Guidelines for Joining the Community

The Communities of the early Celtic Church were not communes or collections of people who simply read the scriptures and then did whatever they felt was right. There were two important anchors that kept people's feet firmly on the ground. The first was the rule of the Community, often composed by the founding saint; the second was the work of the Anamchara or Soul Friend who helped each individual to discern God's voice and develop an on-going personal and patterned response.

Following the example of our forebears our Community also has these two anchors.

There is the Way of Life of our Community . This expresses our corporate values.
The Soul Friend, whom those wishing to be part of our Community will also need to choose, will help them to listen and respond to God's voice on a personal level and compose (and occasionally revise) a Personal Way of Life which earths the Community Way of Life in their own situation. Goals will be updated each year.

Becoming a Friend

It after reading through the Way of Life and information about the Community, you don't feel ready to follow the Way of Life but do want to support and keep in touch with the Community and all it is doing, then you can become a Friend. Fill in the form and return it to the Office with your annual subscription. You will receive the quarterly magazine and mailings about resources and retreats. You will be welcome to attend the Community's annual gathering and regional group gatherings.

Becoming an Explorer

1. Study the Way of Life and think through these two questions:

How will I apply the Ten Elements of the Way of Life in the warp and weft of my life? In what way s might I connect with the Community once I have joined?

2. Choose a Soul Friend

For the first year who has a rapport with the Way and have that person complete and return their Soul Friend Form to the Guardian. The Soul Friend may, but need not be, someone who is also a spiritual director or confessor. The Soul Friend needs to be a facilitator rather than a director but should be open to being used prophetically as God leads. If the Soul Friend is not ordained or a member of an Order, they need to have a reference from someone who is. If you are stuck, ask a Religious Order, or a minister to suggest a possible Soul Friend you can meet with for a trial period; if that fails ask the Guardian to suggest someone you can talk this through with. There are guidelines for Soul Friends in the central section for you to give to your chosen Soul Friend.

3. Draft a Personal Way of life.

List the actions that you feel God is calling you to take in order to make practical the ten areas of the Community Way. Go through it with your Soul Friend. Examples of a Personal Way of Life: Here are examples for each of the ten Elements in the Community Way of Life. These are just to give you a feel, they are not to be copied unless any of them really fit you.

Life - long learning
- I will study or learn the following, in these ways and these times....
Spiritual Journey
- I will: meet with my soul friend ......times/year
- make a retreat ......
- and/or Pilgrimage .......
Rhythm of prayer, work and re-creation
- I will: keep these private prayer times.....
- keep these corporate prayer times .....
- do contracted work hours.....
- do voluntary duties at these times.....
- keep these times for re-creation..... hobbies.....family..... social..... responsibilities .....
Spiritual Initiatives through Intercession
- I will seek to overcome these evils with good.....
- To intercede specifically for these needs ..... at these times.....
Simplicity of Life
- I will cut out these surplus possessions, activities.......
Care for Creation
- I will be more careful for creation in these ways ..... (eg. recycling, keeping a bird table, eat meat only twice a week, walking to work)
Healing Fragmented People and Communities
- I will seek to mend these broken relationships (personal) ...... (corporate)...
Openness to God's Spirit
- I will: take time to listen to God's Spirit at these times.....
- seek to move out of my comfort zone into these unexplored areas of life ....
Unity
- I will weave together these separated strands of Christianity ..... in these ways .....
Mission
- I will take these actions of mercy ..... almsgiving ...... peace making..... faith-sharing .....

4. Apply to be enrolled as an Explorer

Both yourself and your Soul Friend need to complete the respective forms and return it to the Office. Please include your membership subscription, a photo of yourself and a few sentences that we can put on the Community prayer tree. You will receive the Handbook and the quarterly magazine. (Download form for Explorer - Download form for Soul Friend)

5. Spend a year as an Explorer

clarifying and applying your personal Way of Life with your Soul Friend. You will be informed of any regional group of people who are following the Way of Life and, if you find this helpful, you may meet with them or contact individual members.

6. Review, decision and report

After a year send a copy of your personal Way, and return your joint report sheet to the Community Guardian. State whether you wish to continue as an Explorer for a further year (we will review with you after four years as an Explorer). Also state whether you wish to relate to a different Soul Friend for the next stage of your journey, or whether you wish to become a Voyager by taking trial vows (information about these subsequent steps is to be found in our Handbook).

Membership Forms

If you have had a look through the site and like what you have seen, you might pray about joining with us. Some samples of our worship material can be found below along with all the forms you need to enquire about membership.

If you would like to make contact with a member first visit out contacts page

Pray with us

Samples of worship material similar to that in The Celtic Prayer Book in Four Volumes. Download

Forms

Form for becoming a Friend of the Community. Download
Form for becoming an Explorer in the Community. Download
Form for a new Soul Friend of an Explorer or Voyager. Download
Form: Bankers Order. Download

Date Stamp

Updated 15-01-2011