This is a 3-page document signed by members of Jesus People USA; originally written in 1986, slightly revised in 1989. Reprinted in full in Cornerstone magazine, vol. 22, iss. 102/103 (1994), pp. 19-21, except for the signature portions after the last paragraph of text.
This document, our covenant, is designed to be a witness between
each member of Jesus People USA-Full Gospel Ministries and the
community as a whole, a reminder of our commitment to one another.
This covenant sets forth the community's policy as it has existed
since 1972, and outlines the basic responsibilities JPUSA-FGM has to
you as a full-time member, and yours to it. It additionally functions
in a legal capacity as a contract of both your and our
responsibilities.
Dear Friend,
A covenant is a biblical concept. Examples from the Scriptures include God's covenant with Noah (Genesis 6:18), Abram [Abraham] Genesis 15:18, Moses (Exodus 34:10), and His everlasting covenant promised by the prophets and fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 7, 8). There are also numerous examples of covenants made between men, from Jonathan and David's pact of friendship (I Samuel 18:3) to Joshua's covenant with the people of Israel to serve God and cast away false idols (Joshua 24) to the marriage covenant (Genesis 2:24).
From that biblical context, JPUSA-FGM sees our covenant as not only an agreement between the community and each individual member, but an agreement including a third party, the Lord. A covenant with JPUSA does not equal salvation, nor does it bring a person into a special "elect within the elect," a higher order of Christians. It is the agreement of an informed individual, the member, and one small expression of the Christian Church, JPUSA, that we see God leading us together in service to Him.
We have seen many "covenant communities" draw up a detailed covenant, then attempt to live that covenant out, resulting in either outright failure or (what's worse) sterile religious legalism. For ourselves, we find a covenant more an outgrowth of relationships than their cause. The marriage covenant is the result of two individuals' love and commitment to one another; the covenant between a Christian and his or her Lord is "only" joyfully accepting what Christ already accomplished for us with His death on the cross and His resurrection three days later; a covenant between JPUSA and any of its members is only the ratification of what appears to both the community and the person as God's will at least at this time. In short, signing this document is the outward sign of a heartfelt covenant relationship between Jesus People USA-FGM and yourself.
A covenant is, as Webster's dictionary puts it, "a binding and solemn agreement made by two or more individuals, parties, etc. to do or keep from doing a specific thing; compact." Inherent in a covenant is the idea of promises and duties on both sides, spelling out what the nature of our relationship is and will be in various situations. In that respect, this document is not only a covenant between each member and the community, but may also be helpful to someone considering a relationship with JPUSA-FGM. We will attempt to spell out the community's responsibilities, duties, and heart for each member, as well as the member's responsibility toward the community.
Jesus People USA-Full Gospel Ministries (JPUSA-FGM) is an evangelical Christian community based in Chicago, Illinois. The community is located in the inner-city ghetto area of "Uptown" in order to live out our understanding of the full gospel: evangelizing the unsaved, nurturing, instructing, and counseling Christians according to sound biblical principles, and providing material aid, friendship, and other practical help to the poor as outlined in Matthew 25:34-40: "Then the King will say to those at His right hand, 'Come . . . inherit the kingdom prepared for you . . . for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me . . . as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'" Patterning ourselves after the first-century church at Jerusalem described in the book of Acts, JPUSA-FGM share material possessions and income: ". . . no one said the any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common" (Acts 4:32).
Our "church government" is made up of a council of at least seven elders/pastors, responsible for the oversight and growth of the ministry, as taught by the Apostle Peter: "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseer . . . not greedily for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock" (I Peter 5:2-3). The council is also the board of directors for corporate purposes, and on them rests the responsibility to amend the rules and bylaws by which the community operates. Also, numerous deacons, deaconesses, and other older community members bear much of the responsibility in both making decisions and carrying them out.
The leaders submit one to another, to other members of the community, and to God's Word, the Bible. There are no "big wheels" in JPUSA, but rather older community members attempt to imitate Christ in servanthood. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). In turn, each member's commitment is to abide by decisions made by the elders in accordance with biblical principles: "Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give an account" (Hebrews 13:17). Yet always keeping in mind that we each must answer before God for our own actions, any member of JPUSA must never follow direction contrary to God's Word or his or her conscience, no matter who would advocate such teaching or action. "So then, each of us will give an account to God" (Romans 14:12).
Like any group of Christians, JPUSA has certain ways of doing things that work for us. Prospective members may have to try it to know if it works for them. That is why we require a prospective member to spend a two-week trial period living in the community, which may be extended if JPUSA feels it appropriate. First, the trial period lets the prospective member view daily community life firsthand, so he or she can say, "This is what I've been looking for!" or, "This definitely ISN'T for me."
