LNF 257: LOVE CHARTER AMENDMENTS
DFO
As of March 1997
These amendments will be incorporated in the second printing of the Love Charter, which we hope to have to you in book form as soon as possible, as well as in the next HomeARC update. Before reprinting the Charter, though, we would like to ask if you feel anything else needs to be amended, added to or deleted from the Charter. If so, please send in your ideas or suggestions no later than your June 30th TRF. Thank you!
Dear Family,
GBY! We love you and greatly appreciate your dedication to feeding and caring for His sheep. We're thankful to hear how much you've appreciated the Love Charter, and that it is bringing about greater autonomy and diversity in our Family's ministries to the world!
We want to announce the following Charter amendments and their validity as of March 1997, most of which have come into effect as the result of your comments and suggestions. These amendments have been made in accordance with the provision granted in the Responsibilities of World Services' Leadership and Publication Homes, point C, page 73 of the Charter: "Changes in Family rules, responsibilities and rights are valid only when stated in a WS publication that they are amendments to the 'Charter of Responsibilities and Rights' and the 'Fundamental Family Rules.'"
As in the original drafting of the Charter, all Charter amendments are the end result of prayer and consultation with all of the CROs, as well as a number of VSs and other adults and YAs. Many of their suggestions, comments and ideas have been incorporated into the following amendments. All of these amendments have been ratified by WS Leadership and all of the CROs.
We are including all of the Charter amendments to date in this LNF--that is, amendments 1-10, which were originally published in LNF 234, September '95, as well as 30 new ones. Where necessary, the new amendments' purposes and backgrounds are explained.
Charter Amendments
Page
1. Home Election Votes
2
2. Home Council Meeting Attendance
3
3. Bar Pubs
3
4. Probationary Notice for Late Tithe
3
5. Required Reading for Partial Excommunication
3
6. Age Requirements for Caffeine
4
7. Changeover from US Dollar to Swiss Franc
4
8. Praise Time (Rescinded)
4
9. TRF Supporter Members Living with Non-Family Members
4
10. Modifications in Home Self-Evaluation Checklist
5
11. Requirements for Becoming a Family Driver
5
12. Family Aid Fund
6
13. Waiver of Investigation of Excommunicable Offenses
8
14. No Sex for New Disciples
8
15. Rules for Partial Excoms
9
16. New Family Classifications
11
17. Updated Classifications of Family Membership and Literature
14
18. "Floaters"
19
19. Separate Dwellings
21
20. Engaged Senior Teens Rooming Together
22
21. Financial Obligations of Departing Members
22
22. New Members Being Elected to Home Teamworks as "Trainees"
24
23. Requirements for Excommunicated Members Rejoining
24
24. Exceptions to Minimum Home Size Rules
25
25. More Home Self-Evaluation Checklist Modifications
25
26. Prophecy Rules
26
27. Child's Right to Engage in Evangelism
28
28. Funds Generated Through Fundraising
28
29. Previewing Movies Before Home Viewing
29
30. The Right of Privacy in Communications Between Homes
30
31. Procedural Changes for TSers Returning to DO Status
31
32. Clearance Requests
33
33. Trial Period When Joining a Home
36
34. Mandatory City Council Meetings
36
35. Clearance Needed for Taking a Witnessing Road Trip to Another Country
38
36. Clarification of Sexual Activity and Sexual Contact
38
37. Updated Sex and Affection Rules
39
38. Notification Procedures for Departing Members
40
39. Witnessing Within a Metropolitan Area
40
40. Dividing of Family Contacts Between Homes
42
Amendment No.1: Home Election Votes (3/95)
Please turn to page 142 of the Charter, outlining our Election Rules. Point B.6 presently states, "The outcome of the elections is determined by a simple majority." However, in the third paragraph of the explanation following point 9 it says, "On election day the Home would decide which teamwork position will be voted on first, second, etc. Then the Home would, from the list of nominees, vote for someone to fill the first position. These votes would then be counted and the person who had the most votes for that position would be announced."
If there are two nominees for a teamwork position and they each receive the same amount of votes, a runoff election should be held, as outlined in B.7.a), on the same page.
However, a problem arises if there are, for example, three nominees for a teamwork position, and in a Home with seven voting members, one nominee receives three votes and the other two nominees receive two votes each. In such a case, no one nominee has received a "simple majority," which in this case would be four votes.
So to solve this dilemma, please amend B.6 to read: "The teamwork nominee who receives the most votes for each teamwork position will therefore occupy that position."
Also, please turn to Appendix D: Home Election Guidelines, page 193 of the Charter. The second sentence in point 5 of the section "How to Hold Home Elections" should be changed to read: "Teamwork positions will be filled by the nominee receiving the greatest number of votes for that position."
Amendment No.2: Home Council Meeting Attendance (3/95)
Please turn to page 6, Responsibilities of Individual Members, and go to the last paragraph of the explanation following point K, which now reads: "Even though our members under the age of 16 and new disciples are not voting members, you are encouraged to seek their opinions and participation in Home matters that concern them, but they may not attend Home Council Meetings." Please delete the last phrase, "but they may not attend Home Council Meetings," and replace it with the following two sentences: "Whenever practical, our junior teens should be permitted to attend Home Council Meetings covering matters pertaining to them. However, until new disciples have been in the Family for six months, they should not be invited to Home Council Meetings." So the last paragraph of this explanation will now read as follows: "Even though our members under the age of 16 and new disciples are not voting members, you are encouraged to seek their opinions and participation in Home matters that concern them. Whenever practical, our junior teens should be permitted to attend Home Council Meetings covering matters pertaining to them. However, until new disciples have been in the Family for six months, they should not be invited to Home Council Meetings."
Amendment No.3: BAR Pubs (9/95)
Please turn to page 57 under the Responsibilities of the DO Home: Regarding the Welfare of Its Members. The last sentence of paragraph two of the explanation under point 3 presently reads as follows: "Also, all pubs purges must be complied with." Please change the period to a comma and add this phrase to the sentence, "and all BAR pub instructions followed explicitly." Then follow this with another sentence that says, "Photocopying a BAR pub is strictly prohibited." (See Charter Questions and Answers 2, FSM 287, for an explanation about this addition.)
These two sentences will now read: "Also, all pubs purges must be complied with, and all BAR pub instructions followed explicitly. Photocopying a BAR pub is strictly prohibited."
Amendment No.4: Probationary Notice for Late Tithe (9/95)
Please turn to page 103, the Procedures for Placing a Home on Probationary Notice, B. The clause now has a phrase reading: "In cases of no or low tithe, ..." Please add "or late" after the word "low" so that this clause reads, "In cases of no or low or late tithe." This then reflects the same policy as outlined on page 154, in clause B.1 of World Service Reporting and Mailing Rules.
So point B should now read: "In cases of no or low or late tithe, no or late Home Monthly Report, or no or late semi-annual Home Self-Evaluation Checklist, a Home will automatically be placed on Probationary Notice."
Amendment No.5: Required Reading for Partial Excommunication (9/95)
Please turn to page 110, Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members, A.2.a)(2). The sentence presently reads: "Must read and complete the Babes Basic Course." Change the sentence to read: "Must complete the reading of the Ninety Basic Letters for Babes in the Babes Basic Course." In other words, the minimum sentence for someone who has been partially excommunicated includes reading these 90 Letters, not necessarily the full Basic Course.
Amendment No.6: Age Requirements for Caffeine (9/95)
Please turn to page 127, Food and Drink Rules, D. This root clause presently reads, "In order to avoid the negative effect of caffeine, the daily maximum for any caffeinated beverage, such as coffee, tea or cocoa, is two cups." Add the following sentence to this root clause, "Caffeinated coffee and tea are only for those 16 and over." (See Charter Questions and Answers Part 2, FSM 287, for an explanation about this addition.)
