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the rule > introduction
For the last few months I've been working on the "rule" of life for Vine & Branches Christian Community. I know, it makes some nervous to think of a "rule" because they hear "rules" - that's really not what it is. As Debi put it, it's more like a guideline for the life of our community. Now, that certainly doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken seriously or that we aren't commiting to something when we agree to live in the rule. We are, but we're not signing up to be monitored all the time as to jot and tiddle. This is why the rule is fairly general. It is based in Scripture, that portion of Scripture (the 12th chapter of Romans) which describes the general life of the Christian community in the world. This first part is sort of a letter of introduction to the rule. The rule itself, Romans 12 with abatial commentary on its parts, will follow as I complete it. May the Holy Spirit guide and protect us from error. Amen.
vine + branches christian community > a rule of life
Greetings in the Name of our common Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who always was, Is now and will be forever, Amen. It is through Him and God the Holy Spirit that we have Life eternal. We are grateful. May your life be Eucharistic, full of thankfulness. We are a community in Him and through Him and for Him. He has made us a community together for our transformation into His Image and for the transformation of the whole world. We rely on His real Grace to constantly strengthen us and Teach us and make us whole. As it is written - He says to us, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) From this we take our name and our pattern of life. This is the ground of our theology.
We are a community on a journey together for a long time. We are not merely an organization who dispenses religious goods and services. We are not a place to come so that your duty to God is done. We are not about comfort and anonymity. We are a community. We commit ourselves to one another and to those around us, to help one another along this long journey, to Love one another as He has loved us, as He does Love us. As a rule of life we adopt the 12th chapter of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. Succinctly, this chapter is how we are to live as God’s Children on earth.
Our commitment to certain parts of this rule are contingent on our level of commitment in the community of Vine & Branches itself. We have borrowed from the great tradition of the Monasteries in which there are concentric circles, if you will, of commitment and involvement. The first is that of the Postulant: literally, one submitting a request, in Latin. In our context, as in most monastic communities, it means investigator - one who is living as a member of the community while discerning, in themselves and with the community, whether they are indeed “called” to be a permanent part of it. When someone comes to be a part of Vine & Branches, they will automatically be a Postulant until they feel, along with the community, that they are ready to take the next step.
The “next step” is that of a Professed Member or Permanent Member. In the Monastic tradtion this is the point where the Postulant or Novice makes the decision, with the community, to profess “vows” of commitment to that community; namely, of stability and adherance to our rule of life. Stability, in this context, means that one will be a living part of this community until they die unless God obviously, in the context of the community, leads them elsewhere. Adherance to the Rule is to say that you are a permanent member of this community and it’s rule is your rule - it’s way of life is your way of life without reservation. The only real difference, practically speaking, between these two parts of the community is that future appointed members of the pastoral council as well as deacons will be selected only from among the permanently professed. Otherwise, all are a part of the family and will be treated accordingly.
We call on God our Father, on God the Son, Jesus our Lord, and on our Life, God the Holy Spirit, to empower us to live this life in this community. We ask Him for Grace and thank Him for it. We ask Him for Strength and thank Him for it. We ask Him for Wisdom and Light and we thank Him for them. Glory be to His Name both now and forever. Amen.
| posted by + Alan | 12:36 PM |
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