Second, it lets the community see how the prospective member deals with the pressures of community living. A thoughtless covenant between a member and JPUSA could be like a bad marriage: two folks making each other miserable. After a two-week trial period, an elder or other older member will meet with the potential member and discuss the covenant. If that person wishes to join JPUSA, the council will make a final decision at the next regular meeting.
If the person is accepted after his or her two-week trial period, that person becomes a provisional member for one year, a time during which all the terms of this covenant apply to that person. At the end of that one-year provisional membership, the provisional member and JPUSA's council reevaluate that member's commitment to the community; if both believe the relationship should continue, the provisional member automatically becomes a regular member. The terms of this covenant continue to apply to him or her for as long as that member remains a member of JPUSA.
What are requirements to be a member of JPUSA? Anyone wanting to join the community must be at least eighteen years old and profess a born-again experience with Jesus Christ, as well as a continuing personal relationship with Jesus as Lord of his or her life. Additionally, they must affirm agreement with JPUSA's published statement of faith. The community fellowships with many Christians who on certain points have doctrinal differences with us, but when people live as closely as we do, doctrinal contention over significant points of faith within our membership can cause discord and strife with no real purpose.
If our statement of faith has a major point or points incompatible with a member's beliefs, we urge the member to discuss his or her convictions with a pastor. While obviously no two of us are going to agree on the interpretation of every sentence of Scripture, JPUSA's published statement of faith reflects central doctrines held by the majority of Christians throughout history. After a time of searching the Scriptures together and prayer, if the member still feels the community's teaching (based largely on Reformed evangelical theology) is in variance with his or her understanding of God's Word, that particular member will do best to find fellowship with Christians more in agreement with his or her stance. This does not imply judgment on our part, but only the desire to help the member and our community continue on in their respective walks of faith. "Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind" (Romans 14:5b).
Any individual member may end his or her membership and leave the community at any time. We encourage anyone wishing to do so to communicate with older members of the community as to his or her reasons, not so we can "convince" him or her to stay, but so that we can together pray over God's continuing will. As that person's Christian family, and as friends who have lived and learned together, we want to be honest and open even in a time that may be taking us different directions. A person who has come for "rehabilitation" purposes and decides to leave or give up their faith in Jesus Christ often finds it hard to face fellow believers and tell them the truth. Nonetheless, we would rather have their departure be with good wishes and our prayers.
The final decision on membership is committed to the discretion of the council. In the event that a member, in the judgment of the council, acts or speaks in a manner inconsistent with our published statement of faith, or violates the moral and behavioral standards of JPUSA, the council has the option to end the membership of that individual. At that time, we try to direct such a person to a place more appropriate to his or her needs. We remind these individuals that God's plan does not begin and end with JPUSA, but that He has a special place for every Christian.
The community provides room and board in its own facilities. Every member is assigned a room in one of the JPUSA buildings; single people share a room "dormitory-style" with other singles of their own sex, while married couples of course have a private room. Infants up to one or two years old, depending on the parents' wishes, stay in the parents' room. When the parents feel the child is old enough to move out, they move the child to a room on the same floor as close as possible to their room. Our community attempts to get people settled, but does reserve the right to change room assignments at times in order to best meet the community's needs. "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4). We serve three simple but hearty meals a day in our community dining room, and for those with special dietary needs (e.g., diabetics) we do our best to provide a proper diet. Members' daily needs such as toilet articles, clothing, and money for special celebrations (birthday, Christmas, etc.) are met from the common fund as the Lord provides. "And they sold their possessions and goods and distributed to all, as any had need" (Acts 2:45).
In accordance with our vision of living in close identification with the poor, we use public health care (e.g., Cook County Hospital) for most health needs. JPUSA does not provide health insurance, and unless a member has individual health care benefits such as V.A. benefits, public health care will be used except when the medical problem necessitates otherwise.
The relative poverty we know in contrast to the middle-class norm of American society is, to us, not a liability but an honor. Christ has shown us that ordinary people, by pooling their resources, can accomplish extraordinary things (e.g., an internationally known band, REZ, a major Christian magazine, Cornerstone, emergency housing, feeding 200 street people daily, providing chaplains in various jails, youth homes, and hospitals, and other ministries too numerous to mention). This sharing has not only included our physically and spiritually pitching in and working hard, but has also, through the years, included pooling our major financial assets together into the community fund.
The concept of turning over one's material assets is a delicate one, and in order to help everyone involved be sure of their purpose and motives (and not be swept away by a whim of the moment), JPUSA has instituted certain safeguards. First, members are not obligated to turn over any assets. Second, married couples are not permitted to turn over substantial assets (except vehicles) to JPUSA until they become regular members. Third, any substantial assets that a member does not wish to turn over to the community should be either disposed of before coming to JPUSA or stored somewhere other than any of our community's buildings. Fourth, in the case of personal bank accounts which are not turned over, we ask that members not use such funds for personal expenditures unless they clear it with the financial office. This is done to prevent a dual standard of living arising between members with substantial assets and those with little or none. Fifth, members keep such items as clothing, small appliances, stereos, and recreational gear such as bikes and tennis rackets, etc.
