Latest News Flashes 275--By WS
10/98
CM
LOVE CHARTER AMENDMENTS (41 -- 99)
Amendment No. 41: Age Range for Sexual Sharing - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 42: Seniors Rooming Together During Engagement Period - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 43: Senior Teens' Financial Responsibilities - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 44: AIDS Testing - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 45: Right of Mobility for Those on Partial Excommunication - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 46: Personal Time Requirements - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 47: Age Designation - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 48: Procedural Change for Probationary Status - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 49: Clearance to Home Country - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 50: Writing Parents - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 51: Junior Teens' W&R Day - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 52: Definition of Lit Library - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 53: WS Leadership Succession - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 54: CRO Authority to Allow New Disciples and Rejoining Members to Move - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 55: Under 18-Year-Olds Applying to Live with Spouse or Older Siblings - October, 199898
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Amendment No. 56: Vote of Confirmation for Area Officers and Area Goals - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 57: Non-CM Teens Residing in CM Homes- October, 1998
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Amendment No. 58: Procedures for Relinquishing Charter Member Status - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 59: Fulfilling Obligations to Other Family Members - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 60: Required Word Time - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 61: Lit Eligibility for Live-outs and Catacombers - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 62: Parents' Responsibility to Discipline Their Children - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 63: Counsel on Birth Control and Parenting - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 64: Minimum Responsibility for Impregnating Single Women- October, 1998
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Amendment No. 65: Excommunication Rule for Refusing Parenting Teamwork Responsibilities - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 66: Sexual Perversions - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 67: Granting Senior Teens Permission for Sexual Intercourse - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 68: Agreement Between Singles Before Engaging in Sexual Intercourse - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 69: FM Status Option for Members Having Sex with Outsiders - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 70: Requiring STD Test for New Disciples or FMers Changing to CM Status - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 71: Procedure for Non-Family Persons Becoming Fellow Members - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 72: Necessity of Applying the Spiritual Principles in the Word - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 73: Tool Funds for Members Moving to Another Home - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 74: Outside Witnessing Rules - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 75: Placing a Home Member on Probationary Status - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 76: Alcohol Quota- October, 1998
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Amendment No. 77: Clearances Valid for One Year- October, 1998
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Amendment No. 78: Loss of Privileges for Partial Excoms - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 79: Continental Office Initiating Probationary Notice - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 80: Excommunication Decided by a Two-thirds Majority of CROs - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 81: Herpes Rules - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 82: Reading List for Fellow Members Changing to CM and Those on PE - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 83: Word Rules Section of Charter - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 84: Personal Possessions of New Home Members- October, 1998
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Amendment No. 85: New Disciples and Returning FMers' Personal Possessions - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 86: Adding New Disciples to Monthly Report Immediately - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 87: Six Months for Pioneer Homes to Have Four Voting Members - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 88: CRO Authority to Withdraw FM Tool Distribution - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 89: New City Council Requirements - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 90: Eye and Dental Check-ups for Children - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 91: Placing Ads in CRO Bulletins - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 92: Rule for Members Staying Longer than 30 Days in Another CM Home - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 93: Fundamental Family Beliefs - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 94: Appointment and Responsibilities of ABMs - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 95: Responsibility of Parents and Rights of Children to Witness - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 96: Changes in Charter Reporting Dates - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 97: Closing Home Form - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 98: Copyright Agreements - October, 1998
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Amendment No. 99: Setting Currency Exchange Rates - October, 1998
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Dear Family,
God bless you! We love you and pray for you always! Thanks for your faithfulness to our Lord and Husband in reaching out to the lost and needy of this world with His gift of love and salvation. You are changing the world and being a blessing to so many! Praise the Lord!
In this LNF we are presenting all the Charter amendments that were discussed, prayed about and ratified by your WS leadership and CROs at Summit 98. The Family has grown and matured much during the 3 1/2 years the Charter has been in effect. We believe these changes will empower the Charter to be an even greater help to all. Many of these amendments are the result of suggestions from you on the field, while others are merely clarifications and fine-tuning of already existing responsibilities and rules. A few constitute fairly major policy changes or additions, some of which were addressed in the "Charter Responsibilities", ML #3197, GN #803. All have been thoroughly counseled and prayed about and taken to the Lord for His insight, additions and confirmation. Unnecessary or outdated regulations were eliminated, and wherever possible, procedures simplified. We've tried to change things that were making it more difficult for Homes or creating problems, and do the best we could to make it as easy as possible for you to uphold the standard in the Word and serve the Lord according to your faith and abilities. (Please refer to LNF 257 for the first 40 Charter amendments.)
Love and prayers,
Your WS leadership and CRO Shepherds
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Amendment No. 41: Age Range for Sexual Sharing -- October, 1998
To allow for the possibility of regular sharing partners who are moving out of one another's age range to continue sharing with one another, we have amended the Offenses Warranting Excommunication by adding the following sub-clause 6, to point D.
6. If two members were within the appropriate age range and regularly sharing together sexually, and one moves out of the age range of the other, they may request permission from the continental office to continue sharing together. The continental office may grant permission if they feel it is warranted. (See Sex and Affection Rules, H.
This only applies to two members who were in the same age group and sharing together, but then one has a birthday that takes them out of the age range of their partner. For example, if a 17-year-old and a 20-year-old have been having dates, and then the 20-year-old turns 21 but the 17-year-old has not yet turned 18. They could request permission from their CROs to continue sharing together until the younger partner turns 18. The CROs, in counsel with resident parent(s) or guardian(s) of a 17-year-old, have the authority to grant or deny such permission.
We will add sub-clause 3, under point I, in the Sex and Affection Rules to read:
3. If two members were within the appropriate age range and regularly sharing together sexually, and one moves out of the age range of the other, they may request permission from the continental office to continue sharing together. The continental office may grant permission if they feel it is warranted. (See also Offenses Warranting Excommunication, H)
This only applies to two members who were in the same age group and sharing together, but then one has a birthday that takes them out of the age range of their partner. For example, if a 17-year-old and a 20-year-old have been having dates, and then the 20-year-old turns 21 but the 17-year-old has not yet turned 18. They could request permission from their CROs to continue sharing together until the younger partner turns 18. The CROs have the authority to grant or deny such permission.
Amendment No. 42: Seniors Rooming Together During Engagement Period -- October, 1998
Senior teens that are engaged to be married may live together during their entire engagement period, if they so choose. Thus we are dropping the last sentence from point E. 2, of the Marriage Rules, which says: "During the first three months of the engagement, they must not room together." Point E. 2. will now read:
Enter into a six-month engagement.
Amendment No. 43: Senior Teens' Financial Responsibilities -- October, 1998
Although senior teens are not responsible for the Home's finances, if they are raising their own funds to move to another Home, then they are required to share a certain portion with the Home, as would any other Home member. We have codified this in the Charter by adding the following sub-clause (i) of the Right of Mobility, A. 4. c. (2).
(2) Once the member's debts and liabilities have been paid, at least 50% of the net income generated through the member's fundraising activities is to be used to facilitate his move. The amount needed to facilitate the move must be agreed upon by the Home, in accordance with the Financial Rules, D.)
C. While 16- and 17-year-olds are not held responsible for the Home's financial decisions and obligations, if they are raising support to move to another Home, 50% of the income they generate through fund-raising activities is to be used for no other purpose than for the Home's current operating expenses.
We also added the following sub-clause 1, under point J of the Responsibility of Individual Members:
J. Share their material belongings with the Family in general, and with their resident Home in particular, according to Acts 2:44-45, and be good stewards of all Family materials.
1. While 16- and -17-year-olds are not held responsible for the Home's financial decisions and obligations, they are still required to live according to Acts 2:44-45 when it comes to funds they raise either through outreach or secular employment or donations they receive.
Amendment No. 44: AIDS Testing -- October, 1998
Anyone in the Charter Family who has had sexual activity with a Family member who has shared with an outsider must also take an AIDS test and refrain from any sexual activity until cleared after a second AIDS test. To incorporate this into the Charter we will add the following sub-clause (3), under Point A. 2. a) of the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members.
(3) If a Charter Member has sexual activity with anyone who has had sexual activity with an outsider, they must immediately refrain from any sexual activity (except with their mate if their mate is in agreement, who also must then refrain from any sexual activity with others), until the person they had sexual activity with (the partially excommunicated member) is cleared by their second AIDS test after six months, or they themselves take a second AIDS test after six months.
Amendment No. 45: Right of Mobility for Those on Partial Excommunication -- October, 1998
The rules concerning a partially excommunicated member say that he or she loses the Right of Mobility. Although the partially excommunicated member loses the Right of Mobility, the CROs can allow a person to serve his partial excommunication in another Home if there are good reasons for doing so. We have amended the Charter to allow this by adding the following sub-clauses (1) and (2) to A. 2. d) of the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members.
(1) A partially excommunicated member loses his or her Right of Mobility. However, the teamwork of his or her Home can give its approval for the member to move to another Home. And if the receiving Home is aware that the member is partially excommunicated and votes the prospective member into the Home according to Charter guidelines, the continental office of the area in which the member on partial excommunication resides may give approval for the member to move to the receiving Home. The receiving Home, if in a different continental area, must also receive approval from their continental office to receive the member.
(2) If the partially excommunicated member's Home disbands while he or she is still partially excommunicated, he or she has the right to move to another Home. The new Home must be informed that this member is partially excommunicated.
Amendment No. 46: Personal Time Requirements -- October, 1998
Required Meetings and Activities point H has been amended so that one hour of personal time every two weeks is only required for members ages 9 through 17. Point J has been amended to reflect that personal time for members ages 18 through 20 will now be one hour each month, the same as for members over the age of 21.
Point H will now read:
H. All members ages 9 through 17 must have a minimum of one hour of personal time every two weeks with a shepherd or designated adult, or participate in a one-hour weekly open forum discussion chaired by a shepherd and comprising other members of their age group.
Point J will now read:
J. Every member 18 years of age and above must have the opportunity to spend a sufficient amount of personal time with a Home officer or someone designated by the Home officers. "Sufficient amount" cannot be less than one hour per month.
In order to fix a contradiction in the original Charter between the root clause of this rule and the explanatory paragraph following, we've changed the second sentence of the explanatory paragraph as follows:
Therefore every member age 18 and over must have the opportunity to have a minimum of one hour of personal time per month, with a Home teamworker, or someone the Home teamwork designates.
Amendment No. 47: Age Designation -- October, 1998
We've added a sentence to the definition for age designation in the Preface, to make it clear that parents must agree to any discipline of their children for Charter infractions.
* Age designation: Although the full application of the Charter is for Charter Members who are 16 and older, children under that age are also generally expected to uphold the same standard of behavior outlined in the Charter. However children's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must agree to any disciplinary procedures for Charter infractions by their children. (See also Rights of Parents, point C.)
We have also added a new point C to the Rights of Parents.
C. Be consulted and agree to any disciplinary action for Charter infractions committed by their resident children.
Children under the age of 16 are legally under the jurisdiction of their parent(s) or guardian(s), and it is the right and responsibility of the parent(s) or guardian(s) to require their child to abide by the Charter. This being the case, failure on the child's part to live by the Charter would result in the child being disciplined in accordance with the discipline rules by the parents or others with the agreement of the parent(s) or guardian(s).
To highlight that it is the parents' responsibility to be sure their children are living according to the Charter and the Fundamental Family Rules, we are also amending point A in the Responsibility of Parents to read:
A. Raise their children in a Godly manner according to the spirit of the "Charter of Responsibilities and Rights" and as outlined in the "Fundamental Family Rules," and to give them knowledge of God through His Word.
Amendment No. 48: Procedural Change for Probationary Status -- October, 1998
To allow a member being placed on Probationary Status by the Home to speak in his defense if he or she chooses to, we have added the following sub-clause 2, under point D of the Procedures for Placing a Member on Probationary Status.
2. After the matter has been discussed, the member in question should be informed that the Home is considering placing him on Probationary Status. The member should be given the option to come before the Home to present his case or refute the accusations against them, if he or she so desires.
Amendment No. 49: Clearance to Home Country -- October, 1998
We have rewritten the first paragraph of the explanation under E.4, in the Right of Mobility, concerning clearance procedures for members moving back to their home country. This is to allow for a member to return to their home country without waiting to receive their "automatic clearance" from the CRO office as follows:
The continental office cannot deny clearance to a member, nor their mate or children, who want to return to their home country. So if you are British, with an American mate, and you are planning to leave your mission field in India to return to Britain or the United States, then the continental office cannot deny you clearance. However, you must notify the continental office by submitting your Clearance Request Form. In this case, your clearance request form serves as a notification of intent, and since you are automatically cleared, you do not need to wait for a response from the CRO before moving to your home country. You must also follow normal Charter procedures for joining or opening a Home, including opening a Home in a city that already has a Charter Home
Amendment No. 50: Writing Parents -- October, 1998
To ensure that children have sufficient time to write their parents we have amended point J. 2, in the Rights of the Children as follows:
2. Time must be allotted each month for the child to write his or her parent(s).
Amendment No. 51: Junior Teens' W&R Day -- October, 1998
In order for our junior teens be given a day off if they are actively involved in Home ministries, we have changed the Responsibilities of the Charter Home: Regarding the Welfare of Its Members, A. 5. a) to read:
a) 14 -and 15-year-olds that are actively involved in Home ministries should have a day off the same as voting members.
Amendment No. 52: Definition of Lit Library -- October, 1998
To make it clear to our Family and outsiders who is authorized to read the pubs in a Home's lit library, we have added the definition for Lit library as follows:
Lit Library: Home library containing Family literature and fully accessible to Charter voting members. Ages 14 and 15 are also allowed to read all Family lit unless specified otherwise or designated for an older age group. Those under 14 may read those pubs designated for them, and other Family lit at the parents' discretion. The HomeARC and the Member's Only Web site are considered part of the Lit Library.
Amendment No. 53: WS Leadership Succession -- October, 1998
We have revised point B of the Make-up of World Services, to accurately reflect the succession of WS leadership in the event that Mama and/or Peter are unable to fulfill their role as heads of the Family and WS leadership.
B. In the event of death or incapacitation or any other reason that would render their leadership impossible, and in the absence of more current instructions from Maria or Peter, the transfer of Family leadership authority will be as follows:
1. Maria: Peter would become the official head of the Family.
2. Maria and Peter: An interim leadership council, consisting of Maria and Peter's personal teamwork and one delegate from the officers of each continental office and WS unit will be convened at the earliest possible opportunity. The officers of each continental area and WS unit will choose their delegate by a simple majority.
3. Maria, Peter and their personal teamwork: An interim leadership council, consisting of one delegate from the officers of each continental office and WS unit will be convened at the earliest possible opportunity. The officers of each continental area and WS unit will choose their delegate by a simple majority.
a) This interim leadership council will decide, by a two-thirds majority, any WS leadership decisions until such time as a new WS leadership structure is in place.
b) The interim leadership council will, within 30 days of convening, through counseling and seeking the Lord formulate a proposed top WS leadership structure, which will then be presented to all of the continental and WS officers. After prayer and counsel, these officers will vote on the proposal.