The entire clause will now read: "In order to avoid the negative effect of caffeine, the daily maximum for any caffeinated beverage, such as coffee, tea or cocoa, is two cups. Caffeinated coffee and tea are only for those 16 and over."
Amendment No.7: Changeover from U.S. Dollar to Swiss Franc (9/95)
After further prayer and counsel, it was decided that it would be better for the greatest number of Family members to go by U.S. dollar figures in all cases throughout the Charter. Therefore, in the second printing of the Charter we have reversed our September 1995 amendment, and used U.S. dollar amounts only.
Amendment No.8: Praise Time (RESCINDED) (9/95)
This amendment, which added point K, under Required Meetings and Activities on page 153 of the Charter, has been rescinded. The Lord has said that He will not require you to strictly adhere to the scheduled Praise/Affection Times of 10 am, noon, and 5 pm If it would better suit your Home's needs and activities to have your three daily Praise Times at different hours--either occasionally or on a permanent basis--you may vote and decide on rescheduling your Praise Times.
The Lord also said it was no longer necessary for Praise Time to be listed as a Fundamental Family rule in the Charter, since we as a Family have now learned the importance of daily Praise Time. He wants us to praise Him from our hearts, out of love for Him, and because we know it pleases Him. Please see Mama's Memo in an upcoming GN for the complete message from the Lord about this.
Amendment No.9: TRF Supporters Living with Non-Family Members (9/95)
In the "Statement on TRF Supporters," we lifted the restriction on TS members' living arrangements so they can live with relatives or non-TS members if they choose to do so. In light of this, please turn to page 161 in the Charter under the Classifications of Family Membership and Literature and mark out the entire explanation under point C, which presently reads: "TRF Supporters can live alone or with other TRF Supporters, but since TRF Supporters are eligible for some older DO lit, they are required to live on their own and not with relatives or non-TS members."
Also under point C, page 161, please add the following pubs to the list of pubs TRF Supporters are eligible for: DM 2, How To Love, How To Get Things Done.
Amendment No.10: Modifications in Home Self-Evaluation Checklist (9/95)
The Home Self-Evaluation Checklist was designed so that all of the preferred answers would be "yes." This makes it very simple and easy to process these stats. However, three of these questions were worded in a way that the answer "no" would be the "right" or preferred answer. These have already been changed on the TeleTRF, so please also amend page 185 and 189 of your Charter as follows:
(Page 185)
X. BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DO HOME
Yes [ ] No [ ] 7. We have first informed and sought counsel from our Continental Office before participating in any major media interviews, documentaries, etc.; or else we did not have any such activity this month.
Yes [ ] No [ ] 8. We have not engaged in any verbal or written legal agreement in the name of the Family without obtaining written permission from our Continental Office.
(Page 189)
XIX. PERSONAL QUESTIONS:
Yes [ ] No [ ] 30. Do you feel that your shepherds have the proper balance, so that they are not overly involved with administration and details in the Home?
Also in this appendix, please reverse the September '95 "Swiss Franc" amendment that was made in the following question, so that the amount is "$50."
(Page 185)
XII. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DO HOME REGARDING FINANCIAL MATTERS:
Yes [ ] No [ ] 8. Each voting member has their $50 seed corn intact in either funds or tools.
Amendment No.11: Requirements FOR Becoming a Family Driver (3/97)
The following amendment has been added to the Charter as point E, in the Driving Rules on page 130, as previously outlined in FSM 296.
E. The following five requirements must be adhered to by all new Family drivers.
1. Read FSM 296, and all of the Letters that are available to you from the required reading list on pages 9-10 of the FSM.
2. Take and pass the written test on page 13 of FSM 296.
3. A new (or inexperienced) driver must complete 20 hours of supervised driving with a competent Family driver, and must satisfy this Family driver's assessment of their driving. (Hours of driving training at a recognized driving academy or school may be counted toward the 20 hours of supervised driving time.)
a) An already experienced driver who has a valid driver's license and considerable Family driving experience, and who receives a recommendation from two of the Home teamworkers that he/she is a safe, competent driver, does not have to meet the 20-hour requirement.
4. Two members of the Home teamwork must sign your Family Driving Certificate before it is valid.
5. Once you have received a Family Driving Certificate, a simple majority vote of the Home's members, in each Home you go to, will then enable you to become a driver for that Home. Remember, their lives will be in your hands when driving!
The term "new driver" used above not only applies to those who have just recently acquired a driver's license, which would generally be a senior teen or YA, but also those older Family members who may have had a driver's license for a number of years, but due to lack of actual driving experience may not be a qualified driver. In such a case, a Home may decide that these drivers need to have some fresh hands-on experience before they can drive a van full of children or take witnessing teams out, etc., and therefore vote in the same requirements that a new driver is expected to meet before getting their card--that is, 20 hours driving time plus approval from the teamworkers.
The supervised driving time would not necessarily need to be official "driver training," as our Homes probably don't have time for this in their busy schedules, but can be on-the-job practice. For example, an 18-year-old could do provisioning pickups with an experienced licensed driver in the car, who could instruct the new driver during the course of the day's driving. However, we do not recommend that new or inexperienced drivers drive a van full of people before getting their Family Driving Certificate.
While we are stipulating that two Home teamworkers and a competent Family driver can approve a "new" driver, after he or she has had their 20 hours of driving experience, the Home itself should also be in general agreement with the individual driving. Any voting member in a Home has the right to bring up in a Home Council Meeting the subject of driving and/or a specific driver if they feel he or she doesn't drive safely, to be discussed and/or voted on by the Home. In other words, those riding in a vehicle driven by a designated Home driver should have a reasonable amount of confidence in the driver's abilities, and if they don't, they have every right to bring it up for discussion in the proper forum.
Amendment No.12: Family Aid Fund (3/97)
In the FAF referendum originally sent to all Homes worldwide, WS specified that if a two-thirds majority of the Homes approved the Family Aid Fund, it would thereafter be a requirement to send 11% (10% tithe, and 1% FAF contribution) of their total income with their monthly TRF. Since the FAF Home Referendum did pass, we have amended the Charter to stipulate that each Home's 1% contribution to the FAF will henceforth be treated the same as the 10% tithe of their income to WS. Thus if a Home misses paying its FAF contribution, it will automatically be placed on Probationary Notice, and mailings will be immediately withheld in accordance with the Procedures for Placing a Home on Probationary Notice, until such time as it is paid.
We have amended the Basic Responsibilities of the DO Home, C, page 45, to read:
C. Tithes to World Services a minimum of 10% of its income as well as contributes a further 1% to the Family Aid Fund (FAF), and shares with World Services from its abundance through added gifts.
The explanation under point B has been changed to read: "Homes must send in their TRF, tithe ($100 minimum) and 1% FAF contribution on time each month"
Note that there is no $10 minimum on the FAF (as one might assume, considering the tithe is $100 minimum). It is simply 1% of the Home's total cash income for the month.
To reflect the fact that WS manages the Family Aid Fund, we have amended the Responsibilities of WS Leadership and Publication Homes, page 74, to read:
G. Manage and disburse the Family's tithes, FAF, and offerings as follows:
Also on page 74, a new number 5 has been added. (This changes the present number 5 to number 6.)
5. Family Aid Fund (FAF) for medical emergencies, Pioneer Gifts, HER, tool funds and Home Loans.
The first sentence of the explanation on page 74 now reads: "World Services manages and disburses the Family tithes, FAF and offerings as per the above six categories."
The World Service Reporting and Mailing Rules, B, on page 154, has been changed to read:
B. Homes are responsible to send in their tithe, their 1% FAF contribution, their monthly report, and their semi-annual Home Self-Evaluation Checklist on the required dates set by their Continental Office.
