The new community

by Elizabeth O'Connor, Illustrated by Cover Design by Mike McIver (Illustrator)

Real community cannot exist on its own; it can exist only in relationship to the world. Anyone wanting the kind of community that seeks to engage and be engaged by society will find helpful guidance in these stories and teachings. First published in 1976, The New Community is relevant still today. “The painful, fearful, wonderful message of the modern world,” Elizabeth O’Connor writes, “is that we are members one of the other, and that we cannot live if we are not in communion with each other.” Drawing upon her experiences as a member of The Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC, in the years before it became a “scattered church” of multiple small faith communities, Elizabeth O’Connor writes of events in the church’s life and neighborhood almost as parables. Through stories of loss and redemption, struggle and movement, she illustrates what it looks like when ordinary people try to connect meaningfully with others and work together for change. Anyone longing for a more compassionate and just society, to see it manifest here and now, will find in The New Community a compelling call to find a few others and begin to build it in tangible ways, together. =====Elizabeth O’Connor was an early member of The Church of the Saviour and wrote several books about the church’s life, including Call to Commitment; Journey Inward, Journey Outward; Our Many Selves; Cry Pain, Cry Hope; Search for Silence; and Servant Leaders, Servant Structures.

121 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Elizabeth O'Connor worked for the ecumenical Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C. since 1953 and directed its residence and support group for elderly low-income persons.

Miss O'Connor wrote a number of books about church renewal and community service. The first was "Call to Commitment," describing the founding and development of Church of the Savior, which works toward racial integration through small groups.

Miss O'Connor began and facilitated the Compassion Group counseling program at the church, where she was also a lay leader, a teacher and a workshop leader.

She was founder in 1983 of Sarah's Circle, a program for the elderly in Adams-Morgan. The residential facility has 34 apartments and a community center serving 200 people. Miss O'Connor originated the idea and raised money for the facilities. Miss O'Connor was born in New Jersey and raised in the Bronx, N.Y. She attended New York University and the New School for Social Research. She did publicity work for the company that produced "America's Town Meeting of the Air" for radio and worked for the American Bankers Association before moving to Washington in 1949.

Miss O'Connor, who was a public speaker and leader of retreats, was given an honorary doctorate from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Reviews

[Bill Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle is "A portrait of life together in words and pictures." This book tells of experiences in the life of the Church of the Saviour in compelling ways that express how the faith community learned each time it stepped out in faith. It doesn't shy away from the difficulties along the way, but also shows the amazing things that can happen when a community commits itself to living for Christ and its neighbors, particularly the poor and oppressed.

The lessons to be learned are summarized in the final chapter, "Marks of the Liberating Community." This is a powerful enumeration of the key characteristics of a community living out the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ.

This book will be particularly helpful to to those committed to bringing a faith community into living out the the way of Christ by being a co-creator with Christ in liberation.

[Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about a community going through growing pains. A boat load of insights on the challenges Christian communities face. Written long ago, but incredibly meaningful for today's Christian communities.