We are cautious in accepting a member's assets, as it's impossible to give them back once they've been used by the community. While members may terminate their membership and leave the community at any time, upon leaving a member may not take back assets which he or she turned over to the community. Also, JPUSA has no obligation to pay continuing or leaving members any sum of money representing any portion of the value of their donated assets or services. JPUSA may elect at its discretion to help a leaving member in whatever way the council feels the ministry can and should at that time.
Some more money matters: It is our community's policy that child support payments made by a non-member parent for a child whose custodial parent is a member go directly and completely to the custodial parent of that particular child for that child's benefit. We cannot be held responsible for paying debts members incurred before joining the community or incur without proper authorization.
JPUSA generates most of its support through the several businesses it operates. A majority of new members start out in necessary work such as dish washing, serving food to our 200 to 300 daily dinner guests, maintaining our buildings, etc. Then they are often channeled into one of the businesses or ministries of the community. The council considers a member's talents, spiritual maturity, and personal desires, as well as the community's needs, in deciding where a member should work. "For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ . . ." (Romans 12:4, 5).
JPUSA is taxed as a large partnership according to the Internal Revenue Code, section 510(d). Each provisional member becomes a partner upon signing this covenant. All income goes toward food, housing, utilities, and maintenance costs, as well as our stated community purposes of evangelism, helping the poor, and discipling believers, all of which are paid for by our financial department.
The members of JPUSA are all partners in the business enterprises of the ministry--J.P. Roofers, J.P. Painters, J.P. Contractors, J.P. Movers, Cornerstone Graphics, Lakefront Roofing Supply, and other businesses that may be added subsequent to the preparation of this covenant.
Also, since JPUSA members are partners not employees, the community does not carry any workman's compensation insurance or owe the injured members any workman's compensation benefits. JPUSA does not pay social security for the same reasons. JPUSA-FGM does not owe its partners any set hourly wage scale for their labor. For tax purposes, each member is allocated a pro rata portion of the partnership income for each year depending on the number of days of membership in the community during that year. A member's place as a partner of JPUSA-FGM is automatically ended on the day that person leaves the community. Each member's payment of any income tax due on his or her share of the partnership income will be paid by the community. JPUSA is not responsible if a member neglects to report a portion of his or her income not originating from the JPUSA partnership.
We at JPUSA have heard a call from God to reach Chicago's inner city and beyond with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps JPUSA's most important benefit is helping each member grow and mature in the Christian faith through an intensive environment of Christian fellowship, counseling, biblical teaching, and active involvement in vital inner-city ministry. We believe God has guided the development of our community according to His will for us. We have observed for over a decade that by pooling our resources and efforts in the ways He has shown us, we accomplish collectively much more than we could individually. At the same time, we at JPUSA realize that ours is only one kind of expression of biblical Christianity among many in the worldwide body of Christ. Ours is a particular call, and membership in JPUSA is for those who hear that call.
"Love is neither sentimental nor a passing emotion. It is an attraction to others which gradually becomes commitment, the recognition of a covenant, of a mutual belonging. It is listening to others, being concerned for them and feeling empathy with them. It means answering their call and their deepest needs. It means feeling and suffering with them--weeping when they weep, rejoicing when they rejoice. Loving people means being happy when they are there, sad when they are not. It is living in each other, taking refuge in each other. 'Love is a power for unity,' says Denys l'Areopage. And if love means moving towards each other, it also and above all means moving together in the same direction, hoping and wishing for the same things. Love means sharing the same vision and the same ideal. So it means wanting others to fulfill themselves, according to God's plan and in service to other people. It means wanting them to be faithful to their own calling, free to love in all the dimensions of their being."—Jean Vanier, Community and Growth
After reading this document, and after prayer and discussion with others, I want to become a partner of Jesus People USA-Full Gospel Ministries. By signing this document I agree to all the points discussed here having to do with my responsibilities to the community and its responsibilities to me.
Signed this day of ___ in the year of our Lord, _______
Member ____________________ Social Security Number _____________
Signed this day of ___ in the year of our Lord, _________
JPUSA elder ________________________________
Name and address of closest relative not living in the community:
Name _________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________
City __________________________ State ____ Zip _______________
Telephone Number (___)_______________
State of Illinois
County of Cook
My commission expires ________________________
First published in Cornerstone
(ISSN 0275-2743),
Vol. 22, Issue 102/103(1994), pp. 19-21
© 1994 by Cornerstone Communications, Inc.
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