Stalking the Spirit: In a Do-It-Yourself Church

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. The core group, known as the Stewards, is open to anyone who feels called to care for the whole community in addition to their own work. The Servant Leadership Team is drawn from the Stewards, and its members are paid a small stipend for their nearly invisible leadership. 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.