If a two-thirds majority agree to the proposed leadership structure, the proposal will then go to the Charter Homes worldwide for ratification. Each voting member will vote, and if a two-thirds majority agree, this top leadership structure will govern the Family.
If a two-thirds majority do not agree, the interim leadership council will continue to handle any WS leadership decisions and a new proposal will be set forth in the same manner within 30 days.
4. Once a new WS leadership structure is determined, each member of the WS leadership teamwork must be confirmed annually, before February 1st, by a two-thirds majority of the WS leadership and the continental officers.
5. If a member is not confirmed for another term, the WS leadership and continental officers must nominate, and second, a new candidate and vote by secret ballot. The nominee receiving the most votes will become part of the WS leadership teamwork.
Our beloved father in the Lord, David, for many years prepared each of us for his Homegoing by faithfully feeding and strengthening us with the Word. The Lord also prepared us all by making it very clear over the years, through revelation and otherwise, that Maria would take Dad's place as Prophetess and head of the Family, and that Peter would serve beside her as king. Having this specific direction, guidance and assurance has made Dad's passing easier for us all. As Dad said: "Who is the most logical instrument that God is going to use when I am gone?--Maria, of course!... The Lord has even said so several times, that she was going to become a great Prophetess of the Lord!" (ML #706:35.)
It is our sincere belief that nothing untoward will happen to Maria or Peter and that they will continue to be God's mouthpieces to the Family and the world until the Lord's return. If, for some reason, the Lord has other plans, we believe that He will reveal this to Maria and Peter and that He will also reveal to them who should succeed them in leading the Family.
If, however, Maria and Peter were to become incapacitated or otherwise unable to continue to lead the Family, even temporarily, and they had not set forth in a written statement who should govern the Family, the above procedures would be put into effect.
The interim leadership council referred to in the above clauses would at the earliest possible opportunity gather together for prayer and counsel. They would unitedly make the decisions that WS leadership normally makes, and they would formulate a proposed plan for the structure and personnel that would then constitute WS leadership.
We pray that this will never have to be put into effect, but we felt it was necessary to include these clauses in the Charter in order to have a contingency plan in place.
Amendment No. 54: CRO Authority to Allow New Disciples and Rejoining Members to Move -- October, 1998
In order to give the CROs authority to allow new disciples to move to a different Home during their first six months in the Family if deemed necessary, we have added sub-clause 2, under point F, in the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a Charter Home.
2. Although new disciples do not have the Right of Mobility until they become voting members, the continental office may authorize the member's movement to a different Home if deemed necessary or expedient.
Also, to give the CROs authority to allow members who are changing from FM to CM status to move to a different Home, we have added sub-clause a), under point B. 1, in the Procedures for Fellow Members Changing to Charter Member Status and Moving into an Existing Charter Home.
a) Although members changing their status from FM to CM do not have the Right of Mobility until they become voting Charter members, the continental office can authorize the members' movement to a different Home if deemed necessary or expedient.
Amendment No. 55: Under 18-Year-Olds Applying to Live with Spouse or Older Siblings -- October, 199898
To allow younger siblings to apply to their continental office to live with their older brothers and sisters, we have added sub-clause a) to the Right of Mobility, points B. 1; C. 1; and D. 1.
The Continental Office may grant permission for a member under 18 to live in a Home with their spouse or a sibling who is 18 years of age or over, even if the Home does not have two members over 25 years of age, provided the other Right of Mobility requirements have been met.
We have also added this to Home Size Rules, A. 1. a).
a) The continental office may grant permission for someone under 18 to live in the same Home as their spouse or a sibling who is 18 years of age or older, even if that Home does not have two members over 25.
Amendment No. 56: Vote of Confirmation for Area Officers and Area Goals -- October, 1998
To cut down on paperwork and communications, we are amending the Election Rules, Vote of Confirmation, C. 2. and b), so that only the tally on area officers that are not confirmed by a Home must be sent to the continental office. Homes would still have to conduct the vote, but only the opposing results need to be sent in.
Although the area officers are appointed by the continental office, a vote of confirmation by Home Referendum for the area officers must be held, by secret ballot, by the required date, as stipulated by your respective continental office, for your May and November monthly report. A Home's vote is the consensus of the majority vote of its members, and area officers' confirmation will be determined by a simple majority of the voting Homes.
Rather than requiring all area officer confirmations to be sent into the continental office, necessitating extra paperwork and communications for the offices, you are only required to send in your votes if your Home votes not to confirm one or more of its area officers. This means that if you do not send in your votes you are voting yes to confirmation of your area officers.
b) The Home's vote would then be tallied. If the tally results in not confirming the area officer(s), then it must be sent to the continental office with their May and November monthly report, as follows:
The majority of our Home votes:
[Officer's name] yes ____ no ____.
[Officer's name] yes ____ no ____.
We have made the same changes for D. 2. a) and c) of the confirmation for area goals:
Homes that vote to not confirm one or more of their area goals must send their opposing votes in to the continental office on or before their May and November monthly report. It is not necessary to send affirmative votes of confirmation for area goals to the continental office.
c) The Home's vote would then be tallied. If the tally results in not confirming the area goal(s) then it must be sent to the continental office on or before their May and November monthly report, as follows:
The majority of our Home votes:
[Area goal No. __ (description)] yes ____ no ____.
[Area goal No. __ (description)] yes ____ no ____.
Amendment No. 57: Non-CM Teens Residing in CM Homes-- October, 1998
In counsel with the CROs and after seeking the Lord, we decided to make it easier for parents/shepherds of teens/YAs who have decided to leave the Family to keep the departing young person with them for a period of time. This is to help prepare him or her for life outside the Family, to help them get properly set up outside a Family Home, and make the transition from life in the Family to life in society as smooth as possible.
This same amendment would also allow younger teens who have left the Family but are too young to live outside the Home, or where no suitable arrangement can be made to stay with others, to remain with their parents in a CM Home until they are old enough and able to move on.
While we cannot make these teens that have left the Family abide by the Charter, the parents and/or Home should discuss with the teen what rules they must abide by. In addition, we've outlined a minimum set of rules which the teens must agree to in order to reside in a CM Home, for the sake of the protection of the other children in the Home and so as to interfere as little as possible with the rest of the Home members' rights and responsibilities to continue to uphold the Charter standard themselves.
Therefore, we have amended point C, and added sub-clause 3, to the Definition of a Charter Home.
C. Does not allow anyone to reside in the Home who is not a Charter Member or authorized guest.
Teenagers who are no longer Charter Family Members, may, with approval of a majority of the Home's voting members and permission from their continental office, continue to temporarily reside in a Charter Home on guest status, provided they adhere to the following rules:
Refrain from behavior that would reflect negatively on the Family, such as shoplifting.
Keep a clean and presentable appearance.
No smoking in the Home or on the property.
No substance abuse or use of illicit or illegal drugs.
No carrying weapons such as guns or knives with large blades.
No drinking for minors, or above the alcohol quota for those over 18, while in the Home.
No cursing or using foul language in the Home.
No violent behavior or harming of animals, humans or property.
No sexual activity with Charter Members.
No homosexual activities.
No continual public expression of criticism of the Family, the Word, or Family leadership.
No audible system music in communal areas of the Home.
No ungodly videos or TV viewing in communal areas of the Home, including their bedroom if shared with others.
No ungodly books in public areas of the Home.
Not eligible for CM or CM/FM lit, unless the parents or teamwork wish to read certain Letters with him or her.
Must abide by all other rules or regulations set down for them by the Home council.
A Home cannot allow someone on guest status who is not a Charter Member to live in the Home permanently or for an extended period of time. However, exceptions can be granted by the CROs in the case where teens who have left the Family are temporarily living with their parents or other CM adults in order to help prepare them for life outside the Family, make the transition as smooth as possible, and help them get properly situated elsewhere. If the teens are not of legal age they might have to remain in the Home for a considerable amount of time until they are old enough to move out on their own. These non-CM Family teens should not be reported as Charter Members on the Home's TRF, but a formal request should be sent with the TRF seeking approval from the CRO Office for the non-Charter member to remain in the Home. They are not eligible to read the Home's CM mailings, have any sexual activity with Charter Members, etc.
Those non-Charter members will not need to meet CM requirements, such as witnessing hours or other responsibilities of Charter Members on the HSEC. They must, however, agree to not break any of the rules listed above as well as any other rules or requirements set down for them to obey by their parents and the Home council of the Home in which they are residing
Amendment No. 58: Procedures for Relinquishing Charter Member Status -- October, 1998
To codify our present policy and procedures for a Charter Member or Home departing from Charter Member status, and that they should turn in their HER funds to their CRO office when doing so, we have added the following section to the Charter: Procedures for Relinquishing Charter Member Status.
39. PROCEDURES FOR RELINQUISHING CHARTER MEMBER STATUS
When a member relinquishes their Charter Member status, the following procedures should be followed. These procedures apply to a Charter Member leaving the Family or moving to Fellow Member status, as well as to an entire Home leaving the Family or moving to Fellow Member status.
A. The departing member and the Home should endeavor to part on as friendly terms as possible.
B. The Home should make a reasonable effort to help the departing member get situated outside the Home.
C. The departing member should leave in an orderly fashion by responsibly turning over their contacts and pertinent ministry material, and explaining their ministries, duties and responsibilities to the appropriate Home member(s).
1. In the case of a member moving to Fellow Member status, the dividing of contacts should be made in accordance with Right of Mobility, A.3.
D. If the departing member is holding any portion of the Home's HER funds, these must be turned in to the Home.
1. In the case of an entire Home relinquishing Charter membership, any outstanding Home loans should be repaid at the time of departing, or if that is not possible, within the time originally agreed upon with the continental office. The entire HER fund should be returned to the continental office.
E. Any member moving to Fellow Member status or leaving the Family should turn in any CM publications to their Home, other than those in the Classification of Family Membership and Literature, B.1. which Fellow Members are eligible to keep.
2. In the case of an entire Home moving to Fellow Member status or leaving the Family, they should turn in all publications other than those Fellow Members are eligible for, listed in the Classification of Family Membership and Literature B.1. to their area or continental office.
F. If the Home has debts, an agreement should be reached between the departing member and the Home as to the payment of the departing member's portion of the Home's debts and liabilities. The Home can either forgive the departing member's portion of the debt, or can agree with the departing member on a timetable for them to pay their portion of the debt to the Home.
Amendment No. 59: Fulfilling Obligations to Other Family Members -- October, 1998
To require Family members to fulfill their obligations, legal and otherwise, to other Family members we have added point S to the Responsibilities of Individual Members.
S. Endeavor to conduct themselves as good Christians, showing outgoing love and concern for others and fulfilling their obligations, legal and otherwise to them.
An important part of showing love and concern for others, whether in the Family or not, is to fulfill your obligations, legally, morally or otherwise, to them. For example, if someone lends you his or her vehicle, your duty as a good Christian is to return the vehicle in the condition in which it was lent to you. Or if you borrow an expensive piece of equipment from someone and break it, the loving thing to do would be to get it fixed or replace it before returning it to them. Another example of fulfilling your obligations to others would be if you were to sell your car to another Family member. Your obligation to them would be to ensure that they receive the title to the car, and that all other necessary paperwork is in order. Being faithful in business dealings with others -- whether Family members or not -- is an important part of your sample as a good Christian.
We have made the rest of this clause point T, as follows:
T. Refrain from activities or behavior that would be a reproach to the cause of Christ and/or reflect negatively on the Family.
We have also added this obligation to other Family members in the explanation under the Rights of the Individual: Within the Home, B. 1.
This is by no means a license to run up debts. We want to reiterate that it is not Family policy to have debts; but if your Home does get in debt, then such debts must be paid off.
Amendment No. 60: Required Word Time -- October, 1998
To formalize the rule that Family members should have 1 hours daily or 10 half hours weekly of Word, prayer and hearing from the Lord, as outlined in "The Spiritual Health Revolution" ML #3184, GN 789, we have amended point A. 2, of the Responsibilities of the Charter Home: Regarding the Welfare of Its Members to say:
2. Allot a minimum of 1 hour daily (or 10 hours weekly) for Home members to commune with the Lord through the reading of His Word and other WS publications (privately or unitedly), prayer or hearing from the Lord in prophecy.
Beside the need for the Home's members to gather together for united reading, every member also needs personal Word time. The Home must allot time for its members to have this private reading and prayer and prophecy time. Of course, it is up to the individual to use this time wisely. The 10 hours per week of personal Word time (united devotions may be counted as personal Word time) is not the recommended amount, it is the minimum. (See Word Rules.)
We have also added sub-clause a) to make sure that new disciples get the Word time that they need in order to receive a solid foundation in the Word during their first year in the Family.
New disciples under one year in the Family must be allocated an additional 7 hours per week, or 17 hours total, in order to complete their study of the full foundation course for new disciples in one year, as well as to complete their basic memory work.
New disciples need to get their grounding in the Word before they get embroiled full-time in other ministries. In order to make it possible for them to complete the study of the foundation Letters, listed in Appendix F: Babes Basic Course, and Appendix H: Priority Reading for New Disciples' First Year in the Family, an additional 7 hours per week must be allotted by the Home for this specific purpose. It's preferable that this additional Word time be on a daily basis, or at least spread throughout several time slots during the week, but not less than 7 additional hours of Word time per week. It is estimated that these reading courses can be completed within one year of a new disciple joining if this minimum time is allotted for it.
An exception to this rule would be for live-outs, catacombers or Fellow Members changing to CM who may already have this foundation from years of reading the Word before joining the Family, who may not need a full year to finish the course. But they should be given this additional time for up to one year to complete this course according to what the Home teamwork deems to be necessary.
When asking the Lord concerning how much time new disciples should have in His Word, He said, "With this decision you are being wise investors, for you are taking the one talent that these new young ones have, the seed of faith which I have implanted within them, and you are watering it and causing it to grow. For faith comes from My Word, and any investment of time, of a quiet peaceful place to read and learn, of support and encouragement as they grow in Me, will be an investment that will be well rewarded.
"Upon the weaker members you must bestow the greater honor & this honor you must give in the way of the time needed to feast on My Words, to do the extra duties for them, which will enable them to have this time. This will be an act of love -- these will be many acts of love. It will be as the illustration that your Father gave of the farmer kneeling beside the cow and serving her. So must you elder ones do for these young; to give and to serve, that they in due time & season will be able to stand straight and tall beside you."
We have also created a new section in the "Fundamental Family Rules" called Word Rules, see amendment number 82.
Amendment No. 61: Lit Eligibility for Live-outs and Catacombers -- October, 1998
We have revised the lit eligibility for Live-outs and Catacombers by amending the Classifications of Family Membership and Literature, points C. 1 and C. 2, to read:
Eligible for the following publications:
GP and DFO publications. Certain CM/FM publications, as well as older CM publications which FM's are eligible for at the entire Home teamwork's prayerful discretion. (Permission to read other CM publications can be granted by WS leadership in special cases, and these may be temporarily taken off the Charter Home's premises at the Home teamwork's discretion.)
