey can be taken seriously. The title of the book is a portent of the theology of church which operates amongst this particular expression of the church of Jesus Christ. It requires a commitment which is largely missing from the experience of church today.

The paper back reprint from The Servant Leadership School applies the subtitle: “An attempt to Embody the Essence of Church”. For me, the “attempt” has been a witness to me that such a people is indeed a possibility. Were it not for my finding them, I may have considered the church to be a mere eschatological reality. Indeed, my search for such a community is sustained by the “theological” asurance that such a church is not only a possibility, but also an escahtological reality whch beckons me to work as if I assume the journey will not be in vain. I believe that my online friends are also a part of the witnesss to that, and that my participation in many an online discussion and reflection on the nature of theology today puts me (and us) in the company of such a cloud of witnesses as Bonhoeffer and his community, and his journey from academic to churchman and his experience of empire and its implications for theology are something in which we all are sharing. I very much look forward to not only my re-readings of the Elizabeth O’Connor books on The Church of the Saviour, but the latter 80% of Bonhoeffer: A Biography as I will undoubtedly find many items of Bonhoefer’s reflection to be extremely relvant to my journey today.