The Procedures for Placing a Home on Probationary Notice, B, page 103, has been changed to read:
B. In cases of no or low or late tithe or 1% FAF contribution, no or late Home monthly report, or no or late semi-annual Home Self-Evaluation Checklist, or being in debt for two consecutive months, a Home will automatically be placed on Probationary Notice.
The World Service Reporting and Mailing Rules, B.1, page 154, has been changed to read:
1. In cases of no or low or late tithe or 1% FAF contribution, no or late Home monthly report, or no or late semi-annual Home Self-Evaluation Checklist, a Home will automatically be placed on Probationary Notice.
The first sentence of the explanation under B.1, page 154, has also been modified to reflect these changes, as follows: "Homes must send in their TRF, tithe ($100 minimum), 1% FAF contribution and semi-annual Home Self-Evaluation Checklist (Appendix C) on time."
In the Definition of Terms, we have changed the entry for Net Income to say:
Net Income: funds remaining after the tithe, 1% FAF contribution and seed corn (and local giving, if the local giving has been agreed to in a Home Referendum; e.g., Common Pot, VS gift, etc.) have been deducted.
Amendment No.13: Waiver of Investigation of Excommunicable Offenses (3/97)
We have amended the Charter to make it possible for those who are being partially excommunicated to waive their right to a VS visit for the purpose of investigation, providing they agree to accept and abide by the disciplinary action imposed by the Continental Office. Unless the Continental Office feels an investigation is necessary, and chooses not to accept the waiver request, these individuals may begin their period of excommunication immediately rather than having to wait until they are visited by a VS, as previously required. To reflect this, we have amended the Charter as follows:
Under the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members, B.2, page 111, we have added the following points:
a) A Home member who has acknowledged that he committed an excommunicable offense has the option, if he or she so desires, of waiving the right to have an Area Officer visit and investigate the offense, thereby fully accepting the sentence of the Continental Office.
(1) The Continental Office reserves the right to not accept the Home member's waiver of a personal visit by an Area Officer.
We've added the following explanation under Responsibilities and Authority of Area Officers, J, page 89: "In some cases, investigation of an excommunicable offense can be waived (see Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members, B.2.a), page 111)."
We've also added the following phrase to the last sentence in the explanation of point F, page 90, which says, "unless the person being partially excommunicated agrees to waive the investigation and accept the sentence of the Continental Office."
Amendment No.14: No Sex for New Disciples (3/97)
Although a "no sex for new disciples" clause was covered in the Sex and Affection Rules, G, page 137 of the Charter, it was inadvertently left out of the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a DO Home. We have eliminated this discrepancy by amending the Charter as follows:
Under the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a DO Home on page 96, the following point has been added. (This will change the present number 10 to number 11, and so forth.)
10. Refrain from any sexual activity during their first six months in the Family.
However, we have also added the following clause a), to allow sexual relations between those who are joining as a couple, as is also indicated in the Sex and Affection rules, point G, on page 138.
a) New disciples joining as a couple may continue to have sex together during this period.
Amendment No.15, below, also requires those on partial excommunication to fulfill this same obligation.
Amendment No.15: Rules for Partial Excoms (3/97)
In order to clarify the rules for those who are partially excommunicated, we have modified point A.2.a), in the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members, on page 110, as follows:
a) While partially excommunicated, the member:
(1) Must refrain from sexual contact, if the partial excommunication is for a sex-related Charter offense. The member may have sex with their mate, if they have one.
i) If the member was partially excommunicated for sexual activity with a non-DO Family member, they must refrain from any sexual activity with another person until they are cleared of having contracted HIV, by a first AIDS test to be taken immediately and a second test to be taken no sooner than six months after the first.
(a) Members who are mated may have sexual relations with their mate, if their mate agrees, provided they use a condom each time, and the partially excommunicated member's mate agrees not to share sexually with others until their mate has been cleared after his or her second AIDS test, six months after their initial test.
(ii) If the member was partially excommunicated for only deep kissing a non-DO Family member and no other sexual activity, they must refrain from any sexual activity with another person until they are cleared of having contracted HIV, by a first AIDS test to be taken immediately and a second test to be taken no sooner than three months after the first.
(2) Must complete the reading of the Ninety Basic Letters for Babes in the Babes Basic Course.
(3) Can only read GP/DFO Family literature, as well as specified DO lit at the Home teamwork's discretion.
(4) Is not a voting member of the Home.
(5) Loses his Right of Mobility.
(i) If a minor under 16 years of age is placed on partial excommunication, their parent(s) still retain(s) the right to move their child to another location during this period.
(6) Might be required to live outside of the Home for a period of time specified by the Continental Office.
(i) If living outside a DO Home during the period of partial excommunication, the member must test negative for AIDS before moving into a DO Home, and again test negative after having lived within the DO Home for a six-month period. They must have no sexual activity during this first six-month period of living in a DO Home again.
(ii) Members who have been living outside of the DO Home during their partial excommunication due to sexual activity with a non-DO Family member, but who are mated, may have sexual relations with their mate upon returning to the DO Home if their mate agrees, provided this couple use a condom each time, and the excommunicated member's mate agrees not to share sexually with others until their mate has been cleared after his or her second AIDS test, six months after their initial test.
(iii) If debts are incurred while living outside a DO Home during the period of partial excommunication, they must be paid off before the member moves back into a DO Home.
We have modified the explanation as follows: "As you will note, there is a difference between full and partial excommunication. With full excommunication, besides being cut off from all but GP Family literature, the excommunicated member may also be cut off from all Family fellowship for an indefinite period of time. With partial excommunication, it is up to the discretion of the Continental Office to determine whether the member can serve their sentence in the Home or not.
"The Continental Office may decide to separate the partially excommunicated member from the DO Home for a given period of time, or to allow him to remain in the Home during his entire period of partial excommunication. As well, the Continental Office determines the duration of partial excommunication, but it must be at least three months and not more than six months."
In this modification, we have also changed the definition of full excommunication to read: "a disciplinary action resulting in a member being expelled from living in a DO or TRF Supporter Home, excluded from all but GP Family literature, and which may result in the member being excluded from all Family fellowship for an indefinite period of time." This is a small but significant change which allows for those who are excommunicated to have contact or fellowship with Family members, unless expressly forbidden by the CRO (which would be announced to the Homes). Unless otherwise specified by the CRO, it is up to the Home itself to determine whether or not they will have contact with a fully excommunicated member, and to what degree.
Amendment No.16: New Family Classifications (3/97)
Under the Charter, Live-out members are permitted to read DO lit at the teamwork's discretion. However, a problem has arisen when these Live-out members join full-time, because they then have to take a step backwards through losing their eligibility to read any DO lit for their first three months in the Home as a Live-in.
Therefore, we have amended the Charter to allow Live-out and Catacomb members, who have recently completed the three-month Babes Basic Course before joining the Home full-time, to receive the following lit.
In the revamped Classifications of Family Membership and Literature, on page 161 (see amendment No.17), we have added three new classifications and explanations to read as follows:
4. FORMER LIVE-OUT OR CATACOMB MEMBER: A non-voting live-in new disciple who was a Live-out or Catacomb member for at least three months immediately prior to joining full-time, and who completed the entire Babes Basic Course during that time.
Eligible for the following publications:
0-3 months: Read DFO publications and hear or read DO/TS and DO publications at the teamwork's discretion.
3-6 months: Have full access to the DO lit library and receive personal copies of any DO material sent OPD.
After 6 months, and all other requirements having been met, they become a voting member.
Not everyone who was at some time a Live-out or Catacomb member will be eligible for this upon joining, but only those who held this status immediately prior to joining full-time, and who during that period read the Babes Basic Course. If, for example, a person was a Live-out two years ago and read the Babes Basic Course, but then fell away, only to come back as a Live-out member at a later date, after which they made the decision to join as a full-time member; they would need to read the Babes Basic Course again, just like anyone else joining the DO Family. This is because one of the main reasons for the Babes Basic Course is to provide a solid Word foundation and a "Back to the Basics" course for anyone who needs grounding in the basics.