Amendment No. 62: Parents' Responsibility to Discipline Their Children -- October, 1998
To reflect the principle that Family parents assume the responsibility for their children's behavior, and must correct bad behavior that is a reproach to the Family, we have amended the Responsibilities of Parents, point H, as follows:
H. Discipline their children according to the standard agreed upon by the voting members of the Home in which they reside, providing it is in accordance with the Child Discipline Rules in the "Fundamental Family Rules" and more fully expounded in "Family Discipline Guidelines" (ML# 2919). Take appropriate action in disciplining their children whose behavior has become a reproach to the cause of Christ and/or reflects negatively on the Family
We have also added the following last paragraph to the explanation:
The parents are also responsible to take action in disciplining their children who commit dangerous or illegal offenses that are a reproach to the Family, such as smoking, shoplifting, continual use of foul language, etc. Repeated failure by the parents to take action to improve the children's behavior may jeopardize their Charter Member status.
Amendment No. 63: Counsel on Birth Control and Parenting -- October, 1998
To add to the counsel given in "Go for the Gold" to the Charter we are adding the rules on birth control and parenting from the "Living the Lord's Law of Love" GNs to point K of the Sex and Affection Rules.
K. Members should apply the counsel on birth control as explained in "Go for the Gold," ML #2961, Lifelines 22. (See also, Mama's Memos! -- No. 4. A How-to of the Practical Application of "Going for the Gold"! ML #3138). Also see paragraphs 54 --114 of "Living the Lord's Law of Love, ML #3204, GN #807, Lifelines #25.
Amendment No. 64: Minimum Responsibility for Impregnating Single Women-- October, 1998
To add to the Charter the rule covering the responsibility for pregnancy of a single woman as outlined in "Living the Lord's Law of Love -- Part 4, we have added the following to the Sex and Affection Rules:
L. A Charter single man has a minimum responsibility towards any single woman he impregnates, regardless of the circumstances that brought about the pregnancy.
1. The father of the child must form a parenting teamwork and live in the same Home with the mother to help care for her and the baby throughout the pregnancy and for the first year of the child's life, unless the mother releases the father of this responsibility earlier.
a) When a man forms a parenting teamwork with a single woman who has other children, the man is to be a father figure to all the children, not just to his one flesh child.
b) When a single woman forms a parenting teamwork with a single man who has other children, she also is responsible to help with the care of his children.
c) This 20-month minimum responsibility applies to all pregnancies that occur after November 1, 1998, even if unexpected.
The Lord says in "Living the Lord's Law of Love -- part 6," ML #3206, GN #809, that when a child results from the lovemaking of two single people, in most cases it is His will that the mother and father marry. However, after having sought and heard from the Lord in prophecy and having received confirming prophecies from others, they are not sure that they should marry, or feel that it is not the Lord's will to marry, the man will be responsible to fulfill a minimum 20-month responsibility to the mother and child. The man will be responsible to help care for the mother physically, emotionally and spiritually throughout her entire pregnancy, and then help to care for her and the baby until it is one year old, unless she releases the father of this responsibility.
If the couple are not sure of the Lord's will regarding marriage at the time that they form their parenting teamwork, they do not have to make a firm decision to either to marry or not to marry. As they work together and care for the child together they might grow in love for each other and the child, and with time feel more comfortable with the idea of marriage, in which case they are free to marry in accordance with the Marriage Rules.
When they complete the minimum responsibility period, if they have not yet received a clear answer from the Lord regarding marriage it's recommended that they hear from the Lord again, to see how He is leading. Whether they should part, having completed their minimum requirement, or whether they should marry, having grown in love and faith.
Parenting teamworks are not required to be romantic or sexual in nature. They can be one of friendship as they parent the child together. If both parties are in agreement to continuing a sexual relationship, that is fine, but it is to be a free choice that they should make together.
The parenting teamwork must be formed if pregnancy results even if the man and woman didn't intend to have intercourse but they did, or they chose to use a condom and it broke or came off, etc.
2. A single woman may, if she chooses, release the man from his "minimum responsibility" for the following reasons only:
a) If either the man or the woman feel led to a particular ministry and it is not convenient for them to participate in that ministry together.
This ministry need not be a specialized ministry; it can be a ministry that either the man or woman is led to participate in due to their talents and gifts. If there are extenuating circumstances that make it difficult for them to be together and pursue this ministry, then the single woman can release the man from his responsibility in order for him or her to pursue that ministry or opportunity of service in the Family.
b) If either the man or the woman chooses to leave a rich westernized field to go to a poor, non-westernized or non-Christian mission field.
For the purpose of this clause, the rich westernized fields are the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Western Europe.
c) If the man and woman presently live in different Homes and neither Home votes to accept the other person as a new Home member, and they can't find another Home to take them in, and don't feel it's God's will to open their own Home.
d) If the Home the man and woman live in closes and they cannot find a Home that will vote to receive them both and the child (or children), and they do not feel it is God's will to open their own Home together.
e) If the man has to leave the country for legal or visa purposes and cannot return.
In this case, however, the woman retains the right to travel with the man to his new country so that he can continue to fulfill his minimum responsibility, providing she receives clearance and a Home votes her in.
f) If, after they are a parenting teamwork, the woman decides to move to another Home and the man wishes to remain in their current Home.
g) If both the man and the woman feel it is not God's will to form a parenting teamwork.
Since the decision to release the man from his responsibility affects the Home, the single woman should counsel with her Home in making this decision, to be sure that she and the other Home members will be able to properly care for her baby and other Home responsibilities without the father's help.
3. The single man is automatically released from his minimum responsibility under the following circumstances:
a) If the man gets voted out of the Home and the woman prefers to stay in her Home.
b) If the woman is voted out of the Home and the man chooses to remain in the Home.
c) If either the man or the woman was to change from Charter Member status to Fellow Member status.
d) If the woman were to get pregnant with another man's baby, or were to become engaged to another man.
e) If the woman must leave the country due to legal or visa purposes and cannot return, and the man chooses not to go with her.
4. If a woman decides to release a man from his minimum responsibility, she should hear from the Lord in prophecy, and it's recommended she seek confirming prophecies from her elders as well.
a) All releases from the minimum responsibility are unconditional and cannot be overturned.
The woman cannot change her mind later and then hold the man responsible. If the man who was released later chooses of his own accord to fulfill what remains of the minimum 20-month responsibility, that is fine, but the woman cannot demand it.
b) Releases from the minimum responsibility must be recorded in writing, in accordance with Minimum Responsibility Release Form. The single woman must sign the form, along with at least one Home officer as a witness. The man and single woman should each have a copy of the signed release form.
c) The Home cannot prevent a woman from releasing the father of her child from his 20-month minimum responsibility.
It is strongly recommended that the woman counsel and pray together with her shepherds and Home to make sure she is able to care for her baby and her other Home responsibilities, or that she has sufficient help, support and the blessing of her Home before she decides to release the father of her child from his parenting teamwork responsibilities.
5. If not presently living in the same Home as the single woman, the man must either join her Home, or she must join his. If neither Home will vote them in as per the Right of Mobility, D., then the man is responsible to find another Home to accept them or open a new Home to care for the woman and child.
a) Because the single man is to do all he can to fulfill his minimum responsibility to a single mother, his vote will automatically be counted as a yes vote when his Home votes on whether to receive the single woman the man has impregnated into their Home.
The man and the pregnant woman must live in the same Home during the 20 months. If that necessitates one of them moving, they must be voted into the Home according to Rights of the Charter Home, E. If neither Home votes to receive them, then the single man is responsible to find another Home to take them in, or open a new Home to care for the woman and child, unless the single woman chooses to release the man from his responsibility.
If a Home refuses to receive someone who seeks to form a parenting teamwork with one of the Home members in order to fulfill their minimum requirement, it is highly recommended that the Home seek the Lord in prophecy for a confirmation of their decision, because the Lord may want the Home to receive these new people even if it goes contrary to their initial reaction or desires.
If the man and woman cannot find a Home to take them both in, and feel that it is not the Lord's will for them to open their own Home together, the woman may, after receiving a confirmation in prophecy, release the man from his minimum responsibility.
b) In the event that the man and woman are under 18, if neither of their Homes votes to receive them and they cannot find another Home to take them in, then the man is automatically released from his minimum responsibility, because under the Charter two people under 18 cannot open their own Home.
6. Both the man and woman may move to another Home or country during their parenting teamwork period, provided they remain together until the child has turned one year old.
7. If a Home votes out a man who is fulfilling his 20-month minimum responsibility to a woman in the Home, the woman can choose to leave with the man, or she can release the man from this responsibility and stay in her Home.
8. If a woman who forms part of a parenting teamwork is voted out of the Home, the man is not required to go with her. He can if he chooses to. If he chooses to stay in his Home, he is automatically released from his minimum 20-month responsibility.
9. If a man who is involved in a parenting teamwork has legal or visa problems and is forced to leave the country in which he lives, the following are the options open to the parenting teamwork:
a) If he can leave to take care of his business and then return to fulfill the rest of his 20-month minimum responsibility, he must do this.
b) The woman can leave the country with him, or join him later wherever he has gone.
c) She can release him from what remains of his minimum responsibility.
10. If the woman must leave the country she is in due to visa or legal problems, following are the options open to the parenting teamwork:
a) The ideal is for the woman to return after taking care of her visa or legal business, to complete the 20-month period of the parenting teamwork.
b) If she chooses not to return to her former country, the man can travel with her or join her on her new field if he chooses. However, the man is not obligated to do so. If he chooses not to go with her, he is automatically released from his minimum responsibility.
The woman should take special care to be sure of the Lord's will for her to move to another field. If the woman leaves the country and cannot return, then the man is also released from his responsibility unless he chooses to join the woman on her new field.
11. After a man and woman are an established parenting teamwork in a Home, if the woman wants to move to another Home and the man doesn't, he is not obligated to move. She can either release the man from his minimum responsibility and move, or she can choose to stay in the same Home and thus continue to benefit from his help.
12. If the Home where the parenting teamwork resides closes, the man and the woman must find a new Home to take them in together, until they have completed their minimum requirement, or else open their own Home.
a) If the man and woman cannot find a Home to take them in, and feel that it is not the Lord's will for them to open their own Home together, the woman may, after receiving a confirmation in prophecy, release the man from his minimum responsibility.
13. If a man knows he will be traveling soon and has written for clearance, he should inform the woman of his plans before having sexual activity that could result in pregnancy. If the woman becomes pregnant, the man and the woman are responsible to first pray about marriage. If they do not want to get married or they're not sure, then he can still leave as he had planned.
a) If she chooses, the woman has the right to join him on his new field to form a parenting teamwork, provided she receives clearance and is voted in to his new Home, or they find another Home to take them in, or they open their own Home. If she chooses not to join him he is automatically released from the minimum responsibility
14. If a man plans to travel but he did not tell the woman about his travel plans and that he had written for clearance to another country at the time when they were deciding whether to engage in sexual activity that could result in pregnancy, then he is obligated to fulfill his minimum responsibility regardless of his travel plans or the fact that he has written for clearance. If he has not yet left the country when the woman finds out she's pregnant, then there are two options:
a) If he is in a westernized country and is moving to a non-westernized country, the woman can release him from his minimum responsibility if she feels led.
For the purpose of this clause, "Westernized countries" are the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all West European countries.
b) If he is in a non-westernized country already, then he is required to stay with the woman for the 20-month minimum responsibility, unless she chooses to go with him or release him from his responsibility for one of the other reasons in clause L. 2, page 24.
15. If the man had already moved to another country before the woman found out she was pregnant, he is not obligated to return provided he had informed the woman of his plans to travel and that he had written for clearance before they had intercourse.
a) The woman has the right to join him in his new location if she wants him to meet the 20-month minimum requirement, provided she receives clearance to his new Home, or they find another Home to take them in, or they open their own Home. If she chooses not to join him he is automatically released from the minimum responsibility.
b) If the man had not informed the woman of his plans to travel and that he had written for clearance prior to their decision to have intercourse, unless the woman releases him, he must return to his previous country to fulfill his minimum responsibility.
16. If at the time that the man and woman make the decision to engage in sexual activity which could result in pregnancy, the woman informs the man that she has written for clearance and plans to travel to another country, if the woman becomes pregnant, the man must do all he can to accompany her to the field or join her there to fulfill the minimum 20-month responsibility.
17. If the woman fails to inform the man of her travel plans and that she has written for clearance to another country when they decide to engage in sexual activity which could result in pregnancy, and she becomes pregnant, the man is not obligated to travel with her. But if she remains in the same country, the man is obligated to full the minimum responsibility.
a) If the woman is in another country when she finds out she's pregnant, the man is not required to join her. But if she returns to the former country, he is required to fulfill the minimum 20-month responsibility.
Should the woman release the man from his minimum responsibility because either he or she are moving to another country, and later he or she returns to the same country, the man is not required to complete his minimum responsibility. However, the loving and responsible thing for him to do would be to fulfill what remains of his minimum responsibility to the woman and child, if that is what the woman desires, but it is not required.
18. The woman is not obligated to receive the man's help. She has the last say as to whether they will form a parenting teamwork or whether she will release the man from his 20-month minimum responsibility.
If the woman decides to release the man from the minimum responsibility for reasons other than those listed in point L.2. 24, she will be held accountable before the Lord for her decision, so she should not base her decision only on feelings. She should have prophecies to back up her decision, and it's recommended that she also seek confirming prophecies.
19. When the woman does not know who the father of her child is, she cannot hold any of the potential candidates to the 20-month minimum responsibility.
Although they will not be held to the minimum responsibility, all those who might be the father can share in the care of the woman during her pregnancy as much as they can.
a) Should it become known during the first year after the birth of the child who the father is, and both the man and the woman are agreed on the matter, then the best solution is that they marry. If they choose not to marry or aren't sure, the man must fulfill what remains of the 20-month minimum responsibility, unless the woman releases him.
b) If a man is not sure if he's the father of a child, and he becomes involved with or marries another woman in the meantime, if he and the woman he created a child with come to an agreement later that he is the father of the child, he will be held responsible for fulfilling the minimum responsibility, if the woman who bore his child so desires.
It's highly recommended that if a man knows there's a possibility that he might have fathered a child with someone else, he should make this known to any woman he becomes seriously involved with in the future, until such time as he knows that he is not the father of the child, or until he has fulfilled the minimum responsibility, or until the mother of the child has released him from his responsibility.
20. If a man impregnates more than one woman he is responsible to fulfill the minimum 20-month responsibility with them all, unless one or more of the women feels led to release him of the responsibility.
When a man has impregnated more than one woman, he is required to pray about the relationship he will have with each one. First he should pray about the option of marriage to see how the Lord would lead him in that respect. It could be that the Lord would lead him to marry one of the women or that they would enter into a threesome relationship. There is also the possibility that the Lord would lead the man to marry one of the women and assume the 20-month minimum responsibility with the other. Or there is the possibility that the Lord would lead the man to assume the 20-month minimum responsibility with both women -- and in both the previous cases -- of course, they would have to make arrangements to all live in the same Home.
21. A man who has either been released from forming a parenting teamwork with the mother of his child or who completes the designated minimum 20-month responsibility can support the woman financially or with goods, if he chooses, but it's not required. He should at least support her spiritually, with love, encouragement, and prayer.
22. If a man refuses to fulfill his minimum responsibility when he has fathered a child, the continental office will decide whether he will be fully or partially excommunicated.
