A practical look at household life in 1976. This is a list of agreements made by members of one People of Praise household for the sake of common life and unity and to avoid misunderstanding and mismatched expectations.
Note: This is a faithful transcript of the original document, which retains any typographical errors in the original, as well as mark-ups such as crossed out lines. To read a scan of the original document, click the box above.
We promise to live our lives in Christ by the power of His Spirit, to live as a Christian household within a Christian Community. We agree to support and encourage each other in our life in the Spirit, in worship and the sacriments, in daily personal and household prayer, in service and in Christian witness.
We accept the order of this household which the Lord is establishing with the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit. We agreee to obey the direction of the Holy Spirit manifested in and thru these ministries in full harmony with the church and the community.
We recognize in the household a unique relationship one to another and to the individual and to the household.
We accept responsibility for the mutual care, concern, and ministry among ourselves. We agree to encourage and exort one another to live a more perfect Christian life. We agree to serve each other, the household, and the community in all needs spiritual, material and finantial.
We agree to have a regular household gathering and not to be absent except for a serious reason aproved by our head.
Customs, convensions, and operating procedures.
- We agree to support the household with our time and efforts by joyfully performing our assigned chores.
- We agree to support the household financially by contributing 25% of our gross monthly income or a minimum of $200.00 monthly. This contribution is paid monthly and is to be paid by the second of the month. The household support will be used for mortgage payments, utilities, food, and maintainance of the house and funnishings.
- We recognize that the differences between men and women are more than physical and that roles and ministeries ahich men and women are expected to perform are different. Some tasks are more womanly and some tasks are more manly for example child care and meal preparation are more womanly and such things as yard work and bringing in firewood are more manly. However above all we agree to lovingly serve our brothers and sisters in what ever way we can.
- Decisions affecting the whole household or more than one member of the household will be made by Jim. It is understood that different methods may be utilized in arriving at decisions; e.g. Decision by decree, decision by democratic vote, decision reached after consultation, Note when decisions are reached by consultation and the decision is against your recomendation you should not assume that your recomendation was disregarded.
- Household prayer is each morning at 5:30 (and at 8:30 on Saturdays.) (MAYBE) We do not have household prayer on Sundays
- The evening meal will be at aproximately
5:30(6:30) all members of the household should be present for the household meal, unless your head and the cook are informed beforehand. Breakfast on Sunday is also a common meal. Weekday breakfasts and lunches are not common meals. - As the lady of the house Jean will sat the meal preparation, serving and cleanup schedule. Decisions effecting the normal day to day operation of the household will normally be made by Jean.
- Household gatherings will be held regularly – about once a month. A household gathering is a time when all members of the household do something together. Guests from outside the househoold may be invited.
- Househbld meetings to discuss situations affecting the household will be held when needed. If you think there is a need to have a household meeting tell Jim or Jean.
- Members of the Household are free to invite guests for a meal or an evening as long as it is known and approved beforehand.
- It is recognized that new members coming into the household will have different tastes in food. However we agree that unless we are on a special diet approved by our head or have some recognized alletgy to certain foods we will eat at least a small portion of each item of the meql.
- If one wishes to fast, ones head should be aware of the fasting and the cook must be informed in time to adjust the meal. Fasting does not exempt one from participation at the common meal.
- We agree not to begin eating until the grace is said. Grace will not be said until everyone who is eating the meal is present.
- We agree to be present for the Saboth meal Saturday evening unless excused by our head. Guests may be invited to the Saboth Meal.
- It is recognized that children in the household may need special care and we agree to help with that care. We agree to watch the children occasionally so that the parents can have some receration and/or entertainment by themselves or to allow participation in a community activity or function. Discipline of the children should normally be administered by the parents of the child. However if you are in charge and corrective discipline is needed then lovingly administer that discipline.
- When meals are eaten in the dining room utensils in which the meal was cooked or purchased should not be placed on the table, i.e. no pots and pans milk cartons, etc. Normally the only person who sits in the heads place will be the head or acting head.
- We agree to celebrate birthdays and other similar occasions with the household at the common meal nearest the occasion when everyone can be present.
- We agree to be present in the household for the major holiday celebrations (i.e. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, St Patricks Day, Dingus Day etc.) NOTE Household holiday celebrations don’t necessarily fall on the same day that the rest of the world celebrates the holiday.
When possible we agree that one member of the househol will remain home with the younger children during church services so that we may as much as possible attent as a group. This does not mean that that person would miss their church service but that they would attend at another time.- As regards our personal possessions we agree to responsibally and lovingly share what we have with our brothers and sisters when the needs arise. We agree to ask before borrowing.
We agree to establish an insurance found for borrowed breakables or accidints $5 initial contribution + $1/wk [mo?]- We agree not to use tobacco products in the house and to discourage guests from doing so. Bearing in mind that some of our brothers and sisters are not free from a dependance on tobacco and it would impose an extreem hardship on them not to smoke.
- We agree to let someone in the household know when we are leaving the house and when we will return.
- We agree to have concern to see that every one of us goes to sleep each nite in the peace of the Lord. We agree to resolve all disputes and difficulties among or between ourselves before going to sleep.
- We agree to review these agreements regularly. (yearly)
Glory to God.
The End.
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