5. TEEN/YA RETURNEE: A teen or YA who has returned to DO status after having been out of the DO Family for no more than six weeks. A Teen/YA Returnee age 16 or over retains voting rights, and is thus a voting member, but does not have the Right of Mobility until the Procedures for Accepting Young Returnees Back into a DO Home are completed.
Eligible for the following publications:
Must read the first five sections of the Ninety Basic Letters for Babes; eligible to hear or read DO/TS and DO publications at the teamwork's discretion. Upon completing the first five sections of the Ninety Basic Letters for Babes, they are eligible to read all DO publications, have full access to the DO lit library and receive personal copies of any DO material sent OPD.
We have added the following procedure to expand on this in the Procedures section of the Charter.
39. PROCEDURES FOR ACCEPTING YOUNG RETURNEES BACK INTO A D.O. HOME
A. Members ages 14 through 20 who have been out of the DO Family for less than six weeks may rejoin the DO Home they left from without losing their voting rights (for those 16 and older) or having to complete the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a DO Home.
1. Special exemptions may be given by the Continental or Area Office for the returnee to rejoin a different Home from the one they left, providing a two-thirds majority of the new Home has voted in favor of receiving the new returnee.
a) For those under 16, legal permission of at least one parent is required for the returnee to rejoin a different Home from the one they left.
B. Upon returning to the DO Home, they must:
1. Read the first five sections of the Ninety Basic Letters for Babes.
2. Show a sincere interest in reading God's Word.
3. Have a sincere desire to engage in evangelism and dedicate their life to serving Jesus with the Family.
4. Give their material possessions to the Home they join, with the understanding that they will permanently relinquish them, with the exception of those things the Home decides the returnee needs to keep.
5. Be free from substance abuse and/or the use of illegal or illicit drugs.
6. Be free from contagious disease.
7. Test negative for the HIV virus before moving back into the Home, and again test negative after a six-month period.
8. Refrain from any sexual activity until they are deemed free of the HIV virus after their second AIDS test.
9. For those 16 and over: Forfeit their Right of Mobility until the second AIDS test at six months shows that they are clear of the HIV virus.
a) The Area Office may authorize the young returnee member to move to another Home, providing the Area Office first notifies the member's receiving Home that he must refrain from any sexual activity until the second AIDS test taken six months after his return shows that returnee is clear of the HIV virus.
10. Have no debts. Any debts incurred while outside the Home must first be paid off before rejoining.
a) The Home may decide, by a two-thirds majority, to take in a returning member who has debts, with the understanding that the member would work on repaying their debts while in the Home.
11. Have no legal obligations which would prevent them from being a full-time member of a DO Home.
In accordance with ML #2942, "When Teens Leave the Family," teens or YAs who return to the DO Family after having been out for no more than six weeks will need to fulfill the stipulations above. Among other things listed, the returning teen or YA is required to read the first five sections of the Ninety Basic Letters for Babes listed in the Babes Basic Course in Appendix F, pages 197-200 in the Charter.
We've also included TRF Supporters returning to DO status--both those rejoining an existing DO Home, and those opening their own Home--to the revamped Classifications of Family Membership and Literature on page 161.
6. REJOINING TRF SUPPORTERS
A. A TRF SUPPORTER CHANGING HIS OR HER STATUS TO D.O. MEMBER-- JOINING AN EXISTING DO HOME: A TRF Supporter transferring to DO status and moving into an existing DO Home on a six-month probationary period.
Eligible for the following publications:
0-3 months: Must read the Babes Basic Course, unless they have already completed the course within the last year prior to joining a DO Home; eligible to read DO/TS publications.
3-6 months: Read DO/TS publications and hear or read DO publications at the teamwork's discretion.
After 6 months, and the requirements under Procedures for TRF Supporters Changing to DO Status and Moving into an Existing DO Home having been met, they have full access to the DO lit library and receive personal copies of any DO material sent OPD.
B. A TRF SUPPORTER CHANGING HIS OR HER STATUS TO D.O. MEMBER--STARTING THEIR OWN DO HOME: A TRF Supporter who is a member of an entire TRF Supporter Home that is returning to DO status as its own Home, rather than joining an existing DO Home.
Eligible for the following publications:
0-6 months ("probationary period"): Babes Basic Course, and DO/TS publications.
6-12 months ("transitional period"), all DO mailings, providing they are living according to the Charter.
As outlined in Procedures for Moving TRF Supporters to DO Status, C.1, page 97, the six-month "probationary period" can be shortened to three months if the Home completes the reading of the Babes Basic Course during that time and meets the other requirements listed.
Amendment No.17: Updated Classifications of Family Membership and Literature (3/97)
In light of the addition of the three new categories mentioned above in amendment number 16, as well as the reorganization of the Family membership groups into three distinct divisions--DO members, TRF Supporters, and Other members--we have amended the Classifications of Family Membership and Literature beginning on page 161 as follows:
20. CLASSIFICATIONS OF FAMILY MEMBERSHIP AND LITERATURE
Family membership is divided into three categories: DO members, TRF Supporters, and Other members.
A. DO MEMBERS:
A Family member who is saved, witnesses, fellowships, tithes, gives a 1% FAF contribution monthly, abides by the Charter rules and fulfills the Responsibilities of Individual Members.
1. VOTING LIVE-IN MEMBER: A member who has lived in a DO Home for over six months and is at least 16 years old
Eligible to receive all available Family publications--DO, DO/TS, TS, DFO and GP, unless an age designation stipulated on a specific publication makes them ineligible for that particular publication.
* Membership requirements for the live-ins aren't any different than they have been for many years: saved, number one. Two, they must witness or litness. Three, fellowship!... Four: support, minimum tithes, and five, TRFs in full! Right?--These are the absolutely irrevocable, unchangeable Laws of the Family, requirements for membership and the rules for receiving lit! (ML #1730:20,21).
2. MEMBER ON PROBATIONARY STATUS: A live-in member whose Home has placed him on Probationary Status in accordance with the Procedures for Placing a Member on Probationary Status.
Those who have been placed on Probationary Status can be assigned to read parts or all of the Babes Basic Course and other publications--DO, DO/TS, TS, DFO and GP--at the Home teamwork's discretion.
3. NEW DISCIPLE (OR BABE): Non-voting live-in Family member who has joined or rejoined the Family within the last six months.
Eligible for the following Family publications:
0-3 months: Babes Basic Course, and GP/DFO publications.
3-6 months: Hear or read DO and DO/TS publications at the teamwork's discretion.
After 6 months, all other requirements having been met, they become a voting member, eligible to have full access to the DO lit library and receive personal copies of any DO material sent OPD, as well as all other rights of a voting live-in member.
4. FORMER LIVE-OUT OR CATACOMB MEMBER: A non-voting live-in new disciple who was a Live-out or Catacomb member for at least three months immediately prior to joining full-time, and who completed the entire Babes Basic Course during that time.
Eligible for the following publications:
0-3 months: Read DFO publications and hear or read DO/TS and DO publications at the teamwork's discretion.
3-6 months: Have full access to the DO lit library and receive personal copies of any DO material sent OPD.
After 6 months, and all other requirements having been met, they become a voting member.
Not everyone who was at some time a Live-out or Catacomb member will be eligible for this upon joining, but only those who held this status immediately prior to joining full-time, and who during that period read the Babes Basic Course. If, for example, a person was a Live-out two years ago and read the Babes Basic Course, but then fell away, only to come back as a Live-out member at a later date, after which they made the decision to join as a full-time member, they would need to read the Babes Basic Course again, just like anyone else joining the DO Family. This is because one of the main reasons for the Babes Basic Course is to provide a solid Word foundation and a "Back to the Basics" course for anyone who needs grounding in the basics.