For a fuller explanation of the "minimum responsibility" when a single woman gets pregnant, please read "Living the Lord's Law of Love, Part 6", (ML #3206) (GN #809) (Lifelines 25).
M. A Charter married couple has a minimum responsibility towards any single woman the man impregnates, regardless of the circumstances that brought about the pregnancy.
1. They must form a parenting teamwork with the single woman, and live in the same Home together. The man and his wife will help care for the single woman physically, emotionally and spiritually throughout her pregnancy, as well as help care for her and the baby for the first year of the child's life, unless the single woman releases the couple of their responsibility earlier.
a) When a couple forms a parenting teamwork with a single woman who has other children, the man is to be a father figure to all the children, not just to his one flesh child.
b) When a single woman forms a parenting teamwork with a married couple who has other children, she also is responsible to help them with the care of their children.
c) The 20-month minimum responsibility applies to all pregnancies that occur after November 1, 1998, even if unexpected.
When a married man and a single woman create a child, the Lord does not emphasize marriage (which would mean a threesome). However, a parenting teamwork must be formed if pregnancy results even if the man and woman didn't intend to have intercourse but they did, or they chose to use a condom and it broke or came off, etc.
The relationship the married man and single woman share as a parenting teamwork can be one of friendship, as the couple and single mother parent the child or children together. It need not be a romantic or sexual relationship between the man and single woman. If the husband and wife are in agreement with the man and single woman continuing a sexual relationship, that is fine, if the single woman wants to. The husband cannot continue to have a sexual relationship with the single woman without the consent of his wife.
2. A single woman may, if she chooses, release the married couple from their minimum responsibility for the following reasons:
a) If either the couple or the woman feel led to a particular ministry and it is not convenient for them to participate in that ministry together.
This ministry need not be a specialized ministry; it can be a ministry that either the couple or woman is led to participate in due to their talents and gifts. If there are extenuating circumstances that make it difficult for them to be together and pursue this ministry, then the single woman can release the couple from their responsibility in order for herself or them to pursue that ministry or opportunity of service in the Family.
b) If either the couple or the single woman chooses to leave a rich westernized field to go to a poor non-westernized or non-Christian mission field.
For the purpose of this clause, the rich westernized fields are the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Western Europe.
c) If a couple without children and a single woman live in different Homes when they find out the single woman is pregnant, and neither Home votes to receive the other person as a new member, and they can't find another Home to take them in, and they don't feel it's the Lord's will to open their own Home.
It is a serious decision for a Home to decline to receive such new personnel. It is recommended that a Home hear from the Lord regarding all requests from Family members to join their Home. But in the case of the possible formation of a parenting teamwork, if a Home feels inclined to not receive the couple or woman, it is especially important that they hear from the Lord to get a confirmation. The Lord may want the Home to receive these new members even though it seems contrary to the initial reaction or preference of the Home council.
d) If the couple gets voted out of the Home and the single woman prefers to stay in her Home.
e) If the Home that the couple and single woman live in closes, and they cannot find a Home that will vote to receive them both and the child (or children), and they do not feel it is the Lord's will to open their own Home together.
f) If both the couple and the woman feel it is not the Lord's will to form a parenting teamwork.
In this case it is advisable to not only have personal prophecies that confirm this decision, but also to ask for confirming prophecies from their shepherds or parents (in the case of senior teens or YAs).
g) If the single woman is already in a good "One Wife" Home situation where her needs are being sufficiently met.
3. Reasons in which the extenuating circumstances make it such that the single woman would be required to either release the couple or choose to move with them (in which case she must receive clearance and be voted in to her new Home).
a) If the couple has children and are moving from a rich westernized field to a poor non-westernized mission field.
b) If the couple has children and they wish to move to a different Home or another country that would provide a significantly better situation for their children.
In either of the above two cases, the single woman must allow them to move, but she has the right to go with them if she wishes. She must, of course, receive clearance and be voted in to the new Home.
c) If either the couple or the single woman changes from Charter Member status to Fellow Member status.
d) If the single woman were to get pregnant with another man's baby, or were to become engaged to another man.
e) If, after they are a parenting teamwork, the single woman chooses to move to another Home, and the couple wishes to remain in their present Home.
f) If the couple has children and they and the single woman presently live in different Homes and the Home that the married couple lives in does not vote to accept the single woman as a new Home member.
In such a case, it is recommended that the Home where the couple lives hear from the Lord in prophecy for a clear confirmation as to His will, and the reasons why He wishes them to accept or not to accept the woman into their Home. The couple (with children) can choose to move to the single woman's Home, if they get voted in, or open their own Home, if they feel led, but it's not required. If the couple's present Home does not vote to receive the single woman and the couple does not feel led to move to the single woman's Home nor open their own Home, then they are released from their responsibility.
g) If the couple has to leave the country for legal or visa purposes and cannot return, either due to visa or legal reasons, or they choose not to return due to circumstances such as lack of finances or visa limitations.
(1) The single woman has the right to join the couple in their new location if she so desires, and if she receives clearance and is accepted by their new Home's vote.
h) If the single woman leaves the country and cannot return or chooses not to return.
The couple may join her on her new field if they desire, but they are not required to do so.
i) The single woman is voted out of the Home, and the couple chooses not to go with her.
4. All releases from the minimum responsibility are unconditional and cannot be overturned.
The single woman cannot change her mind later and then hold the couple responsible. If the couple who was released later chooses of their own accord to fulfill what remains of the 20-month minimum responsibility, they may do so; but the single woman cannot demand it.
If a woman decides to release a couple from their minimum responsibility she should hear from the Lord in prophecy, and it's recommended she seek confirming prophecies from her elders as well.
5. Releases from the minimum responsibility must be recorded in writing, using the Minimum Responsibility Release Form. The single woman is to sign the form, along with at least one Home officer as a witness. The couple and single woman should each keep a copy of the signed release form.
6. The Home cannot prevent a woman from releasing the couple from their 20-month minimum responsibility.
It is strongly recommended, however, that the woman counsels and prays together with her shepherds and Home to make sure she is able to care for her baby and her other Home responsibilities, or that she has sufficient help, support and the blessing of her Home, before she decides to release the couple from their parenting teamwork responsibilities.
7. To form a parenting teamwork, the married couple and single woman must live in the same Home during the 20 months. If that necessitates either the single woman moving to the Home of the married couple, or the married couple being received into the Home of a single woman, they must be voted into the Home according to Rights of the Charter Home, E.
a) If the Home of the couple with children votes not to receive the single woman, and if after prayer, the married couple feels that having to pull up stakes and move to a new Home would be a detriment to their family and their children who are already fruitful and well established where they are, then the couple is released from their responsibility.
(1) Because married couples are to do all they can to fulfill their minimum responsibility to a single mother, their vote will automatically be counted as a yes vote when their Home votes on whether to receive the single woman the man has impregnated into their Home.
When a parenting teamwork involves a married couple with children and a single woman, the needs of all parties involved, the couple and their children as well as the single mother and her child/children, must be taken into consideration.
If a Home chooses not to receive a single woman who seeks to form a parenting teamwork with a married couple who is in their Home, it is highly recommended that that Home seek the Lord in prophecy for a confirmation of their decision, because the Lord may want the Home to receive this single woman even if it goes contrary to their initial reaction or desires.
The option also remains for the couple and their children to move to the Home of the single woman, if they wish and if that Home votes to receive them as new members; or they can find another Home that will receive their parenting teamwork, or open a new Home. But this is not required when the couple has children. The ideal when the couple has children is that the single woman joins the Home where the couple lives, if she doesn't already live there.
b) In the event that the couple and single woman are under 18, if neither of their Homes votes to receive them and they cannot find another Home to take them in, then the couple is automatically released from their minimum responsibility
8. Both the couple and single woman may move to another Home or country during their parenting teamwork period, provided they remain together until the child has turned one year old.
9. If a Home votes out a couple who is fulfilling their 20-month minimum responsibility to a single woman in the Home, the single woman can choose to leave with the couple, or she can release them from their responsibility.
10. If the single woman is voted out of the Home, the couple is not required to go with her. They can if they choose to. If they choose to stay in their Home they are automatically released from their 20-month minimum responsibility.
11. If a married man who is involved in a parenting teamwork has legal or visa problems and must leave the country in which he lives, the following are the options open to the parenting teamwork:
a) If he can leave to take care of his business and then return to care for his wife, family and the single mother and her child/children, he must do this.
b) If it is necessary that the man and his wife and family leave the country due to legal or visa problems, they are not required to return to care for the single mother, but the single woman has the right to join them on their new field for the remainder of the 20 months.
Again, the needs of the parenting teamwork as a whole must be considered. In this case, however, the single woman has the right to join the couple in their new location if she so desires, and if she receives clearance and is accepted by their new Home's vote. But if this does not work out then the couple would be released from the remainder of their responsibility.
12. If the single woman must leave her field due to visa or legal problems, following are the options open to the parenting teamwork:
a) The ideal situation is for the single woman to return after taking care of her visa or legal business to complete her 20-month parenting teamwork, in which case the married couple is obligated to resume the parenting teamwork.
b) If the single woman cannot return or chooses to remain on her new field, then the married couple is released from their responsibility, unless they choose to join her.
The single woman should take special care to be sure of the Lord's will for her to move to another field. If the single woman leaves the country and cannot return, then the couple is also released from their responsibility unless they choose to join her on her new field.
13. After a couple and single woman are an established parenting teamwork in a Home, if the single woman wants to move to another Home the couple is not obligated to move with her. In such a case, they are released from their minimum responsibility.
The couple can of course choose to move with the single mom to another Home or country, if they feel led.
14. If a married couple and a single woman are a parenting teamwork and their Home closes, they need to find a Home that will vote to receive them, or they should open their own Home. If they feel it is not the Lord's will for them to open a Home together, the woman may choose to release the couple from their minimum responsibility.
Parenting teamworks are to make it easier for the pregnant woman or single mother, especially in dire conditions or circumstances of great need. If the Home of a parenting teamwork closes the couple cannot move into a Home without the single woman unless they can also find a Home for the her which she is happy to move into, and thus she agrees to release the couple. This counsel is for all couples, regardless of whether or not they have children. The couple must care for the single woman and her children as well as their own as best they can.
The best thing is for the couple and single woman to find a Home that is willing to receive them all, or for them to open a new Home so they can continue their 20-month minimum responsibility. They do, however, also have the option of finding a Home that will vote to receive the single woman--in which case, if she chooses to move into that Home, she can release the couple. That would be acceptable, but only if they find another Home for the single woman can the couple move into another Home that has accepted them without the single woman.
It is acceptable when stop gap measures are necessary for the couple and single woman to temporarily live in separate Homes until a new Home is found that will receive the whole parenting teamwork, or they're able to open their own Home, or the single woman released the couple. But this must be temporary and the parties involved must be actively looking for accommodations where they can be together to fulfill their parenting responsibilities together. If it is determined that the couple is not working to unite with and care for the single mother, they will be in jeopardy of excommunication.
15. If the couple has no children and they wish to leave a westernized field to go to a non-westernized field, the single woman has the right to go with them if she receives clearance, or she can choose to release them. She is not obligated to release them, and if she doesn't, they must remain to fulfill the 20-month minimum responsibility. If she releases them so they can travel, she can choose to be a parenting teamwork with them until they leave.
a) For the purpose of this clause, the "westernized countries" are the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all West European countries.
16. If a couple has children and they wish to leave a westernized field to go to a non-westernized field, the single woman can go with them, or she can stay with them as a parenting teamwork until they travel. But she cannot keep them from moving from a westernized field to a non-westernized field.
If the couple's right to travel was due to their desire to take the children out of a westernized field the single woman is obligated to allow them to travel, and thus release them from their minimum responsibility, so they can move their children to higher ground.
a) If the single woman later travels to the field where the couple is living, the couple must fulfill what remains of the 20-month minimum responsibility.
If a single woman plans to travel to a field to form a parenting teamwork with a couple on that field, she would need to go through the standard procedure to have a Home on that field accept her, as well as request clearance from the CRO. If she does not receive clearance, then she and the couple may apply for clearance to a different country, if they so desire. Or the couple has the option of returning to the field where she is. But if she is denied clearance and the couple is not led to change fields or return to the field where she is, the couple is automatically released from their minimum responsibility.
17. If a couple with children has formed a parenting teamwork with a single woman and the couple wishes to move on to another Home or field, either westernized or non-westernized, that would provide a significantly better situation for their children, the single mother must allow them to travel.
a) The single woman has the right to accompany the couple to their new field to form a parenting teamwork, provided she gets clearance to their new Home, or the couple feels led to find another Home to take them in, or they open their own Home. If she does not join them, they are released from their minimum responsibility.
18. If a married couple with no children is planning to move to another country, they can only move if they had informed the pregnant single woman of their plans to travel and that they had written for clearance at the time that the man and the single woman decided what sexual activities they would engage in on their date, unless the woman releases them.
a) If the couple moves, the single woman has the right to join the couple on their new field to form a parenting teamwork, provided she gets clearance to their new Home, or the couple feels led to find another Home to take them in, or they open their own Home.
19. If a couple failed to tell the single woman of their plans to travel and that they had written for clearance when the man and the single woman were deciding what to do on their date and the couple are already on their new field when they learn that the woman is pregnant, it is not required that they return to their former field. But the couple still must fulfill what remains of the minimum responsibility if the woman desires to join them on their field.
20. If a woman releases the couple from their responsibility so that she can travel from one field to another field and then later she returns to her former field where the couple live, the couple is not obligated to join together with her to fulfill what remains of the 20-month minimum responsibility.
The couple and single woman can contact each other and pray about what they want to do now that they're both on the same field again, but the woman cannot hold the couple responsible. It must be by the couple's choice.
21. If a single woman becomes pregnant from a married man, whether or not she had informed him at the time of their date that she'd written for clearance and planned to travel to another country, the couple will not be required to accompany her to her field.
If a single woman who is planning to go to the mission field consents to having intercourse with a married man, she does so with the knowledge that if she gets pregnant and still wishes to move to her new field, she will have to forfeit her right to the parenting teamwork unless the couple chooses to go with her. The needs and considerations of all must be taken into account. The married man has obligations to his family, and moving his entire family to a new field may not be expedient.
a) The single woman can decide to postpone her move and join the couple for the 20-month minimum time period, in which case the couple is obligated to fulfill their minimum responsibility. Or she can move on to her new field, which automatically releases the couple from their responsibility if they choose not to accompany her.
22. Whether or not a single woman informed a couple (or the man) of her travel plans and that she had written for clearance before they decide what to do on their date, if she is on her new field when she finds out she's pregnant, the couple is not required to join her.
a) If she returns to her former field however, the couple is required to fulfill the 20-month minimum responsibility.
23. In situations where the married couple is traveling to a new Home or field and the single woman chooses to go with them, the three adults should work together to raise the funds needed for all the members of the parenting teamwork to travel.
24. The woman is not obligated to receive the couple's help. She has the last say as to whether they will form a parenting teamwork or whether she will release the couple from their 20-month minimum responsibility
She will be held accountable before the Lord for her decision, so she should not base her decision only on feelings but have prophecies to back up her decision. It's recommended that she also seek confirming prophecies.
