SHARING AND SIMPLICITY
As community members we commit to living simply and sharing our resources with each other so that we may have more to give to those in need. We also recognize that as one human family we share the gift of this earth. We will work to live in a way that considers the needs of the human family on this planet. We recognize that all we have belongs to God, and then to our brothers and sisters in this village.
PEACE
As community members we commit to resolving conflict according in the way prescribed in Matthew 18. We commit to extend self- giving love to all people in the same way God does. This includes our enemies. We commit to following the Spirit’s leading as we partner with God to mend our world.
WORK, PLAY, AND REST
As community members we recognize work as the dignified activity of helping God provide for human needs. We commit to working within our households and outside of them in order to sustain our life together. We avoid outside work that contributes to human pain and suffering. We also commit to creating times in which we have fun together, fostering an enjoyment of God’s good gifts. We commit to times of rest and reflection, both individually and as a community. We remember that life on earth does not revolve around us. The earth will not fall apart if we take day off. It does not even fall apart when God takes a day off.
COVENANT LIFE
As community members, we allow one another to lovingly challenge and encourage us to remain faithful to our covenant and to Jesus’ kingdom way of life. We commit to doing the same for each other. As community members we commit to lifting burdens off of those we meet in our world and to liberating people from poverty and emotional and spiritual deprivation.
SUBMISSION
We recognize the church as Christ’s body and humbly submit to its leadership as we do to Christ. We recognize the human tendency to pursue our own self-centered visions rather than God’s dream for our community. We commit to support and encourage those God has called to leadership roles among us and to passionately follow the dream that God has called us to as a covenant community.
TRANSFORMATION
We commit to the disciplined spiritual life, recognizing God as a God of life and newness. We work to create space in our lives where God can be free to speak and act in us. The life of spiritual disciplines will be cultivated, encouraged, and expected. Church discipline will be part of helping each of us grow into maturity, and out of childish ways of behaving. The hope is that each of us and us together look more and more like our teacher Jesus.
FAMILY
We commit to living as God’s new family. This means respectful and loving interaction between gender, age, race, class, and any other lines that divide people in our world. We recognize the humanity in us all and welcome strangers with Christ-like hospitality.
SERVANTS
We do not see our primary identity as consumers, rather as partners who will give and receive from the community. This will mean each of us offering ourselves and our resources to the community, and, following the example of our teacher, being willing to do whatever, wherever, and whenever to serve and sacrifice for each other.
BLESSING
We are called as a community to be a blessing to the neighborhood that hosts us. As agents of restoration we will work to see our neighborhood through the eyes of Jesus, and work towards learning from and loving our neighbor.
DISCOVERY
We commit to welcoming and facilitating spiritual self-discovery. This will mean creating space for and offering guidance to seek- ing people through a process of exploring the Biblical Story, experiencing the blessing and demands of covenant community, and evaluating their own readiness to believe in and live the gospel.