5. TEEN/YA RETURNEE: A teen or YA who has returned to DO status after having been out of the DO Family for no more than six weeks. A Teen/YA Returnee age 16 or over retains voting rights, and is thus a voting member, but does not have the Right of Mobility until the Procedures for Accepting Young Returnees Back into a DO Home are completed.
Eligible for the following publications:
Read the first five sections of the Ninety Basic Letters for Babes, and hear or read DO/TS and DO publications at the teamwork's discretion. Upon completing the first five sections of the Ninety Basic Letters for Babes, they are eligible to read all DO publications, have full access to the DO lit library and receive personal copies of any DO material sent OPD.
6. A TRF SUPPORTER CHANGING HIS OR HER STATUS TO DO MEMBER AND JOINING AN EXISTING DO HOME: A TRF Supporter transferring to DO status and moving into an existing DO Home on a six-month probationary period.
Eligible for the following publications:
0-3 months: Babes Basic Course, and DO/TS publications.
3-6 months: Read DO/TS publications and hear or read DO publications at the teamwork's discretion.
After 6 months, and the requirements under Procedures for TRF Supporters Changing to DO status and Moving into an Existing DO Home having been met, they have full access to the DO lit library and receive personal copies of any DO material sent OPD.
7. A TRF SUPPORTER CHANGING HIS OR HER STATUS TO DO MEMBER--STARTING THEIR OWN DO HOME: A TRF Supporter who is a member of an entire TRF Supporter Home that is returning to DO status as its own Home, rather than joining an existing DO Home.
Eligible for the following publications:
0-6 months ("probationary period"): Babes Basic Course, and DO/TS publications.
6-12 months ("transitional period"), all DO mailings, providing they are living according to the Charter.
As outlined in Procedures for Moving TRF Supporters to DO Status, C.1, page 97, the six-month "probationary period" can be shortened to three months if the Home completes the reading of the Babes Basic Course during that time and meets the other requirements listed.
8. PARTIALLY EXCOMMUNICATED MEMBER: A DO member who has been partially excommunicated and must fulfill the requirements in the Procedures for Excommunicating Family Members, A.2, page 110.
Eligible for the following publications:
Must read the Babes Basic Course, and are eligible to read GP/DFO Family literature, and DO lit at the Home teamwork's discretion, during their period of excommunication.
B. TRF SUPPORTERS:
1. TRF SUPPORTER: One who is saved, completes a monthly TRF, tithes and fulfills the basic requirements and guidelines of TRF Supporter Family members, as outlined in the "Statement on TRF Supporters."
Eligible for the following publications:
All expurgated ML DO volumes up to and including Volume 17 (but not including Volume 4, which has been expunged, or loose DO publications).
DBs 1-9, the MOPs, Childcare Handbooks, Raise 'em Right, BTH, Marvelous Marriage, LWG, LOG, New Heaven's Children, Techi's Life Story, KTKs, True Komic Volumes, Word Basics, The BEST, The Book of Remembrance 1 and 2, Heavenly Helpers 1, 2 and 5, Activity Books 1-4, The Rhyme Book, Daily-Dex, DMs 1 and 2, Bible in Pictures, How To Love, How To Get Things Done.
DO/TS, DFO and GP publications.
All regular TS and DO/TS mailings, providing they meet their reporting requirements.
2. TRF SUPPORTER NEW DISCIPLE: One who has been in the TRF Supporter Family for less than six months and fulfills the requirements listed in the "Statement on TRF Supporters." A person can join the Family as a TRF Supporter by moving into an existing TRF Supporter Home with the agreement of that Home's members, as per the procedures outlined in the "Statement on TRF Supporters." Or, with Continental Office approval, a person can join the Family as a TRF Supporter by beginning to report as their own TRF Supporter Home.
Eligible for the following lit:
0-3 months: Must read the Babes Basic Course; eligible for DFO and DO/TS lit at the Home teamwork's discretion.
After 3 months they have full access to the DO/TS lit library and receive personal copies of OPD DO/TS material.
C. OTHER MEMBERS:
1. LIVE-OUT MEMBER: Friends who are saved, regularly fellowship with a Home, attend meetings, witness and help a Home, and tithe or give substantially to a Home or WS. (Occasional visitors who drop in once in a great while, or even DF/Follow-up members whom you visit and feed, are not to be counted as "Live-outs.")
Eligible for the following publications:
GP and DFO publications.
Certain DO or DO/TS publications at the Home teamwork's prayerful discretion. DO pubs must be read at the DO Home only. DO/TS pubs may be taken off of the DO Home's premises at the Home teamwork's discretion.
Live-outs are required to tithe or give regularly to either your Home or WS. A person who does not have any personal income may not be able to tithe, but those who have a job or any income at all should be taught to tithe, regardless of the amount of the tithe.
2. CATACOMBER: These are people who would join a Home, but cannot due to special circumstances, such as being underage, being in military service, in debt, etc. They are saved, they witness and/or distribute literature, and they either tithe their income to a Home or WS, or are being taught to tithe. They might not come over for fellowship as often as Live-outs, or attend Home meetings as much as Live-outs, since they might have restrictions set by their parents, the military, etc. But they have progressed beyond the Daily Foods and such follow-up type courses, are reading more DFO literature than a DF/Follow-up member, and have progressed to the point where they intend to join when the restrictions are lifted. You must have some sort of contact with these people at least once every month in order to list them as members, and to confirm that they are still active members.
Eligible for the following publications:
GP and DFO publications
Certain DO or DO/TS publications at the teamwork's prayerful discretion. DO pubs must be read at the DO Home only. DO/TS pubs may be taken off of the DO Home's premises at the Home teamwork's discretion.
Catacomb members believe and follow Family doctrine as much as possible, and seem to be headed towards becoming either Live-in or Live-out disciples, circumstances permitting and God willing.
3. DF/FOLLOW-UP MEMBERS are those who are actively progressing through an official WS and/or Continental Office-sanctioned follow-up course, such as the DF course, the EEEC course, etc. (Before they can be reported as a DF/Follow-up member, they should have read their follow-up material or other appropriate publications that preceding month, confirmed through a personal visit, phone call or mail response.)
4. OUTSIDE WITNESSERS are those who live outside a Home and are actively engaged in disseminating the Family message, usually in the form of literature distribution. The only requirements are: They must be saved and either distribute publications or actively disseminate the message in some tangible way; for example, a radio contact who plays Family tapes regularly and tries to get the message out that way, etc. Outside witnessers differ from members of other classifications, such as DF/Follow-up members, Catacombers, and Live-outs, in that they aren't necessarily regularly reading our literature or following a reading course, they don't necessarily visit or fellowship with us, and they aren't necessarily progressing in their discipleship quality, nor are they necessarily expected to join. They simply are saved, like our message, and want to get it out in one form or another, usually through mass distribution of our literature. In order to list them as Outside Witnessers, you must have had some contact or communication with them within the past three months, confirming that they are still getting out the literature or the message in some tangible way. Distribution companies or people that you might contract to distribute literature, videos, etc., should not be counted as Outside Witnessers.
5. ACTIVE SUPPORTERS are friends, supporters and people who are actively supporting a Home or the Family in some tangible way; for example, financially or by supplying goods and/or services, free rent, etc., or professionals who help by offering their services on the Family's behalf. They do not need to be saved, but they do need to be regularly helping your Home or the Family in some way. Once you follow up on your Supporters and get them saved, and begin sharing publications with them--such as the Daily Foods--on a regular basis, then they would be switched over to a DF/Follow-up member and taken off your Active Supporters list. Though they may still support you, they have progressed spiritually to a closer, deeper relationship with you, the Family, and the Lord.