25. When the woman does not know who the father of her child is, she cannot hold any of the potential candidates to the 20-month minimum responsibility.
a) Should it become known during the first year after the birth of the child who the father is, and the couple and the woman are agreed on the matter, then the couple must fulfill what remains of their minimum responsibility if the single woman so desires.
It's highly recommended that if a married man knows there's a possibility that he might have fathered a child with a single woman, he should make this known to any other single woman he becomes involved with in the future, until such time as he knows that he is not the father of the child, or until he has fulfilled the minimum responsibility, or until the mother of the child has released him from his responsibility.
26. If a married man impregnates more than one single woman, he and his wife are responsible to fulfill the 20-month minimum responsibility with each of them, unless one or more feels led to release them from their responsibility.
In cases where a married man and single woman feel led to engage in any form of sex (in agreement with the wife) where there is a possibility of pregnancy resulting, it is wise for them to ask their partner what arrangements he or she has with other sharing partners. They should also offer the information as to whether they are having sex with anyone else that could result in pregnancy, such as putting the penis in and pulling out before ejaculation, having intercourse with a condom, masturbating the woman's vaginal area with the penis, etc. The time to communicate on these matters is when the couple and single woman are deciding what the husband & single woman will do on their date.
A couple who either has been released from a parenting teamwork or who has completed the designated 20-month minimum responsibility can support the single woman and her child/children financially or with goods, if they choose to do so, but it's not required. They should at least support spiritually, with love, encouragement, support and prayer.
27. If a married man is a potential candidate to be the father of the single woman's baby, if they're not sure, the couple can leave the Home. If it is later agreed upon by the couple and the single woman that the husband is the father of the child, the couple does not have to return to their former Home or field to care for the single woman.
a) The single woman has the right, however, to join the couple in their new Home to form a parenting teamwork, if she gets voted in to the Home and receives clearance, if it is a different country.
28. If a couple refuses to fulfill their minimum responsibility when the man has fathered a child, the continental office will decide whether they will be fully or partially excommunicated.
For a fuller explanation of the "minimum responsibility" when a single woman gets pregnant to a married man, please read "Living the Lord's Law of Love, Part 7", (ML #3206) (GN #809) (Lifelines 25).
Amendment No. 65: Excommunication Rule for Refusing Parenting Teamwork Responsibilities -- October, 1998
To specify that refusal to accept the minimum responsibility of a parenting teamwork if lovemaking results in pregnancy of a single woman, either by a single man or a married couple, we have added the following point E. to the Offenses Warranting Excommunication.
E. Refusing to accept and fully discharge their minimum responsibility as outlined in "Living the Lord's Law of Love Series" -- parts 6 and 7, ML #3206, GN 809; and ML #3207, GN 809, when a single or married man has impregnated a single woman. Unless the single woman has released the man, or the man is automatically released, as per the conditions set in sections L and M of Sex and Affection Rules.
Single men or couples will be excommunicated fully or partially for refusing to accept or fully discharge their minimum responsibility at any stage during the period of their parenting teamwork responsibilities with a pregnant woman or single mother that has had a child with the man.
Amendment No. 66: Sexual Perversions -- October, 1998
To further clarify sexual perversions that are forbidden under the Charter, we have added an explanation under point N, in the Sex and Affection Rules.
N. Members may not engage in sexual perversions or any other unclean or unloving sexual activity that is physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually harmful or dangerous.
Family members may not engage in sexual perversions such as sadomasochism, bestiality, anal intercourse, etc.
Amendment No. 67: Granting Senior Teens Permission for Sexual Intercourse -- October, 1998
As explained in Living the Lord's Law of Love, ML #3204, GN 807, it will now be mandatory for 16- and 17-year-olds to counsel with and receive permission from their parents before having sexual intercourse. We are adding point E. 1 and 2) to the Sex and Affection Rules to reflect this.
16- and 17-year-olds may not engage in sexual intercourse unless they have first counseled with and received permission from their resident parent(s) to do so. This permission is required regardless of whether the young people involved choose to use some form of birth control such as condoms.
Even if permission to have sexual intercourse has been granted by the parent(s) of a 16- or 17-year-old, the teens having sex must still agree together before beginning any sexual activity as to whether they will have sexual intercourse or not. If the teens haven't talked about it ahead of time, then it should be clearly understood by both partners that they will not have sexual intercourse or any sexual activity that could result in pregnancy.
Let's explore the following hypothetical situations:
There is a 16-year-old girl in a Home who has been getting to know several teen boys in her Home. She has even begun having dates with one of them from time to time.
On the other hand the mother and father of this young woman have serious reservations as to whether or not their daughter is ready to take on the serious responsibility which can result should she engage in sexual intercourse with the young man in question. Their daughter has not given much thought to the subject of marriage, nor has the young man who she has grown close to. They simply feel attracted to each other, and like spending time together. Neither the young woman nor the young man in this picture are necessarily prepared and/or prayed up on the subject of having a baby together should they have intercourse.
Due to the Lord, Dad and Mama's counsel to the Family that pregnancy should in most cases result in marriage, the parents of this 16 year old girl have a say in who their daughter's mate might be, especially since this is only the first year since she has begun having more serious contact with those of the opposite sex.
Then there is also the factor that should an unexpected pregnancy occur, a great part of the soon-to-be-mother's care will fall on the parents' shoulders. Therefore their daughter having intercourse is essentially a family matter affecting more than just their daughter and the young man whom she is close to. The parents understandably want to have a say in what may be a long term, serious decision affecting all of their lives.
This policy does not hinder young people from spending time together and even having dates without parental permission, although they should counsel about their relationships with their parents or shepherds as well, as already stated in the Charter. It is simply letting them know that they need to ask their resident parent(s) before engaging in full intercourse. This will also cause young people to realize that going beyond this point is potentially taking their relationship into the realm of parenthood.
To ensure that resident parents will take the responsibility of counseling with their teens regarding sexual activity and giving or denying permission for sexual intercourse, we are adding point K. and L to the Responsibility of Parents.
K. Properly counsel and guide their 16- and 17-year-old teenagers in matters regarding sexual activity. (See also Word Rules, D.)
L. Grant or deny their 16- and 17-year-old teens permission to engage in sexual intercourse. (For further details see Sex and Affection Rules, E. 1.
Amendment No. 68: Agreement Between Singles Before Engaging in Sexual Intercourse -- October, 1998
To mandate that all Family members (except mated couples) who are sharing sexually discuss and agree to having sexual intercourse before starting any sexual activity, we have added sub-clause 1, to point J. of the Sex and Affection Rules.
Sexual intercourse or any sexual activity that could result in pregnancy, except for mated couples with each other, may not occur unless both parties have discussed and agreed to doing so before beginning any sexual activity, as outlined in "Living the Lord's Law of Love, part 4" (ML #3204, GN #807).
Amendment No. 69: FM Status Option for Members Having Sex with Outsiders -- October, 1998
To allow the continental office the option to move someone to FM status for having sex with an outsider, rather than to fully excommunicate them, we have added sub-clause 3 to point A, of the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members.
3. In the case of a Charter Member having had sexual activity with a non-Charter member, the continental office has the option of allowing the Charter Member to become a Fellow Member rather than being excommunicated. If the member agrees, the Procedures for Moving a Charter Member to Fellow Member Status will be waived and the change of status will take effect immediately upon receipt of notice from the continental office.
Amendment No. 70: Requiring STD Test for New Disciples or FMers Changing to CM Status -- October, 1998
The Charter already requires those joining the Family or changing from FM to CM status to take an AIDS test. We feel that it's also important that they take a STD test to prevent the spread of other diseases once they begin to share with other Charter Members. To require STD tests for new disciples or rejoining FMers, we have added point 10 to section B of the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a Charter Home.
10. Take a test for sexually transmitted diseases.
A prospective new disciple should also take a test for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) to make sure that he or she is free from them. Since the new disciple cannot have sex during the first six months in the Home, he or she could be permitted to join the Home even with a STD (other than HIV or AIDS), providing the STD is being treated. However, he or she would need to be test free of sexually transmitted diseases before being allowed to share with other Charter Members once his first six months are complete. In the case of herpes, after becoming a voting member he or she could share with other Charter Members providing precautions are taken as per Sex and Affection Rules, N.
We have also added point 9 to the Procedures for Accepting Young Returnees Back into a Charter Home.
9. Take a test for sexually transmitted diseases, (STD) and refrain from any sexual activity until they have tested free of any sexually transmitted diseases, other than herpes.
We have also added the following to the end of points A. 2. a) (1); A. 2. (h) (1); A. 2. (h) (1) (i) of the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members.
(1) They must also take a test for sexually transmitted diseases and refrain from any sexual activity until they have tested free from any sexually transmitted diseases, other than herpes.
Amendment No. 71: Procedure for Non-Family Persons Becoming Fellow Members -- October, 1998
To set out the procedure for a non-Family person joining the FM Family, we have added the following new procedure to the Charter.
40. PROCEDURE FOR NON-FAMILY PERSONS BECOMING FELLOW MEMBERS AND STARTING THEIR OWN HOME
A. If a non-Family person (or former Family member) wishes to become a Fellow Member they must apply to the continental office stating their desire to do so. In their letter, they should explain their circumstances and why they wish to become a Family member. At this time they should also request a copy of the Statement on Fellow Members.
B. If, after reading this Statement and prayerful consideration, they determine that they would like to attempt to meet the Fellow Member standard, they should notify the continental office that they have read the Statement on Fellow Members and agree to abide by it.
C. Once the application to become a Fellow Member has been approved by the continental office, the continental office will notify the new member and supply the applicant with the necessary monthly report forms and reporting instructions.
The new Fellow Member may begin reporting immediately. They will begin receiving CM/FM and FM mailings as soon as their first tithe and report are received.
If the applicant is deemed ineligible for Fellow Member status, the continental office will inform them of the reasons why their application has been denied within 45 days.
D. During the first six months of being a Fellow member, the new member should read through the Babes Basic Course, Appendix F. The Letters in this course can be requested from the continental office.
1. If the new member was a Charter Member, Fellow Member, catacomber or live-out member in the year prior to applying for Fellow Membership, they are not required to read the Babes Basic Course. But instead should read the Reading List for Fellow Members Changing to CM or Those on Partial Excommunication (Appendix G.)
Amendment No. 72: Necessity of Applying the Spiritual Principles in the Word -- October, 1998
To make it explicit that all Charter Members are to endeavor to apply the Lord's counsel in the GNs and other Family pubs to their lives and situations as much as is possible, we have added the following point D to the Responsibilities of Individual Members.
D. Live in accordance with the Word by endeavoring to apply the spiritual and practical counsel given in the Letters to their daily lives.
Not every Letter is designated by WS to be a fundamental or essential belief, meaning that if you don't believe and practice it, you will lose your Charter membership. Every Letter does, however, contain spiritual or practical guidance, counsel and instruction, which as Charter Members you are expected to conscientiously apply to your life and Home.
Of course, there are certain older Letters and publications that don't apply as much today as they did when they were written years ago, as some of our methods and means of accomplishing our job of reaching the world with the Gospel have changed over the years. The Letters, however, contain God's counsel for the Family, and as Family members we should do our best to please God by following the preponderance of the guidance He's given in His Word. (See also Word Rules, B.)
We have also added this as point B in the Word Rules section of the Charter as follows:
Charter Members must:
B. Live in accordance with the Word by endeavoring to apply the spiritual and practical counsel given in the Letters to their daily lives. (See also Responsibility of Individual Members, D.)
Amendment No. 73: Tool Funds for Members Moving to Another Home -- October, 1998
To help Homes establish a method or plan for passing on Tool funds to members moving to another Home, we have modified point C of the Financial Rules.
C. Every Home must maintain at least $50 per person in Tool funds. Either the tools or the funds must be transferred with individuals to their new Home when they move. Not maintaining the $50 Tool fund per person will be considered a Home debt, as outlined in the Financial Rules, A, and Home members will be in violation of the Charter for non-payment.
When an individual or family is moving to a new country or continent where the tools of their former Home/field are either not useful (due to their format or language), or inconvenient to travel with, the member(s) may prefer to carry their Tool fund in cash, and this would be the ideal.
The Home could decide to purchase the tools from the individual or family with the cash they are setting aside as seedcorn instead of ordering those tools from their PPC/SC. This or any other arrangement should be brought up for discussion in the Home council and would need to be decided upon in love, prayer and counsel by the Home and individuals involved - taking into consideration what will be most beneficial for all.
We have also added the following to the Responsibilities of the Charter Home: Regarding Financial Matters, B. 1. a).
a) Not maintaining the $50 Tool fund per person will be considered a Home debt (see Financial Rules, point C), and Home members will be in violation of the Charter for non-payment.
Amendment No. 74: Outside Witnessing Rules -- October, 1998
To raise the mandatory witnessing age to 16, and to allow the continental office to grant exemptions to mandatory witnessing outside the Home for those actively involved in witnessing within their own Home (frequent Bible studies with visitors, active phone and mail ministries, etc.), we have modified point A and 1, in the Outreach Rules.
A. All Home members 16 years of age and above must witness outside of the Home a minimum of two hours per week or eight hours per month, health permitting.
1. The continental office may give exceptions to this rule in the case of behind-the-scenes Homes, or for individuals who are actively engaged in some form of witnessing within the Home, for at least the equivalent number of hours.
We've also added the following to the last sentence at the end of the first paragraph of the explanation.
or individuals who are actively engaged in some of form of witnessing within the Home, such as Bible classes or ministering to others by phone or mail/e-mail, who could, with continental office permission, have an exemption to this rule.
Amendment No. 75: Placing a Home Member on Probationary Status -- October, 1998
To help Homes to more easily make use of Probationary Status as a disciplinary tool for Home members who are not living up to the standard of the Charter, we have amended clause B of the Procedures for Placing a Member on Probationary Status, to make it possible for a simple majority of the Home to place someone on Probationary Status rather than a two-thirds majority.
B. A member is placed on Probationary Status for a period to be determined by a simple majority of the Home's voting members, not to exceed three months.
We have also made this change in point D. 4, of the same procedure.
4. If a simple majority agree with the recommendation, the Home officers must officially inform the member that he or she has been placed on Probationary Status, explaining the reasons why and what is required of him or her.
Amendment No. 76: Alcohol Quota-- October, 1998
We have amended the Food and Drink Rules, point C. to raise the weekly alcohol quota. In order to prevent excessive drinking at parties and to close the loophole provided by no mention of the limit or type of alcohol on "special occasions," we are also establishing with this amendment that Homes and/or Home members cannot drink hard liquor or have more than two special occasions per month. The alcohol limit at each of these special occasions is limited to twelve ounces of wine, nine ounces of port or sherry or twenty-four ounces of beer (the same as a weekly ration).
C. In order to be moderate in alcohol consumption and to avoid its various negative effects, only one of the following are permitted as a weekly maximum alcohol limit for members over the age of 18, where legally permitted:
1. 12 ounces or 37.5 cl of wine.
(or)
2. 8 ounces or 25 cl of sherry, port or vermouth or other drinks that are not more than 20% alcohol.
