Written by Yovie - Nathasa at Friday, 07 October 2005 (1201 hits)
What does it mean to be a 'Disciple of Jesus'?
Common Elements Of The Disciples Of Jesus Covenant
Community
What does it mean to be a 'Disciple of Jesus'?
Charismatic Grace
The Disciples of Jesus Community arose within the context of the Charismatic
Renewal and has experienced constant outpourings of the Holy Spirit which
leads to transformation of life and the use of charismatic gifts. The experience
of Baptism in the Spirit and commitment to Christ are foundational to our
way of life. Baptism in the Spirit brings renewal to the Sacraments of
Baptism and Confirmation, empowering us to live more fully the grace of
these Sacraments. We recognise that this is a grace given for the building
of the Body and we readily promote and encourage the proper use of the
gifts which flow from this grace.
Mission
The desire to bring people to know Jesus Christ is a consequence of His
action in our individual and corporate lives, and an act of gratitude for
His mercy towards us.
The Disciples of Jesus Community seeks to foster a missionary
outlook in its people. This mission includes evangelisation, service and
works of mercy.
We have a particular commitment to evangelisation. Everyone in
the Community is involved in evangelising their own contacts and networks.
Furthermore we evangelise as a Body at local, state, national and global
levels.
Commitment to works of mercy manifests itself in many forms, including
openness to the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised.
Relationship with the Church
We are a Catholic Community with canonical status and aim to be authentically
Catholic and in submission to the Catholic Church. This is effected by
having formal statutes with the Bishop/Catholic Fraternity. The Community
is recognised locally as a Private Association of Christ's Faithful and
as a member of the Pontifical Association of Christ's Faithful via the
Catholic Fraternity. We seek to foster an ecumenical attitude in keeping
with Catholic guidelines and, hence, welcome members of any Christian denomination.
Branches
The Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community is a body of people united in
mutual commitment to each other and a way of life. We have a vision to
live out this commitment in branches. These branches are not autonomous,
separate communities, but groupings of the Disciples of Jesus. Although
the Community may be 'seen' in the branches, it is greater than the sum
of the branches. We have a vision to start branches wherever and whenever
the opportunity arises, following a process of prayer and discernment within
the Community and with people in the proposed location.
Leadership
The gift of leadership is exercised by men and women throughout the Community.
Small groups have designated leaders who take responsibility for
the proper functioning of the group and deepening of relationships within
it. Ministries have leaders who ensure that the vision and direction of
the ministry is maintained. Leadership of ministries and small groups is
exercised in collaboration with other leaders throughout the Community.
Each Branch of the Community is led by an Elder who takes pastoral
responsibility for the local members. He exercises this role in collaboration
with other qualified individuals (who may form a team). The Branch Elder
has final responsibility to the Council of Elders for the implementation
of the vision of the Disciples of Jesus Community at a local level.
The Community is governed by a Council of Elders. Elders are particular
men called by the Lord to give their life in the pastoral care of the Community.
This is only secondarily a management function. One member of the Council
of Elders, the Presiding Elder, is vested with leadership of the Council
and, hence, overall leadership of the Community. The final authority for
decision making in the Community is the Decision Making Forum, which consists
of the body of elders and other covenanted members.
Mutual Commitment
Mutual commitment provides stability for Community life. This commitment
arises from God's call on our life and is based on a lifelong ("Covenant")
commitment, preceded by a committed period of discernment ("Underway").
This commitment is made before the Lord, to and between specific individuals.
It includes a commitment to live a particular way of life, as understood
by the essential elements and their implementation with these people.
Covenant members meet regularly as a group to strengthen their
identity and deepen their vision and understanding of Community life.
The process by which people join the Community in "Underway" and
make a lifelong Covenant is subject to a process of mutual discernment
and reflection. This process is uniform across the Community.
Sacramental and Spiritual Life
Members of the Community are encouraged to deepen their charismatic Catholic
life and respond to the call to holiness in ways appropriate to their states
of life. This would include (but not be limited to) daily prayer, regular
participation in the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, spiritual
reading and acts of service and ministry. We endeavour to foster a Catholic
devotion to Mary, the mother of our Saviour.
The Lord's Day
We give honour to Sunday as both the day of the Lord's resurrection and
the day which looks forward to His return. In the face of a humanistic
world and in respect for the Lord we set aside Sunday for worship, family
life and rest.
General Community Gathering
The General Community Gathering (GCG) is a regular gathering of Community
members to centre on the Lord and to celebrate our life together. It provides
an opportunity to give honour to the Lord's Day, worship the Lord as a
body, exercise charismatic gifts, outreach to others, serve one another,
hear prophetic word, receive direction and input from the leaders, hear
inspirational talks, intercede for the needs of members, and assist in
the evangelisation and incorporation of children into Community life.