6. MAIL MINISTRY MEMBERS are those attracted to your mailing list via radio, TV, tape or poster or other outreach of some type. (They must write in twice, responding to a test mailing before they should be listed as a Mail Ministry member. In order to be counted as a Mail Ministry member for any given month, they must have responded within the last three months.) They can switch over to being DF/Follow-up members as they progress. This includes not only official Area "Mail Ministries," but also anyone writing your Home in at least a second response to your outreach.
These wouldn't necessarily include relatives or other people that you write on a personal basis and minister to and feed a bit by mail, but rather people who are responding and progressing and who are writing in because they are interested in the message and in the Family and in receiving more Family literature. We don't want padded stats, so please list only those whom you are actively feeding and who wrote in within the last three months.
7. GP Members are those who send (or you as their sponsor send) a gift of at least $5 per month or $60 per year to WS, including parents and friends, or interested former members. Such individuals will receive a mailing each month from the respective Continental Office.
To receive a mailing they or their sponsor must send $5 that month, or a $30 donation that makes them eligible for GP member status for six months, etc. They do not have to send the fee in themselves. As their sponsor, you can place them on this mailing list for as many months as you send funds for. These individuals are not to be listed on a Home's TRF, but are handled by the Continental Office, whereas Active Supporters and Mail Ministry members are handled by a Home, and are listed on a TRF as part of the Home's "fold." Any DO or TRF Supporter Home which would like to have someone included on this list can send their addresses as well as the appropriate amount of funds to their Continental Office or to WS.
Amendment No.18: "Floaters" (3/97)
We have amended the Charter to clarify exactly how long DO members who are "in transit" are permitted to stay with TRF Supporters, relatives, or other non-Family members, as well as how long Homes are permitted to keep Home members on their TRF while the members are in the process of moving to their next location or opening their own Home, etc.
It has been decided that the underlying premise will be that all DO members must report and tithe each month, by either reporting as their own Home or appearing on another Home's TRF. This means that members leaving a Home must arrive at the Home they are moving to, and/or join another Home, or start their own Home by the next reporting date after being dropped from their former Home's TRF.
However, members may retain "transit" status for two reporting periods after having left their former Home, while raising funds or moving to their next location, without having to go through the trouble and expense of reporting as their own Home for that period. The members' former Home may now keep them on their TRF for a maximum of two reporting periods after they have physically left the Home, providing that they receive the members' tithe and stats for each TRF during that period. However, if it becomes apparent that members are misusing this exception clause, they may be in jeopardy of losing their DO status.
In the World Service Reporting and Mailing Rules on page 153, we have made a new point A, with the present point A becoming point B, etc.
A. All DO members must tithe and appear on a DO Home's TRF each month without exception.
In the Right of Mobility section on page 26 we have added to point A the following clause 6 and sub-clauses.
6. While members are in transit to their new Home and/or making preparations to open their own Home, their former Home may allow them to remain on their TRF for a maximum of two reporting periods after they physically leave the Home, providing the Home receives their stats, tithe and 1% FAF contribution during this period.
a) Once a member is dropped from their former Home's TRF, they have until the next reporting date to either appear on the TRF of the next Home receiving them, or to open their own Home in accordance with the Definition of a DO Home, page 42.
1) After being dropped from their former Home's TRF, if a member does not appear on a DO TRF by the next reporting date, Procedures for Moving a DO Member to TRF Supporter Status will begin.
(i) An additional reporting period extension may be granted by the Continental Office in hardship cases, after which time the member must appear on a TRF.
2) If the members are going to open their own Home, they have the option to remain with TRF Supporters or non-Family members for a further reporting period, in accordance with the Definition of a DO Home, C.1, page 44. However, they must report as their own Home during this period.
(i) This one reporting period may be extended by the Continental Office if they feel it is warranted.
All DO members must report and tithe every single month by appearing on an existing Home's TRF or sending in their own. This means that members leaving a Home must arrive at the Home they are moving to, and/or join another Home, or start their own Home by the time the next TRF is due, after being dropped from their former Home's TRF.
The members' former Home is permitted to keep them on their TRF for a maximum of two reporting periods after they have physically left the Home, providing that they receive the members' tithe (and 1% FAF contribution) and stats for each TRF during that period, and incorporate these with their Home's TRF in addition to the absent members' personal statistics.
Once members are dropped from their former Home's TRF, they would then have until the next reporting date to either appear on the TRF of the Home receiving them, or open their own Home in accordance with the Definition of a DO Home, page 42. We hope that in most cases this three reporting period maximum will allow members time to reach their final destination without obligating them to open their own Home for just a month or two.
If a DO family or individual members are in transit, and time requires them to open their own Home (having not yet reached their destination), the Continental Office has the option to allow them to remain with TRF Supporters, relatives or friends for a longer period if they feel it is warranted. They would be required to TRF and tithe during this time but would not be eligible to receive new DO mailings until they move into their own Home (at which time they could order the mailings they missed).
Please note that the above applies to members who are leaving their Home to join another Home, or open their own Home, and will be in transit for a period of time in between. If you are temporarily away from your Home on an extended road trip, or visiting relatives, etc., and will be returning to your existing Home (and thus remain on their TRF), this is simply a matter to be counseled about and decided upon between you and your Home. (For further details on temporarily being away from your Home, see the explanation under the Definition of a DO Home, C.1, page 44, and the introduction to the Right of Mobility section, page 18.)
If you are actually in transit to a new Home, in order to qualify to remain on your former Home's TRF after physically departing from the Home, you must report your stats and send in your tithe during the time period that you remain on your former Home's TRF. This time frame is not to exceed two reporting periods after you have physically left the Home.
While in transit and not physically in the Home, the Home may not forward copies of DO mailings to you, although you may read them if visiting another DO Home.
All DO members must tithe and be included on a TRF each month to remain DO members, even while in transit.
We have also changed point H, in the Responsibilities of Individual Members, on page 5 to read:
H. Reside in a DO Home, and appear on a Home's monthly report each month.
1. While a member is in transit to their new Home and/or making preparations to open their own Home--after exercising their Right of Mobility, or having been voted out of their former Home--their former Home may allow them to remain on their TRF for a maximum of two reporting periods after the member physically leaves the Home, providing the Home receives their stats, tithe and FAF contribution during this period.
Since it will no longer apply, we have dropped point 3.a).(1), on page 64, which said:
(1) If the member is unable to join, or open, another Home by the end of the 30-day period, he loses his DO membership, but is eligible for TS status.
Amendment No.19: Separate Dwellings (3/97)
In FSM 278, "Charter Questions and Answers--Part 1," we specified that there is nothing wrong with a Home dividing up on different floors of the same house in preparation for splitting into two Homes, provided they are collectively below the maximum Home size limit. We also stressed that in such a case, they should continue to report as one Home while they are still in the same location.
We also gave leeway for two Homes to technically be under the same roof--say on different floors of the same apartment building or duplex, or campground, etc., and cooperate in witnessing, provisioning, etc.--but specified that they should be financially independent from each other. However, this is with the stipulation that each Home also have its own separate mailing address, as outlined in the World Service Reporting and Mailing Rules, A, page 153.
Each Home must also send in at least the minimum tithe with their (own) TRF. Plus the Required Meetings and Activities, C, page 150, stipulate that each Home must have its own (separate) Home Council Meetings, witnessing meetings, childcare meetings, and so forth.
We have now amended the Charter to also make it a requirement that each Home have its own independent utilities to make it evident that each DO Home is required to reside in its own separate dwelling.
To do so in the Definition of a DO Home, page 43, we have changed paragraph 1 in the explanation under point B to read:
Presently a Home may not exceed 35 total live-in members, including adults and children. (The exception to this is a Service Home, which is explained later.) Each Home must have its own utilities, independent of the other Home(s), such as electricity, gas, water, etc. Each Home should be financially independent and must send in the minimum tithe monthly. Also, as pointed out in Required Meetings and Activities, C, page 150, each Home must have its own (separate) Home Council Meetings, childcare meetings, and so forth. As well, each Home must have its own separate mailing address, as outlined in the World Service Reporting and Mailing Rules, A, page 153.