(or)
3. 28 ounces or 84 cl of beer containing not more than 6% alcohol.
These amounts of alcoholic beverages are the maximum allowed each week. This is not a recommendation for everyone to drink these amounts, it is just to establish the maximum allowable limits. All other alcoholic beverages, with an alcohol content of more than 20%, including whisky, gin, vodka, liqueurs, etc., are not permitted in a Family Home for the purpose of members' weekly ration, nor are they permitted to be drunk on special occasions or celebrations.
This is not a right that gives you permission for weekly wine, but a rule letting you know that you cannot go over this specified amount. You'll notice that the drinking of alcoholic beverages is not listed under the Rights of the Individual in the Charter! In many countries, alcoholic beverages are very expensive and an unneeded luxury. If your Home doesn't have enough school supplies for your children, or enough tools for outreach, then you should question whether you could afford to buy alcoholic beverages for the Home.
Those under the age of 18 are not permitted to drink alcoholic beverages; however, in your own Home, on special occasions or celebrations, the Home could decide to let the teens drink a glass of wine or a punch which has some alcohol in it. Of course everyone, no matter what age, can partake of communion wine.
4. On "special occasions," members are permitted to drink a maximum of 12 ounces or 37.5 cl of wine, 8 ounces or 25 cl of sherry (or similar beverage that does not exceed 20% alcohol), or 28 ounces or 84 cl of beer (that does not exceed 6% alcohol).
a) No more than two "special occasions" may be held per month.
There also may be times when your Home has a celebration or a special event at which you wish to serve an alcoholic beverage, in addition to the standard weekly allowance which was or will be consumed on another occasion within the same week. These special occasions must be limited to not more than two per month. During these special occasions members are not permitted to drink more than 12 ounces or 37.5 cl of wine, or 8 ounces or 25 cl of port or sherry (or similar beverages which do not exceed 20% alcohol) or 28 ounces or 84 cl of beer.
Amendment No. 77: Clearances Valid for One Year-- October, 1998
In some cases months or even years elapse between the time that a person is first granted clearance to a field and the time they actually arrive there. This could be because they spend months raising funds or their plans changed and they went somewhere else first, etc. If too much time goes by, circumstances in the destination country may have changed and therefore the CROs may need to re-evaluate the clearance. To allow for this, we've amended the Charter so that clearance to another country or area will now be valid for one year from the time it is issued by the CRO office (or granted automatically by default), unless otherwise specified in the clearance. We have added a clause to the Right of Mobility, point E. 1, in the Charter to reflect this.
1. Clearance is valid for one year from the date granted, unless specified otherwise by the continental office issuing clearance. If a person who has been cleared doesn't arrive to the country they are cleared to within this time period, they must reapply for clearance.
Amendment No. 78: Loss of Privileges for Partial Excoms -- October, 1998
As explained in GN 803 (ML# 3197), WS leadership has decided after hearing from the Lord and counseling with all the CROs, that those on partial excommunication will no longer lose the right to read CM lit. Instead, those on partial excommunication will forfeit the following privileges, along with their Right of Mobility and their voting rights in the Home. In addition, those on partial excommunication are required to read the Reading List for Fellow Members Changing to CM or Those on Partial Excommunication. As stated in the Charter, they may also be required to serve all or part of their period of excommunication outside the CM Home if their continental office feels that it is warranted. To reflect these changes we have dropped the clause stating they may not read CM lit, and added sub-clauses (e), (f) and (g) to point A. 2.) in the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members.
(e) Must forego all alcoholic beverages.
(f) Must forego all movies, both in the Home and at movie theaters, and watching television, except for news, or educational documentaries and videos that are part of their schooling curriculum.
(g) Must forego surfing the Internet, as well as the playing of computer games.
Members may access the Internet for business or school purposes only and with the approval and oversight of the Home's officers.
Amendment No. 79: Continental Office Initiating Probationary Notice -- October, 1998
At present the Charter implicitly allows VSs to recommend Homes for Probationary Notice while doing visitation. Since the CROs take on the authority of area officers when doing visitation (see Responsibilities of Continental Officers, point O), this implies they have this right as well. However, to make this clearer, we have amended the Procedures for Placing a Home on Probationary Notice point C, to reflect this.
C. If a continental or area officer determines that a Home should be placed on Probationary Notice they must:
We have also changed the explanation to explain this procedure as follows:
The continental or area officers are responsible to place a Home on Probationary Notice if they find the Home is not fulfilling, or is contravening, the Responsibilities of the Charter Home (these include sections 10 - 13 of the Charter). Beginning the procedure is a continental or area office decision, which means that it must have the agreement of the majority of the continental or area officers. o if one CRO or VS was visiting a Home and felt it should be placed on Probationary Notice, he would need to inform and get a majority agreement of the other members of his teamwork. In the case of an area office beginning the procedure to put a Home on Probationary Notice, it would also notify the continental office of their intent to proceed with putting the Home on Probationary Notice.
The continental office must publish in their Bulletin a listing of all Homes which are on Probationary Notice for other than technical infractions*, so that all Homes are aware of any Homes that are on Probationary Notice. (Likewise, a listing of all Homes no longer on Probationary Notice should be published in the Bulletin.) (*Technical infractions include late TRF or tithe, no HSEC report, etc.)
A continental or area office has no authority to allow a Home to contravene or fail to fulfill provisions in the Charter. If an area office discovers what it perceives to be a legitimate reason as to why a Home is not fulfilling, or is contravening the Responsibilities of the Charter Home, the area office must notify the CRO that it is temporarily stopping the procedure, and the CRO will make the final decision on the matter.
Amendment No. 80: Excommunication Decided by a Two-thirds Majority of CROs -- October, 1998
As a safeguard to ensure that members are not excommunicated unjustly, we have amended point C of the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members to require a two-thirds majority agreement of the CROs in a given area before excommunicating a Family member.
C. Upon receipt of the area office report and recommendation, the continental officers, by a two-thirds majority, will decide whether full or partial excommunication is warranted, and the length and other conditions thereof.
Amendment No. 81: Herpes Rules -- October, 1998
To clarify what is generally medically considered the incubation period for herpes and what the different types of herpes are, we have amended Sex and Affection Rules, point O. 1-3 as follows:
1) Anyone who has had herpes, either HSV1 (fever blisters or cold sores) or HSV2 (genital herpes) must inform their partner, prior to sharing, that they have had herpes.
2) Herpes-free people may choose not to use a condom while having intercourse with a partner who has had genital herpes. If the herpes-free person wishes to have sex with another herpes-free person within two months after this, they must inform their new partner of the unprotected sex with a previous partner who has had herpes.
3) Mated members should agree together before one of them engages in sexual activity with a partner who has had herpes, either genital herpes, or fever blisters or cold sores.
The Law of Love dictates that we should not hurt others. Passing on a sexual affliction would be hurting others and should therefore be avoided. Anyone with a sexual affliction should take appropriate sanitary measures to avoid passing on their affliction to others. They should also inform their sexual partners about their affliction. Fever blisters and cold sores (HSV1) are blisters that appear on or near the lips that become crusty and develop scabs. These herpes blisters are different from canker sores, which are usually inside the mouth, and other sores or discoloration on the lips that are not herpes related.
Amendment No. 82: Reading List for Fellow Members Changing to CM and Those on PE -- October, 1998
At present the Charter requires those on partial excom (PE), or those returning from FM status, to read the Babes Basic Course for new disciples. While the Babes Basic Course provides an excellent foundation for those newly joining the Family, members who have been FM already have that foundation and have been reading many of the same GNs as CMers. Also, those on PE may need other more recent Letters to help them in their weak areas or help them through their battles. So to ensure that Fellow Members becoming Charter Members and those going through difficult periods are absorbing the New Wine needed for their spiritual strengthening, we have made the following reading list (See Appendix G). This list replaces the Babes Basic Course for these members.
APPENDIX G: READING LIST FOR FELLOW MEMBERS CHANGING TO CM OR THOSE ON PARTIAL EXCOMMUNICATION
ML #2750 - "How to Overcome Discouragement" (Lifelines 20)
ML #2786 - "Endure Hardness" (Lifelines 20)
ML #2840 - "Beware of Bitterness" (Lifelines 20)
ML #2857 - "The Need for More Affection in Our Homes" (Lifelines 21)
ML #2865 - "The PER" (Lifelines 21)
ML #2877 - "Overcoming the Past" (Lifelines 21)
ML #2890 - "Getting Back On Track for Jesus" (part 1) (Lifelines 21)
ML #2891 - "Getting Back On Track for Jesus" (part 2) (Lifelines 21)
ML #2892 - "Getting Back On Track for Jesus" (part 3) (Lifelines 21)
ML #2930 - "More on the Importance of Making Your Needs Known" (Lifelines 21)
ML #2931 - "Personal Letters!"-No. 1 (Lifelines 21)
ML #2936 - "Libby's Homegoing" (Lifelines 21)
ML #2938 - "Forget Yourself and Think About Jesus!" (Lifelines 21)
ML #2939 - "Jewels on Going Slow and Resting in the Lord" (Lifelines 21)
ML #2944 - "Personal Letters!" - No. 2 (Lifelines 21)
ML #2952 - "Growing Up Spiritually" (Lifelines 21)
ML #2956 - "How to Have a Happy Home" (Lifelines 21)
ML #2961 - "Go for the Gold" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2963 - "The Love Charter" (Lifelines 22)
Peter #76 - "Moving Forward-The Need for Change" (Lifelines 22)
Peter #77 - "Understanding the Spirit of the Charter!" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2966 - "Personal Letters!" - No. 4 (Lifelines 22)
ML #2967 - "The Dangers of System Influence" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2968 - "A Caution Not to Compromise" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2975 - "Lessons of Love" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2976 - "Mama's Prayer for Greater Love and Yieldedness" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2978 - "Serve One Another in Love!" - Mama's Epilogue to the Love Charter (Lifelines 22)
ML #2980 - "Reassurance and Unconditional Love for Our Teens" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2981 - "Braving the Winds of Change" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2985 - "I Love You! - Just You!" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2986 - "Mama's New Years Talk!" - The Importance of Showing Love (Lifelines 22)
ML #2987 - "Let Jesus Bear the Weight!" (Lifelines 22)
ML #2989 - "Just Say Yes to Jesus" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3004 - "Personal Letters! - No.6 - Trusting Brings Triumph!" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3005 - "3 Gifts of the Lord's Love" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3008 - "No Condemnation!" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3009 - "Freedom from Condemnation!" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3011 - "A New Day of Love!" - April 1st Day of Pentecost Prophecies! (Lifelines 22)
ML #3013 - "Affection Time with Jesus" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3014 - "Getting God's Answers!" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3017 - "State of the Nation '95" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3019 - "Prophecy Questions You May Have Always Wanted to Ask" (Part 1) (Lifelines 22)
ML #3035 - "Prophecy Questions You May Have Always Wanted to Ask" (Part 2) (Lifelines 23)
ML #3036 - "Prophecy Questions You May Have Always Wanted to Ask" (Part 3) (Lifelines 23)
ML #3022 - "New Music for a New Day!" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3024 - "Loving Jesus! - Part 1" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3025 - "Loving Jesus! - Part 2" (Lifelines 22)
ML #3027 - "Where Are We Now?" - Endtime Update! (Lifelines 22)
ML #3029 - "Loving Jesus! - Part 3" (GN 662, Lifelines 25)
ML #3030 - "Loving Jesus! - Part 4" (GN 662, Lifelines 25)
ML #3031 - "Loving Jesus! - Part 5" (GN 663, Lifelines 25)
ML #3032 - "Loving Jesus! - Part 6" (GN 664, Lifelines 25)
ML #3033 - "Loving Jesus! - Part 7" (GN 665, Lifelines 25)
ML #3041 - "Prophecies on Doubts!" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3042 - "Not Willing That Any Should Perish!" (2Pet.3:9) (Lifelines 23)
ML #3043 - "Prophecies On Pride And Humility!" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3044 - "Prophecies On Yieldedness!" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3045 - "Loving Jesus Jewels" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3046 - "Mama's News & Views Part 1" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3047 - "Be Encouraged!" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3052 - "Prophecies On Leadership" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3055 - "New Ways To Praise!" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3056 - "Help From Heaven" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3064 - "The Road To Commitment" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3069 - "Problems And Solutions! - part 1" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3070 - "Problems And Solutions! - part 2" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3071 - "Problems And Solutions! - part 3" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3072 - "Problems And Solutions! - part 4" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3073 - "Problems and Solutions! - part 5" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3080 - "My Heart Belongs To You!" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3088 - "Crisis Of Faith!-More On Doubts! - part 1" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3089 - "Crisis Of Faith!-More On Doubts! - part 2" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3090 - "Crisis Of Faith!-More On Doubts! - part 3" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3095 - "The Lord's Commission To You!" (Lifelines 23)
ML #3098 - "What A Husband And Lover!" (GN 719, Lifelines 25)
ML #3100 - "Come Together--In Love" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3101 - "It's Cool To Love Jesus!" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3113 - "Jesus, Our Good Shepherd!" - More Solutions To The Problems You Face! (Lifelines 24)
ML #3124 - "Man Looketh On The Outward Appearance"- part 1 (Lifelines 24)
ML #3125 - "Man Looketh On The Outward Appearance"- part 2 (Lifelines 24)
ML #3130 - "Believing Prophecy!" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3131 - "Seekman And The Treasures!" - A Parable, Told By Jesus (Lifelines 24)
ML #3132 - "Why Witness?" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3135 - "Be A Missionary!" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3137 - "Instant Witnessing!" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3140 - "Endtime Prophecy Power" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3141 - "Birthday Yieldedness!" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3149 - "Hearing From The Lord Step By Step" - by Peter (Lifelines 24)
ML #3155 - "Thought Power" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3158 - "Keynote To The 1998 Birthday Feast" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3160 - "Goals for 1998" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3163 - "Your Open Heart Prayer To The Lord" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3164 - "The Day of Renewal" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3167 - "The Dangers Of Bitterness" (Lifelines 24)
ML #3201 - "Living the Lord's Law of Love" series (in full, starting with ML #3201, GN 804, Lifelines 25.)
For returning FMers only:
ML #2865 - The PER (Lifelines 21)
ML #2919 - Family Discipline Guidelines (Lifelines 21)
ML #3066 - Our Children's Education! (Lifelines 23)
ML #3128 - Midlife Victories! (Lifelines 24)
Since returning FMers, or those on Probationary Status or Partial Excommunication will no longer be reading the Babes Basic Course but the Reading List for Fellow Members Changing to CM or Those on Partial Excommunication, we have amended the Procedures for Moving Fellow Members to Charter Member Status, D. the Procedures For Fellow Members Changing to Charter Member Status and Moving into an Existing Charter Home, D. the Procedures for Placing a Member on Probationary Status, C. 3, and the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members, A. 2. b).
D. During this probationary period, all voting members of the Home must complete the Reading List for Fellow Members Changing to CM or Those on Partial Excommunication
D. The applicant must complete the Reading List for Fellow Members Changing to CM or Those on Partial Excommunication
C:
3. Must read parts, or all, of the Reading List for Fellow Members Changing to CM or Those on Partial Excommunication (Appendix G), at the Home officers' discretion, as well as other publications that the Home's officers deem necessary. The member does not lose access to any CM publications.