The GCG is usually held every Sunday under the responsibility
of the Branch Elder, but is secondary to our personal Sunday Eucharistic
celebration.
Brotherhood and Sisterhood
The development of brotherhood and sisterhood is essential to the life
of the Community. We desire to foster strong, intimate relationships of
brotherhood and sisterhood and we encourage those activities which achieve
this goal.
Small Groups
Small groups are a fundamental part of Community life. They strengthen
relationships and foster an environment in which people can open their
lives to one another in trust and love.
Every adult member of the Community is allocated to a small group
which meets at least fortnightly. The small group structure is in the form
of men's sharing groups and women's sharing groups. A Branch/ Area has the
freedom to form additional groupings in other forms, eg fellowship through
'Celebration Meals'.
Formation Programme
The Lord calls us to holiness and to grow in maturity in Him. In order
to develop our lives as Catholic Christians, and more fully live out our
life in the Disciples of Jesus Community, we have a formation teaching
programme which has a uniform content across the Community.
Individuals achieve minimum standards of formation before joining
the Community and before taking the Covenant.
The formation programme has a specifically practical outlook and
covers a range of issues in Catholic and Community life. We also recognise
that individual formation occurs in many ways and through many channels
and we endeavour to foster an attitude of personal responsibility for growing
in Christ.
Elders take particular responsibility for forming Community members,
but may delegate specific tasks to others. Whoever gives the formation
talks must be fully formed in all aspects of the Community way of life.
Just as we need to persevere in our spiritual and other facets
of our life, there is a continual need for individual and corporate formation.
We also recognise the need for formation programmes directed towards
particular groups (eg. Elders, those giving pastoral care) and for service
and mission in the Community.
Individual Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is a consequence of an individual's stated desire to become
a disciple of Jesus and it bears fruit depending on their openness and
responsiveness. Individual pastoral care provides an external source of
practical wisdom as we endeavour to grow to maturity in Christ. It is not
an authoritative role which could deprive people of their freedom.
Pastoral care is given in a range of ways, but, in particular,
in the context of a one-to-one relationship. The goal of such pastoral
care in the Community is to provide individual support for growth in the
Christian life, so that people may become disciples of Jesus Christ. Members
of the Community who are mature in their faith are delegated to provide
pastoral care for other members.
Pastoral care usually would be given fortnightly in the initial
years of Community life ("Underway") and at least monthly thereafter ("Covenant").
This pastoral relationship develops from a discipling type of role to a
companioning type of role as the person grows in their grasp of the Christian
life within the Disciples of Jesus Community and in their overall Christian
maturity.
Family Life
Families form the basis and provide the underlying stability to our common
life. They are the places in which our children are nurtured and their
social skills developed. We have a particular responsibility to evangelise
our children, strengthen marriages and form families in the Christian life.
In keeping with Catholic teaching, we recognise and encourage the evangelising
influence of families. We value single parents in the Community and seek
to offer them comfort and support at all stages of their family life.
Single Life
We honour single life in the Community and support its different expressions.
We recognise that this is not a time of aimlessness, but a time for specific,
active service of the Lord, formation in Christian maturity and discernment
of God's call on their lives. We are committed to building and strengthening
the single members of the Community in their faith, fostering their involvement
in a Christian environment and assisting them to discern and prepare for
their state of life. We support them in living this out.
Consecrated Life
The rise of celibate vocations in our midst is one of the clear signs that
God is with us and that we are serving Him. We are committed to fostering
and supporting these vocations whenever they occur, whether privately or
as members of the Missionaries of God's Love.
Children and Youth
We recognise the responsibility to train and form children and young people
in Catholic faith and life. To this end we encourage families and seek
ways in which we can strengthen this ideal.
Cluster Life
We desire a rich life together. We foster an openness to living with and
near one another. This gives rise to cluster life, which incorporates a
range of living situations. It is our vision, where possible, to develop
clusters of homes in particular locations where people can live a rich
common life on a daily basis.
Financial Giving and Accountability
We believe that the Lord calls us to generosity in all areas of our lives,
including finances. For this reason, we encourage people to give generously
- using tithing as a guide on which to base their giving - and to give
alms to the poor.
The Community recognises its responsibility as stewards of all
income it receives and institutes proper accounting standards and accountability
by Branches to the Council of Elders.
Community Logo
The Community logo is an expression of our common vision and life which
helps to strengthen our common identity. This logo appears on all
of the Community’s publications, advertising, and outreach material.
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