Goverment

Introduction

The primary foundational document of the Alleluia Community is the Alleluia Covenant. The Covenant articulates our basic understanding of who we are called to be as a people, our purpose for being a people and how we are to order our relationships within the covenant. This blueprint for covenant relationships is ultimately what shapes the form of government for the Community.

After acknowledging our call under the Lordship of Jesus and our relationship as brothers and sisters in Him the first promise in the Covenant is to " build up, exhort, admonish and listen to one another; to be quick to forgive and to ask forgiveness; to assist each other in seeking His perfect will in all things." This promise makes no distinction in rank or status and applies equally to all members of the community.

Following this promise comes a list of seven agreements made by the signers of the covenant. The first is to love as brothers and sisters in Christ, the second to be faithful to prayer, fellowship and service and the third is to "Accept responsibility for community order." The role of all government is to establish and maintain social order and by making this agreement each member accepts a role of responsibility for community government. Although the roles may differ; each member shares in the responsibility.

The fifth agreement addresses specifically the relationships of those in leadership roles to the other members of the community. By committing to "Recognize the headship of the coordinators and agree to obey, correct, and pray for them." each covenant member to submit to those in governmental leadership but at the same time, agrees to bring correction to those leaders when needed. Likewise, those who are in leadership roles agree to be open to correction.

The government of the Alleluia is primarily a "Pastoral" form of government and so is unfamiliar to those who have always lived under a government comprised of "Executive", "Legislative", and "Judicial" branches. To correctly understand the Alleluia government one must look to Scriptural models and Scriptural standards for relationships. The Alleluia government could be called an "Elder form of government" or a "Pastoral form of government" or even a "Covenant form of government" and all three would be correct. Most importantly, however, is that it is based solidly on Scriptural principles which enables Christians to live a life where they will come to know God, grow to love God, live to serve God and achieve their destiny of spending eternity with God according to His will.

A. The Covenant

Central to the Elder form of Government is the Alleluia Community Covenant. It is our original and primary foundational document and articulates the basic principles and agreements which form the basis for our community life. The Alleluia Community Covenant provides the foundation for the Community government and is the blueprint for the relationships which make that form of government possible.

B. The Elders

The body of Elders is a group of co-equal Elders who together serve as the government of Alleluia Community. Each Elder must be affirmed by the Full Covenant members and, when installed, serve permanently in that office. Though the Elder role is permanent an Elder may resign at any time for personal reasons.

One Elder serves as the Overall Coordinator who speaks for the body of Elders in official matters and serves as head of the Community.

C. The Pastoral Structure


The Pastoral Team

The Pastoral Team is the chief organizing element of the pastoral structure. It is responsible for overseeing how our Way and Rule of Life impact individuals and for maintaining a just and vibrant life. The Pastoral Team is currently made up of three Elders, one Pastoral Coordinator and two Handmaids. The Pastoral Team is responsible to the Elders.

The Support Group

Each community family, extended household member, and single person is fitted into a support group. These support groups normally include 10 to 20 adults (12 being optimum) and their children. A Support Group Head leads each support group. The Head is responsible for caring for support group members and helping individuals and families live in solidarity with each other and the broader community. Most headship relationships of care and accountability take place within the support group.

Each Support Group Head relates with and is responsible to a Pastoral Coordinator. The Pastoral Coordinators are responsible for overseeing all relationships of care and accountability in their area and for insuring consistency and solidarity among the support groups. The Pastoral Coordinators are directly responsible to the Elders and report to the Overall Coordinator or his representative on day-to-day matters.

The Handmaids

Handmaids are a specific group of women within the community who provide overall insight to the community government from a woman's perspective. They also provide direct leadership for women's activities and assist in certain pastoral relationships. They are responsible to the Elders and report to the Overall Coordinator or his representative on day-to-day matters.

The Family

The core of our Pastoral Structure is the family. The father and mother who form its pastoral team lead the family, recognizing and respecting the human dignity of each family member, in normative circumstances. The head of the family, usually the father, represents and relates to other pastoral structures for their family.


D. The Covenant Members

The Alleluia Elder form of Government could also be called the Alleluia Covenant form of Government because the Covenant forms the basis for the relationships that make this form of government possible and workable. By signing the Covenant the members take personal responsibility for community order and also commit to "obey, correct and pray for" those in leadership roles. Covenant members are encouraged to provide input to the Elders and in situations where correction is needed have a responsibility to bring correction according to the Scriptural Model of Matthew 18:15. Even though covenant members do not vote as in the democratic process they have a highly participatory role in community government through individual input and formal Community Consultations.