A. 2):
b) Must read from the Reading List for Fellow Members Changing to CM or Those on Partial Excommunication, during their period of excommunication.
Amendment No. 83: Word Rules Section of Charter -- October, 1998
50. WORD RULES
One of the prime ingredients for success and stability in our service for the Lord is His Word. We are adding a Word Rules section to the "Fundamental Family Rules" so that each Family member will be aware of the Word requirements for all Charter Members. Besides upping the Word quota for individuals and new disciples, we've also made a list of Letters that those who will soon be 16 (and become voting members) should read in order to help prepare them for having a say in the running of the Home. Another list has been compiled to help those turning 16 be better prepared for the responsibility of being allowed to engage in sexual activity (within the age guidelines) if they choose to do so.
Charter Members must:
A. Spend a minimum of 1 hour daily (or 10 hours weekly) in communion with the Lord through the reading of His Word and other WS publications (privately or unitedly), personal prayer or hearing from the Lord in prophecy.
Family members should have 1 hour daily, or 10 hours weekly, of Word, prayer and hearing from the Lord, as outlined in "The Spiritual Health Revolution" GN 789, ML #3184. This is not the recommended amount of personal time with the Lord, it is the minimum.
1. Disciples under one year in the Family must be allocated an additional 7 hours per week, or a total of 17 per week, in order to complete their study of the full foundation course for new disciples in one year, as well as to complete their basic memory work.
New disciples need to get their grounding in the Word before they get embroiled full-time in other ministries. In order to make it possible for them to complete the reading and studying of the foundation Letters listed in Appendix F: Babes Basic Course and Appendix H: Priority Reading for New Disciples' First Year in the Family, an additional 7 hours per week must be allotted by the Home for this specific purpose. It's preferable that this additional Word time be on a daily basis, or at least spread throughout several time slots during the week, but not less than 7 additional hours of Word time per week. It is estimated that these reading courses can be completed within one year of a new disciple joining if this minimum time is allotted for it.
An exception to this rule would be for live-outs, catacombers or Fellow Members changing to CM who may already have this foundation from years of reading the Word before joining the Family, who may not need a full year to finish the course. But they should be given this additional time for up to one year to complete this course according to what the Home teamwork deems to be necessary. (See also Responsibilities of the Charter Home Regarding the Welfare of Its Members, A.2.a.)
B. Live in accordance with the Word by endeavoring to apply the spiritual and practical counsel given in the Letters to their daily lives. (See also Responsibility of Individual Members, D.)
C. During the year preceding their 16th birthday, members must read the following publications in preparation for becoming a voting member.
"The Love Charter" ("Charter of Responsibilities and Rights" and "Fundamental Family Rules")
To prepare teens for becoming voting members of their Homes, they need to read through the Love Charter during the year preceding their 16th birthday. It is a vitally important document, so reading through it should help them to grasp the general policies by which the Family is governed, so as to be prepared for making responsible decisions when they become voting members. To break this hefty project into smaller chunks, we suggest the reading of it be divided into quarters as follows:
First quarter: From Dad's Introduction, to the end of the Rights and Responsibilities of Charter Members.
Second quarter: Responsibilities and Rights of the Charter Home and Responsibilities and Authority of Charter leadership.
Third quarter: "Procedures" and "Fundamental Family Rules," up to and including the Health and Hygiene Rules.
Last quarter: "Fundamental Family Rules," from Sex and Affection Rules to the end of the rules section, plus Home Election Guidelines and the Family Discipline Guidelines Summary.
"Moving Forward--The Need for Change" (Peter 76, Lifelines 22)
"Understanding the Spirit of the Charter" (Peter 77, Lifelines 22)
"Serve One Another in Love!" -- Mama's Epilogue to the Love Charter (ML #2978, Lifelines 22)
"Loving Shepherding and Interaction Charter Style" (ML #3018, Lifelines 22)
D. During the last three months before turning 16, members should read the following publications, together with a parent or shepherd, before they will permitted to have sexual contact (within the Charter-specified age guidelines) once they turn 16:
"Revolutionary Lovemaking" (ML #259, Vol. 2)
"Questions & Answers on Sex, Freedoms and "Relationships" (ML #2718, DB 11)
"Teen Sex Policies" (Peter #81 and Summit prophecies, Lifelines 22)
"Go For the Gold" (ML #2961, Lifelines 22)
"Mama's Memos! -- No. 4. A How-to of the Practical Application of 'Going for the Gold'!" (ML #3138, Lifelines 24)
E. Also, 16 year olds are required to read the following with their parents or shepherds before they begin having any sexual contact with others in their age group.
1. "Living the Lord's Law of Love" series (in full, starting with ML #3201, GN 804, Lifelines 25.)
F. In addition to the above Letters, we recommend that the following pubs be read by teens before they turn 16. These could be read on their own or with a parent or shepherd.
"All About Growing Up" (in "Childcare Reference Handbook")
"Mama's Love Story! Parts 5 and 6" (ML #2996, ML #3001, both in Lifelines 22)
G. Once they turn 16, members should be given the opportunity to read the full versions of the following publications found in Lifelines 25, which they were unable to read previously:
"Loving Jesus!--Part 3" (ML #3029, GN 662)
"Loving Jesus!--Part 4" (ML #3030, GN 662)
"Loving Jesus!--Part 5" (ML #3031, GN 663)
"Loving Jesus!--Part 6" (ML #3032, GN 664)
"Loving Jesus!--Part 7" (ML #3033, GN 665)
"What a Husband and Lover," (ML #3098, GN 719, Lifelines 25)
"Golden Victories" (ML #3162, GN 768)
Amendment No. 84: Personal Possessions of New Home Members-- October, 1998
To ensure that prospective new members work out with the new Home which of their possessions they would turn over to the Home and which they would retain should they leave the Home, we have added the following point D. 7, to the Right of Mobility.
7. Before a new member joins a Home, an agreement should be reached between the Home and the new member as to which of his or her possessions the new member would be authorized to take with him or her if he or she should decide to leave the Home.
We are all expected to fully live Acts 2:44-45 in our lives and Homes. This clause has nothing to do with our Family's commitment to live unselfishly and give and share all that we have with others. Nevertheless, joining a new Home is a big step, and sometimes after a while, people find they have different burdens or goals or are otherwise not compatible with the other members of the Home. We have added the above clause to make the separation and dividing of assets as smooth as possible, should after some time the Home and a member (or members) find that they are not suited to working together. This will ensure that families or individuals who leave a Home will know exactly what they will be able to take with them when they depart, hopefully avoiding contention and disputes with the Home over material possessions at that time. This clause would also include a new disciple when he finishes his six months babes training and is about to become a new voting member.
For example, if a family proposes to join a Home and they have a car and caravan, some furniture, cash, a computer, etc., before they officially join and move in it should be decided which of these items they would take with them if they should decide to leave the Home. They might decide to keep the car and caravan should they move on, and that the furniture, cash and computer would become part of the Home's assets.
Possession of whatever assets are not predetermined before the new member(s) officially become Home members will be handled upon the departure of the member or the closing of the Home in accordance with C.3. and C.4. of the Rights of the Charter Home.
Amendment No. 85: New Disciples and Returning FMers' Personal Possessions -- October, 1998
We are amending the Charter to give new disciples or returning FMers the right to take their registered material possessions with them should they decide to leave the Family during their first six months, before becoming voting members. Once they become voting members, they will be given the same opportunity as any new member joining a Home, to determine with the Home which of his or her possessions the new member would be authorized to take with him or her if he or she should decide to leave the Home. To do this we have amended points D and F. 1. of the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a Charter Home. This point outlines when these members should list their personal possessions using the Personal Possession Declaration for New Charter Members included in Appendix B of the Charter.
D. Upon moving into a Charter Home, a new disciple must list his or her assets (cash and personal possessions) using the Asset Declaration for New Charter Members. The assets listed on this declaration will remain his or her property to take with them should he or she decide to leave before completing six months in the Family, unless they decide to leave some of these assets with the Family.
New disciples who decide not to join the Family at any point during the first six months will be permitted to take with them any personal possessions that they have listed on their Asset Declaration for New Charter Members. (Appendix B.) The exception being that new disciples would only take whatever part of their cash assets that the Home and they agreed the new disciple would take with them should they leave the Family before becoming a Charter voting member. For example, if a new disciple joins a Home with $10,000, the new disciple and the Home should agree how much of the $10,000 would be kept for the new disciple should he or she decide to leave the Family before finishing their Babes Course and becoming a Charter member, and what part the new disciple would give to the Home to use at the beginning of his or her Babes training.
1) Once the new disciple becomes a voting member, an agreement should be reached between the Home and the new member as to which of his or her possessions the new member would be permitted to take with him or her if he or she should decide to leave the Home.
At the point of becoming a new voting member of the Home, an agreement should be reached between the Home and the new member as to which of his or her possessions the new member would be permitted to take with him or her if he or she should decide to leave or move to another Home. This is the same procedure as for a Charter Member joining a Home (see Right of Mobility, D.7.). During their time as a member of the Home, however, Acts 2:44-45 fully applies in that he or she should willingly give and share of all his or her possessions with others. (See Responsibilities of Individual Members, J.)
To make these changes for Fellow Members we have added clauses C. and F to the Procedures for Fellow Members Changing to Charter Member Status and Moving into an Existing Charter Home.
Upon moving into a Charter Home, the Fellow Member must list his or her personal possessions using the Asset Declaration for New Charter Members in Appendix B. The assets listed on this declaration will remain his or her property to take with him or her should he or she decide to leave before completing six months in the Charter Family, unless they decide to leave some of these assets with the Charter Home.
Fellow Members changing to CM who decide not to remain Charter Members at any point during the first six months, will be allowed to take with them any personal possessions that they have listed on the Asset Declaration for New Charter Members in Appendix B.
F. At the end of a six-month probationary period, the Home will vote to confirm if the applicant is living according to the Charter, and if so, he or she will then become a full-fledged voting Charter Member.
1. At this point an agreement should be reached between the Home and the new member as to which of his or her possessions the new member would be authorized to take with him or her if he or she should decide to leave the Home.
Fellow Members changing to CM who decide to stay in the Family after their six-month probationary period become full voting Charter Members. At the point of becoming a new voting member of the Home, an agreement should be made between the Home and the new member as to which of his or her possessions the new member would be authorized to take with him or her if he or she should decide to leave the Home. This is the same procedure as for a Charter Member joining a Home (see Right of Mobility, D.7.). During their stay in the Home, however, Acts 2:44-45 fully applies in that they should willingly give and share of all their possessions with others. (See also Responsibilities of Individual Members, J.)
Amendment No. 86: Adding New Disciples to Monthly Report Immediately -- October, 1998
Please put new disciples on your monthly TRF as soon as they have completed the qualifications to join your Home as a new disciple, not after they have completed their babes training. To amend the Charter to reflect this, we have added this to point C of the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a Charter Home.
Upon completing the above qualifications, the new disciple should complete the Personal Data for New Disciples Form, a copy of which should be sent to the continental office with your monthly report. The new disciple is then classified as a "babe" and should be listed on your monthly report as a Home member.
Amendment No. 87: Six Months for Pioneer Homes to Have Four Voting Members -- October, 1998
To give our pioneer Homes more time to be up to the minimum Home size of four voting members, we have increased the grace period from three months to six months. However, having done so, in order to encourage our members to live communally in accordance with the counsel in the Letters on this subject (see "Goals for 1998," ML #3160, GN 765), the CROs will more strictly enforce the four-member minimum Home size once the six months is up. To do this we have added sub-clause 3 to point A of the Home Size Rules.
3. When pioneering a new Home, a team of two or three voting members can function as a Charter Home for their first six months before being required to reach the minimum Home size of four voting members.
Allowing this six-month grace period will enhance the Right of Mobility, making it easier for members to launch out to pioneer if they wish. Notice, though, that after six months this team must increase its population to four voting members. Because a voting member is someone 16 years of age or over who has been in the Charter Family for at least six months, even if this team wins two new disciples it hasn't increased its population by two voting members since babes are not voting members. Voting members from existing Homes will need to join this new pioneer Home sometime during its first six months of existence for the Home to retain its Charter Member status.
Amendment No. 88: CRO Authority to Withdraw FM Tool Distribution -- October, 1998
At present, the Statement on Fellow Members gives the CROs the authority to withdraw permission for Fellow Members to distribute videos, if the Fellow Members are not being good representatives of the Family or engaging in activities that could be a reproach to the Family or endanger other Homes. Thankfully, this option has rarely been invoked. Nevertheless, as a safeguard, we feel it is necessary to expand this to include audio and printed tools as well, since the sample of those distributing those tools in the name of the Family also reflects on the Family either positively or negatively. To give the CROs authority to forbid Fellow Members from distributing Family tools if they deem it necessary, we have amended point 11 in the Statement on Fellow Members.
11. The continental office reserves the right to withdraw permission for a Fellow Member or Home to distribute Family audio, video or printed publications if they deem that the member or Home is not abiding by point A.4. of this document.
Amendment No. 89: New City Council Requirements -- October, 1998
As stated in "Goals of 1998," (ML #3160, GN 765), one of the main problems we face as a Family is a lack of unity both within Homes and between Homes in the same city or area. In order to help foster more communication and cooperation between Homes in the same city or vicinity, we've beefed up the clauses regarding City Councils.
It will now be required for at least one Home representative from each Home to attend at least one City Council meeting during any given two-month period. We have amended point J and 1 of the Basic Responsibilities of the Charter Home, and the first paragraph of the explanation, to reflect this.
We have added sub-clause 1 under point J to show that City Councils are now required to record decisions made at their meetings and send the notes to each Home in the city. This will hopefully help make it easier for the decisions made at the meeting to be implemented by all the Homes and for progress to be made on the issues discussed.
J. Participates in at least one City Council meeting during any given two-month period, if located in a city or metropolitan area with more than one Charter Home.
It is the responsibility of the city council chairperson to see that a written record of all city council decisions is made, and made available to the area office upon request. The chairperson is also responsible to pass any meeting notes on to the next chairperson when he leaves this post.
In order to coordinate their witnessing, provisioning and other activities, and to promote harmony and cooperation between Homes, every city or metropolitan area that has more than one Charter Home must form a city council. Preferably city council meetings should be held monthly, but are required at least every two months. Every Home in the city is required to send a representative to at least one city council meeting in a given two month period. The chairperson is responsible to see that written notes are kept of all decisions made at city council meetings.
We trust you'll appreciate the fellowship that these city council meetings offer, and that just being able to pray together, sing a few songs together, share some positive uplifting testimonies and how-to's, as well as relax together and have a time to chat with others in the area will be very beneficial, even if no business matters and city coordination are discussed in the initial meeting or two held in a city where the city council is just starting off.
We have also amended point D of Required Meetings and Activities to require Homes to send a representative to at least one City Council meeting during every two-month period.
D. Send a representative from their Home to at least one city council meeting in every two-month period, if their Home is in a metropolitan area with more than one Charter Home.