This means that a Home expanding to over 35 (or 45 in the case of a Service Home) is required to split into two separate dwellings.
Amendment No.20: Engaged Senior Teens Rooming Together (3/97)
Some of our senior teen girls are becoming pregnant and the couples are deciding to marry, and thus wish to begin rooming together immediately, so we have amended the Marriage Rules to allow this, as follows:
In the Marriage Rules we've added clause a) under point E.2 on page 158 which reads:
E. Members ages 16 and 17 may marry those ages 16 through 20, providing it is legally permissible in the country where they reside and they each receive permission from at least one DO parent.
2. Enter into a six-month period of engagement. During the first three months of this period, they may not room together.
a) In the case of pregnancy and the couple having decided to marry, if both members desire to live together, the three-month waiting period before rooming together is waived.
In the case where a girl is already pregnant and the couple has decided to marry, their rooming together is obviously not based on some passing infatuation. In "Go for the Gold" (ML #2961, GN 657), the Lord encouraged our young people who get pregnant to marry in most cases, and as was brought out, the young pregnant girl needs extra help, care and support, especially during the initial months of pregnancy. So in this case, where the girl is already pregnant or becomes pregnant during the first three months of engagement, the senior teens are permitted to begin rooming together, if they so choose, during the first three months of their engagement period.
Amendment No.21: Financial Obligations of Departing Members (3/97)
We have amended the Charter to clarify exactly what financial obligations departing members are responsible for when raising funds to leave a Home. The percentage from a departing member's fundraising that the Home has decided that he should turn over to help support the Home while he continues to live in the Home is meant to cover his share of the Home's current monthly operating expenses, which include rent, phone, utilities, etc. He cannot be charged again for the Home's monthly operating expenses from the percentage the Home has agreed that he be permitted to use to pay off his share of the Home's debts and liabilities and to keep as travel/landing funds.
For example: A Home agrees that departing member John should be allowed to save 50% of his net income to pay off his share of the Home's debts and liabilities from his fundraising. And that once his debts and liabilities are paid off, he can keep this same 50% of his net income to build up travel/landing funds for his move to his next Home. It is also agreed that the remaining 50% of John's net income is to be turned in to the Home to help cover the Home's current operating expenses (food, rent, utilities, phone, etc.), for as long as John continues to live there. This means that during the time that John is fundraising to depart, he is only required to give 50% of his net income to the Home to cover its operating expenses, and the other 50% is to be used exclusively to pay off his share of the debts and liabilities, or, once John's portion of the Home's debts and liabilities are paid, to facilitate his move to his next Home. If the Home has some big bills or other expenses coming up, John cannot be required to give from the 50% that he's allowed to keep for his debt/liabilities and travel/landing funds, to pay for those or any other Home expenses (see also Right of Mobility, A.3.c)(2), page 24). (Of course, if John were to decide on his own to give some of the money he's saved up to help pay for a Home expense, that's his decision. But the Home cannot require him to do so.)
We have amended parts of the explanation under A.3.c)(1), page 23, in the Right of Mobility to read: Since you are still living in the Home and are eating and sleeping there, it is only fair that some of the funds you bring in from outreach be used to cover your share of the regular monthly expenses. The Home must still carry on and meet its current operating expenses. So the funds you bring into the Home above the minimum 50% of your net income earmarked to pay your portion of the Home's debts or liabilities are to be used by the Home for their current operating expenses, just as any funds from outreach would be used. These current operating expenses include the Home's food, transportation, rent, phone, utilities such as electricity, water, gas, etc.
This means that current operating expenses are not to be considered debts or liabilities. (See also the explanation under A.1 in the Rights of the Individual: Within the Home.) Therefore the percentage of the funds which go toward the running of the Home pays for the member's share of the rent, phone, utilities, and other current operating expenses, and the percentage designated to pay the member's debts or travel/landing funds must be used solely for that purpose.
In the Definition of Terms, we have added a definition of current operating expenses as follows:
Current Operating Expenses: the current month's rent, phone, utilities, food, transportation, and other regular monthly expenses incurred in the normal running of a Home. (Seed corn is not included, as that should be linked directly to tool distribution and handled separately.)
Amendment No.22: New Members Being Elected to Home Teamworks as "Trainees" (3/97)
Once a new disciple becomes a voting member of a Home, after six months in the Family, he also becomes eligible for a Home teamwork position, the same as any other voting member in the Home. However, since we require our YAs and teens, when elected to a Home teamwork for the first time, to be trainees for six months before becoming full-fledged teamwork members, the same training period is now also required for disciples who have been in the Family for under one year the first time they are elected to a Home teamwork position, regardless of their age.
We have amended the Charter by adding the following point (2) under B.2.d) in the Election Rules on page 141:
(2) Members 16 to 20, and voting members who have been live-in DO members for less than one year, will be considered "trainees" for their first six months on a Home teamwork if it is their first time ever on a Home teamwork, as outlined in point 6 of the Home Election Guidelines in Appendix D, page 193.
We have also amended point 6 of the Home Election Guidelines (Appendix D) to read:
6. YAs, senior teens or disciples less than one year in the Family: Because of the immensity of the teamwork job, young adults, senior teens and disciples who have been in the Family for less than one year, who are elected to a Home teamwork for the first time, will be considered "trainees" for their first six months on the job. There are several ways to bring your YAs and new disciples into positions on the Home teamwork, and here are two possibilities:
a) The first time ever that a young adult or disciple less than one year in the Family is elected to a Home teamwork, he or she does not have to be voted into a specific teamwork position. For example, your Home can vote in eligible teamworkers to fill the various positions, and you can vote in one or two young adults or disciples less than one year in the Family to also be on the teamwork, but without specific portfolios for the first election period. Giving these folks six months of "on-the-job training" will allow them the opportunity to help out in all of the teamwork responsibilities, and will show them, and the Home, which type of shepherding role they are best suited for. If they are re-nominated to the Home teamwork after six months, they could then be elected to fill a specific teamwork position.
b) Alternately, if they have a special burden and training in a specific ministry or position, such as Childcare or Outreach or Teen/JETT shepherding, they could be voted in as a trainee for that specific position right away, and would work alongside the seasoned adult who was voted in to hold that position for the entire six months.
Although "trainees," these young adult and new disciple teamwork members will have a full vote on the teamwork.
Amendment No.23: Requirements for Excommunicated Members Rejoining (3/97)
We have amended the Charter to require former members who have previously been excommunicated to obtain permission from the Continental Office before joining a DO or TRF Supporter Home.
Under point A, in the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a DO Home, page 93, we have added a new number 1, changing the present number 1 to number 2.
1. If a prospective member has been previously excommunicated, the Continental Office must give its approval before the prospective member can rejoin a DO or TRF Supporter Home.
Amendment No.24: Exceptions to Minimum Home Size Rules (3/97)
In order to allow the Continental Offices greater discretionary leeway to grant exemptions to the four-member-Home rule, we have amended the Charter to broaden the exemptions from only a married couple or two single parents to any two or three voting members that the Continental Offices feel warrant an exemption.
To do this we have amended the Charter as follows:
On page 42, under the Definition of a DO Home, change point A.4 to read:
4. Exemptions to the minimum Home population size can be authorized by the Continental Office when they feel a case warrants it, providing the Home has a minimum of two voting members.
We have modified paragraph 5 of the explanation to read: "The Continental Office may grant exceptions to the four-voting-member minimum when they feel a case warrants it."
We have also added the following new paragraph 8 to the explanation: "In some instances, two or three voting members may be unable to expand to four voting members in the required time. In that case, they may contact their Continental Office, which has the right to grant them an exemption, either for a specified amount of time or indefinitely, if they feel it is warranted."
