“The Church of the Saviour. It is not just one church.” The Church of the Saviour is a network. This network has nine independent Christian faith communities. Over 40 ministries have grown from it. The original Church of the Saviour community was founded in the mid-1940s.
The current ministries and faith communities resulted from an alternative approach. This approach was to “church” and church structures. It is the hallmark of the Church of the Saviour. This approach improved Christian discipleship. It recovered the vitality and power of the early Christian community.
The church emphasizes integrity of membership. It values the ministry of the laity. It promotes communal intimacy and accountability. This desire for intimacy led the community to break into smaller congregations. It chose not to grow larger as a single church.
Small groups formed. They are called “mission groups”. These groups have 2 to 15 members. Members gathered around a shared sense of vocation or God’s calling. These groups became the fundamental unit of community. They ensured accountability in the church. The various groups followed their own sense of call. They gave rise to most of the ministries associated with the church.
The mission groups continued in the church’s offspring faith communities. Elizabeth O’Connor was a longtime church member. Her writings made Church of the Saviour influential. It influenced Christian religious groups throughout the country. It informed contemporary movements. These movements include the missional church movement and the Emergent Church movement. It also influenced the New Monasticism movement.
Gordon and Mary Cosby envisioned the Church of the Saviour. It was incorporated in 1947 in Washington D.C. They and seven others became its first members. Church members sought to embody Christ. They did so in intentional ways. They welcomed radical diversity. They called all to be ministers. They encouraged generous sacrifice of time, energy, and resources.
Discipleship involves two journeys in community. First, an inward journey. This grows love of God, self, and others. Second, an outward journey. This mends some part of creation. The church became the catalyst for numerous helping ministries. These ministries were mainly in Adams Morgan. Adams Morgan is a neighborhood two miles north of the White House.
In 1994, The Church of the Saviour became a “scattered community”. It consisted of eight small faith communities. Each church is independently incorporated. Each embodies its own vision and missions. Each has unique structures. All strive to maintain integrity of membership. This reflects the spirit of the founding church.
These churches share a membership commitment. They share similar formation processes. This includes participating in a mission group. It involves taking classes in the church’s School of Christian Living. Members join a community. They participate in ongoing worship and celebration. Formation for an intern member can last one to three years. Members annually renew their covenant membership. They decide whether they are still called to this way of journeying with Jesus.
The current structure is a “scattered community”. It comprises small independent churches. Having a common history, the eight churches share similar practices. Each is a unique local expression of the Body of Christ.
The Church of the Saviour network includes several churches. These are Bread of Life Church and Dayspring Church. It also includes Eighth Day Faith Community and Festival Church. Other churches are Friends of Jesus Church and Jubilee Church. New Community Church and Seekers Church are also part of it.
The affiliated communities include Christ House. It also encompasses Church of Christ, Right Now. Lastly, Pathways Community is included.
The first outreach mission was The Potter’s House. It is a non-profit café and bookstore. It is also a community space. It has roots in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. The Potter’s House breaks down barriers. The Church of the Saviour founded it in 1960. It began as a beatnik-inspired coffeehouse. It has always been about coming together. It explores questions over coffee. It nurtures responses to inner-city poverty.
The Church of the Saviour transitioned to focus on individual faith communities. The former headquarters was sold in 2010. The affairs are administered by representatives of the faith communities. The Church of the Saviour continues its legacy. It empowers communities. It fosters faith and service.