If a city has more than one Charter Home, a city council consisting of representatives from the local Homes should meet at least every two months, if not more often. In this case, in saying city we're referring to the metropolitan area, so that cities where the Homes may be within different city limits but still in the same metropolis would also be required to hold city councils. Every Home that is in a city or metropolitan area with more than one Charter Home is required to send a representative to at least one city council meeting in every two-month period.
We are also amending 1. And 2. In point D. to make the city council chairperson an elected post rather than being determined using a rotational basis. The reason we did this is that the CROs felt that if there were a continuity of the chairmanship of the city councils, it would help in making sure they are held as scheduled and properly organized. Many city councils have found that having a quick turnover of chairpersons, with someone different chairing the meeting each time, has made it difficult to make progress and often resulted in the same issues being covered from meeting to meeting.
1. The Charter Homes should elect a city council chairperson for a two-month term.
The chairperson position can be held indefinitely if the city council continues to elect the same chairperson, or it can change hands at two-month intervals.
2. The chairperson's responsibilities are to organize the city council meetings and keep a written record of all decisions, to be given to all the Homes in the city, and made available to the area office upon request.
The chairperson is also responsible to pass any meeting notes on to the next chairperson when he leaves this post. The chairperson may either chair the city council meetings or appoint someone to do so.
The city council chairperson is not be a shepherding role, and the chairperson has no leadership authority other than simply helping to organize and coordinate the meetings. The chairperson is not obligated to give any charismatic speeches or presentations; all he/she needs to do is simply ask other individuals from the area to lead the inspiration and/or open the floor for testimonies, points of discussion or business, etc. City councils are encouraged on a monthly basis, with at least one required in any given two-month period.
Amendment No. 90: Eye and Dental Check-ups for Children -- October, 1998
To ensure that our Family children are getting needed eye and dental check-ups at an early age we have amended point G, and added to the explanation of the Responsibility of Parents to require this.
G. Ensure that needed medical care is supplied. This would include eye and dental check-ups for children four years of age and older, preferably on an annual basis.
It is recommended that by the time children begin reading they be taken for an eye check-up to ensure that they don't need glasses. Although we recommend those four years and older begin getting check-ups regularly, there may be situations where you as a parent may want to take your child in for a check-up at an even earlier age. This would depend on your child's need. The goal of this clause is to attempt to ensure that our children's physical needs are being met.
Understandably there may be situations where it might not be advisable or possible to take your kids in for annual check-ups, where the local dental or eye care may be unacceptable or inaccessible for one reason or another.
We also recommend that if, when getting a dentist or eye doctor's opinion on your child's teeth or eyes, you are unsure of the diagnosis, you seek a confirmation or second opinion. Some doctors can tend to paint the picture blacker than it really is and make you feel like you have to go through with what they are prescribing, when often it may be just a matter of business for them, or their personal feelings on the matter. Likewise, some may be too casual or wrong in not noticing something that needs to be taken care of promptly. It is important to make these decisions prayerfully and in counsel with your Home.
Amendment No. 91: Placing Ads in CRO Bulletins -- October, 1998
To ensure that the Home's voting majority is aware that their address is being sent in for publication with an ad in a CRO bulletin or WS pub such as the Grapevine, we have added sub-clause 1. to point D of the Home Life Rules.
1. Homes wishing to pub their street, PO box or e-mail address, or their telephone number in any continental or WS publication, must have a majority agreement of their Home to do so. A Home teamwork member must submit the request.
See LNF 260 for more details on this.
We have also modified the explanation in the Responsibilities of Continental Officers, L. as follows:
It would not be the CROs duty to solicit such information from the Homes, but simply to publish the information they receive each month. For the sake of security, those placing ads in the pub or newsletter may use their ABM as the initial contact point, or a Home can decide by a simple majority to have their postal or e-mail address or phone number printed in a Want Ad pub or the Grapevine. (See LNF #260, point 2, for additional details.)
Amendment No. 92: Rule for Members Staying Longer than 30 Days in Another CM Home -- October, 1998
To make it imperative that a member who stays longer than 30 days in another CM Home become a member of that Home, in order to prevent him or her becoming a "floater," we have modified Home Size Rules, C as follows:
C. A Charter Member who stays in a Home for more than 30 days, who is not reported on another Home's TRF, is considered a member of that Home, and must be reported as such on the Home's monthly report. (See World Service Reporting and Mailing Rules, A; and Right of Mobility, A, 7.)
Amendment No. 93: Fundamental Family Beliefs -- October, 1998
To more specifically codify our fundamental Family beliefs we have amended the following paragraph in the explanation under point C. of the Responsibilities of Individual Members.
We also have other beliefs that are explained in published MLs, which we consider to be fundamental and essential, that are not included in the "Statement of Faith," such as the Law of Love. (The Law of Love is further defined in point F of the Responsibilities of Individual Members, and referred to in other places throughout the Charter.) Also, the use of prophecy as one of the means to determine the Lord's will. (For more on prophecy see Prophecy Rules.)
Amendment No. 94: Appointment and Responsibilities of ABMs -- October, 1998
To clarify that Area Business Managers (ABMs) are to be appointed by the CROs, we have added point C to the Authority of Continental Officers. ABMs are not area officers, but are appointed by the CROs to help with administrative duties, which will vary and be determined by the CROs.
C. Appoint Area Business Managers (ABMs) to help supply administrative services for the continental area.
CROs are responsible to appoint ABMs to help coordinate communications and other administrative services for the Homes in the continental area. An ABM is not an area officer, unless also specifically appointed as a VS.. Nevertheless, their responsibilities will be determined by the CROs and will vary from area to area depending on the help needed by the continental office and the needs of the field.
Amendment No. 95: Responsibility of Parents and Rights of Children to Witness -- October, 1998
To make it the responsibility of parents to train their children to witness and take the responsibility for getting them out witnessing, we have added clause D to the Responsibility of Parents.
D. Provide training and sufficient opportunity for their children to witness and share God's love and message of salvation. (See also, Rights of Children, E.)
We have also given children the right to engage in evangelism by amending point G, of the Rights of Children.
G. Engage in evangelism.
Although it is mandated in the Outreach Rules that those 16 years of age and above witness a minimal number of hours per week, this clause grants the right to all of our children, except those in behind-the-scenes WS exempted Homes, to engage in spreading the Gospel, if they so desire. While children have the right to witness, they cannot be forced to do so against their will. (For more on witnessing with children, please see the Responsibilities of Parents, D.)
Amendment No. 96: Changes in Charter Reporting Dates -- October, 1998
There are a few required responses throughout the year, such as the vote of confirmation and the Home Self-Evaluation Checklist. To simplify the sending of these in to your continental office, we are adjusting the dates so that they coincide with your regular Home's monthly reporting deadlines. These responses can then be sent in, along with your Home monthly report (TRF), on the months that these coincide.
The wording is being changed to "the required date, as stipulated by your respective continental office, for your Home monthly report." In many cases this is the 25th of each month, but this can vary according to circumstances and conditions which affect the time it takes for your continental office to receive your report.
Present Charter wording:
Election Rules, B. 1: Elections for Home officers are to be held within seven days of March 1st and September 1st.
Changed to:
Election Rules, B. 1: Elections for Home officers are to be held prior to the required date, as stipulated by your respective continental office, for your February and August Home monthly report.
Present Charter wording:
Election Rules, C. 1: A vote of confirmation is a voting procedure held midway through the Home officers' period of office, to confirm that they have the support of the Home. The vote of confirmation must be held, by secret ballot, within seven days of June 1 and December 1.
Changed to:
Election Rules, C. 1: A vote of confirmation is a voting procedure held midway through the Home officers' period of office to confirm that they have the support of the Home. The vote of confirmation must be held, by secret ballot, by the required date, as stipulated by your respective continental office, for your May and November monthly report.
Present Charter wording:
Election Rules, C. 2: Although the area officers are appointed by the continental office, a vote of confirmation by Home Referendum for the area officers must be held, by secret ballot, within seven days of June 1 and December 1. A Home's vote is the consensus of the majority vote of its members, and area officers' confirmation will be determined by a simple majority of the voting Homes.
Election Rules, C. 2. a): Each Home's vote of confirmation of its area officers must be sent to the continental office on or before June 15th and December 15th.
Changed to:
Election Rules, C. 2: Although the area officers are appointed by the continental office, a vote of confirmation by Home Referendum for the area officers must be held, by secret ballot, by the required date, as stipulated by your respective continental office, for your May and November monthly report. A Home's vote is the consensus of the majority vote of its members, and area officers' confirmation will be determined by a simple majority of the voting Homes.
Election Rules, C. 2. b): The Home's vote would then be tallied. If the tally results in not confirming the area officer(s), then it must be sent to the continental office with their May and November monthly report, as follows
Present Charter wording:
Election Rules, D. 2: Area goals can be initiated at any time by Home Referendum. All Area goals currently in effect are subject to a vote of confirmation by Home Referendum within seven days of June 1 and December 1. Area goals are confirmed by a simple majority of the voting Homes unless it is regarding a financial matter, in which case it is determined by a two-thirds majority.
Election Rules, D. 2. a): Each Home's vote of confirmation of its Area goals must be sent to the continental office on or before June 15 and December 15.
Changed to:
Election Rules, D. 2: Area goals can be initiated at any time by Home Referendum. All area goals currently in effect are subject to a vote of confirmation every six months by Home Referendum, in May and November. Area goals are confirmed by a simple majority of the voting Homes, or a two-thirds majority if it is regarding a financial matter.
Election Rules, D. 2. a): Homes that vote to not confirm one or more of their area goals must sent their opposing votes in to the continental office on or before their May and November monthly report. It is not necessary to send affirmative votes of confirmation for area goals to the continental office.
These dates have also been adjusted in Appendix D: Home Election Guidelines as follows:
Confirmation votes must be held, by secret ballot, before the required date, as stipulated by your respective continental office, for your May and November monthly report. Voting should be by secret ballot, a simple yes/no type of vote, and must be held to determine whether everyone is happy with the performance of the Home officers. It requires a two-thirds (67%) majority to recall Home officers from office.
1. Election dates: Each Home should hold mandatory Home officer elections every six months, prior to the required date, as stipulated by your respective continental office, for your February and August monthly report.
This change from a three-month to a six-month plan would mean elections would now be held by your February and August monthly report of each year. Confirmation votes would take place by your May and November monthly report. Voting should be done before the required date for your monthly report. For example, for the month of August, in an area where your monthly report must be sent to your continental office by the 25th of each month, you may conduct your voting any day between August 18 and 25.
These dates have also been adjusted in Appendix C: Home Self-Evaluation Checklist as follows:
(This form is meant to be an easy-reference summary of the Charter, as well as a self-help voluntary checklist that you can avail yourselves of at any time. However, you must fill it out in a Home council meeting every six months, prior to your Home election by your February and August monthly report, and send the results to your continental office, no later than with your February and August monthly report.)
Amendment No. 97: Closing Home Form -- October, 1998
To make it clear that the Closing Home Form must be received by the continental office 30 days before a Home closing, and that they are subject to being penalized if they fail to submit it, we have amended point C, in the Rights of the Charter Home as follows:
C. Choose by a two-thirds majority to disband the Home, providing the Home's officers submit their intent to disband the Home in a written notice to their area and continental offices. The offices must receive this Closing Home Form 30 days prior to the Home's closure. At the time that it tenders its 30-day notice, a finance meeting must be convened with its voting members to disclose the Home's financial status, and determine the measures needed to pay the Home's debts and liabilities, if they have any, by any of the following means.
A Home may choose to close or disband. In doing so, they must notify their continental and area office. (See Closing Home Form in Appendix B and/or the Closing Home E-mail Form in the HomeARC) This is merely notification, not seeking approval to do so, as the decision to close belongs to the Home. The offices must receive this form 30 days prior to the Home's closure. Closing Homes failing to submit this form may be penalized.
Amendment No. 98: Copyright Agreements -- October, 1998
When a work (song, written article, etc.) is produced or used in a WS tool, it is important to insure that it is completely legal and we have secured the permission to use that work. Therefore, every time a Family song is submitted for production, the author will be asked to sign an assignment form giving license of the work to a company approved by WS, therefore making it possible for The Family to legally use the material. For example, the original author/composer would legally authorize Aurora Productions to use the song or work for audio, video or printed materials.
We have added the original clause from the Authority of WS Leadership, point G., to the Responsibility of World Services' Leadership and Homes, point K, and added clause L, to reflect the Assignment of Copyright project. This will now read:
K. Allow or disallow the use of intellectual copyright material, and related business matters, in the name of, or owned by, the Family or World Services, or any company and/or title of the Family.
The copyright of such Family publications -- written and audio and video - and all trademarks of Family materials, such as World Services, Life With Grandpa, etc., as well as Treasure Attic and Kiddie Viddie trademarks and copyrights, are held by Family authorized companies. As such, these companies presently retain the right to give or deny permission for their use and to authorize or disallow any business matters relating to these copyrights or trademarks.
L. Collect the permissions from Family members who contribute to collective Family works. Members who submit written, audio or video material for publication by a company associated with the Family agree to also sign a written agreement to transfer use of, and/or the copyright itself, to a company set up for this purpose. In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, all articles submitted to such a company will be considered as transferred in exchange for the benefits and consideration of Family membership.
All materials that are submitted for use in a Family publication or audio/video production, including but not limited to written, audio and video works, will be regarded as exchanged for the benefit of the work, free studio time and as one of the responsibilities of Family membership should you choose to submit them.
When you choose to submit a work for the purpose of Family publication, for example, an author sending in a song to be used for an FTT, or an article submitted for a written publication, it must be of your own volition. And you must be willing to sign a written agreement to allow the use of the material by a Family-endorsed company, which has been set up for this purpose. In the case of songs, since these are often used in GP productions even if originally meant for an FTT only, you will be asked to sign an agreement giving a WS-endorsed company the right to use the song, before it can be recorded in a Family studio. In the case of written works, should one be slotted for GP publication, you will be sent a request to assign the right to use the work at that time. (See also Responsibilities of Individual Members, P.)
We have also added point P to the Responsibility of Individual Members, to show Family members' responsibility to allow the use of their copyrights for Family videos, songs, publications, etc.
P. Grant the use of their intellectual property, such as songs, written works, etc., to the Family, or a company endorsed by World Services.
Amendment No. 99: Setting Currency Exchange Rates -- October, 1998
Due to fluctuating exchange rates of worldwide currencies we have added point S to the Authority of Continental Officers to authorize the CROs to set and change the official area exchange rate for the local currency as needed.
S. Due to worldwide currency fluctuations, the continental office will decide the exchange rate for local currencies in each continental area.
The continental officers will determine and notify the Homes of the exchange rate for the local currency for the minimum tithe, FAF, HER, pioneer, passed on and Tool fund gifts, baby bonuses, etc. They will also pay special gifts received for Homes in their area based on the exchange rate they have set. This exchange rate may change from time to time, based on currency fluctuations. If the rate changes the Homes will be notified of such by their continental office. For example, if the exchange rate for Japanese yen is presently set by the continental office at 140 to one U.S. dollar, but the yen over a period of time changes to 130 to the dollar, the continental office is authorized to adjust the rate used for Family financial transactions in their area accordingly
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family