We have also modified A.1.d) in the Home Size Rules, page 149, to read:
d) Exemptions to the minimum Home population size can be authorized by the Continental Office when they feel a case warrants it, providing the Home has a minimum of two voting members.
The explanation now reads: Since the Continental Office has the authority to waive the four-voting-member rule for DO Homes, the same would apply to TRF Supporter Homes that are in the process of becoming DO Homes. This would, as with DO Homes, be the exception, not the rule; for instance, in the situation of a TRF Supporter family living in a remote location who would be unable to qualify simply because they do not have two other DO members.
Amendment No.25: MORE HOME SELF-EVALUATION CHECKLIST MODIFICATIONS (3/97)
These points in the Home Self-Evaluation Checklist have been revised, as follows:
On page 187, No.26 now reads:
26. As much as possible, we select the movies we view from the WS Movie Lists and are guided by the age group classifications.
In light of the counsel in "Go for the Gold," (ML #2961, GN 657) that birth control is an individual decision, No.35, page 187, has been revised as:
35. All our adult members follow the principles expressed in "Go for the Gold" (ML #2961, GN 657), that birth control is an individual decision.
Amendment No.26: PROPHECY RULES (3/97)
With the Lord putting greater emphasis on prophecy, we have amended the Charter to include the following Prophecy Rules section in the "Fundamental Family Rules." This addresses the issue of directional prophecies given for individuals and/or Homes, revelatory prophecies received by Family members, and prophecies that may conflict with rules and guidelines in the Charter.
19. PROPHECY RULES
A. Family members have the final decision as to whether or not to implement the guidance given to them through prophecies received, either by themselves or through others, which will affect their lives or the lives of their children.
Using the gift of prophecy to help find the Lord's will is a great blessing. As with all prophecies, what the Lord says in prophecy to those seeking guidance in personal matters should be prayerfully interpreted. Whether or not to implement what the Lord has shown is completely up to the individual(s) the prophecies were given for.
All prophecies that appear in a WS publication have been approved by Mama, our "Winetaster." WS leadership believes and supports and follows the prophecies they send out in the pubs as the Word of God, and suggests that Family members also believe, support and follow them to the best of their ability and according to their faith.
B. A Home policy or decision that is given in or confirmed by prophecy must be voted upon and agreed to by a simple majority of the Home's voting members, just like other Home policies or decisions.
Before implementing a major directional prophecy received for your Home, the voting members, by a simple majority, must be convinced that it is the Lord's will. If such a matter brings about some confusion or conflict within the Home, the Home should seek the Lord for further confirmation. If it can't be sorted out by further prayer and discussion together and a Home vote, the prophecy should be passed on to your Area or Continental Office for their judgment.
1. Family members or Homes must not implement any prophecies that they receive which contradict the "Charter of Responsibilities and Rights" or the "Fundamental Family Rules," unless they have first obtained WS Leadership permission to do so.
If, for instance, a Home receives a prophecy that they are to increase the membership of their Home to 100 members, they must first obtain WS Leadership permission before doing so, since this would be contravening the Charter.
2. In accordance with the Responsibilities of WS Leadership, B.1, page 72, any new revelatory or directional prophecy received by a Family member must be approved by Mama and Peter and officially and expressly disseminated by WS as such before it would be considered a fundamental Family belief.
Any major changes in our fundamental Family rules or beliefs will be presented and confirmed in the GNs by Mama, our "Winetaster." (See "Three Gifts of the Lord's Love!" ML #3005:106-129, GN 647.)
To cross-reference that the ultimate responsibility for implementing directional prophecies given for individuals lies with those individuals, we have added a new point C to the Basic Rights of Individual Members on page 12.
C. Have the final decision as to whether or not to implement the guidance given to them through prophecies received, either by themselves or through others, which will affect their lives or the lives of their children.
If a prophecy is given for a voting member or their children, the decision to implement or not implement the prophecy is completely up to them, in accordance with the Prophecy Rules.
The member should seek the counsel of others who are gifted in interpreting prophecy, when trying to find the meaning of the prophecy. Both the person and those helping with the interpretation should set aside their own opinions, desires and plans and be open to what the Lord has said, but ultimately the decision is up to the individual(s).
Using the gift of prophecy to help find the Lord's will is a great blessing. As with all prophecies, prophecies received for those seeking guidance should be prayerfully interpreted. Whether or not to implement what the Lord has shown is completely up to the individual(s) they were given for.
Before implementing the directions of a prophecy received by you or given to you through someone else, you must be convinced that it is the Lord's will for you, and test the prophecy against the other ways to know God's will. You should not let someone pressure you or coerce you through prophecy, or any other means, into doing something which you are not convinced is the Lord's will for you. The Lord expects each one to make the final choice as to what His will is for themselves.
Also, in order to clarify how directional prophecies given for a Home are to be judged and interpreted, we have added the following paragraph to the explanation under point A in the Rights of the DO Home on page 60: "Before implementing the directions of a prophecy received for your Home, the voting members, by a simple majority, must be convinced that it is the Lord's will, and should test the prophecy against the other ways to know God's will. If such a matter has brought about some confusion or conflict within the Home and it can't be sorted out by seeking further confirmation or clarification from the Lord, prayer and discussion together, the prophecy should be passed on to your Area or Continental Office for their judgment, as outlined in the Prophecy Rules."
* "Prophecy is only one of the ways that we should use to find God's will. It is not the only way and should not be relied on exclusively. The Word, Godly counsel and the other ways of finding God's will should still be used. The main thing to remember is that in decision-making you must pray and desperately seek the Lord and use all the available means, including prophecy, to find His will" (ML #3019:50, GN 655).
We have also added the following B.1 in the Responsibilities of WS Leadership and Publication Homes on page 72.
1. Any new prophetic revelations must be approved by Mama and Peter and officially and expressly disseminated by WS as such before they will be considered a fundamental Family belief.
The Lord gives Mama and Peter His Words and messages for the entire Family, and He gives local prophets His messages for their situation. Prophecy received in the Homes should be judged according to the written Word, the Bible and the Letters, both old and new. Prophecy that goes beyond these should be submitted to your leadership and/or Mama and Peter before it is acted upon. Any major changes that come about in the Family will be given and confirmed in the GNs by Mama, our "Winetaster." (See "Three Gifts of the Lord's Love!" ML #3005:106-129, GN 647.)
* (Jesus speaking:) You can be assured that any major changes that I bring will be confirmed through My leadership and through the continued written Word that I give to you (ML #3019:108, GN 655).
Amendment No.27: CHILD'S RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN EVANGELISM (3/97)
We have amended the Rights of the Children, page 39, to include all of our children, not just those 12 to 16 years old, giving them the right to engage in active evangelism, by adding a new point E, as follows:
E. Engage in evangelism.
Although it is mandated in the Outreach Rules that children above the age of 12 witness a minimal number of hours per week, through this amendment we are hereby expressly granting 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.
We have also modified the first paragraph of the preamble to the Rights of the Children as follows: It's very important to clarify what rights our Family children have, so that everyone knows exactly what they must do to properly care for them. As Dad said, "Nothing is more important than God's children and their care, for they are His Kingdom!" (ML #315:30). This section covers the rights of those under the age of 16. Although those under the age of 16 do not have the same rights as voting members, it should be understood that as children get older they should be given a greater degree of personal autonomy. For instance, a 12 to 15-year-old child should be given more responsibility and freedom of choice than a 10-year-old, and likewise a 10-year-old greater than a 6-year-old. Once someone reaches age 16, they have the rights of a voting member, which are covered under the Responsibilities and Rights of Individual DO Family Members, unless specified otherwise in the Charter.
Amendment No.28: FUNDS GENERATED THROUGH FUNDRAISING (3/97)
Problems have arisen when a member has arranged with his Home to raise funds to move on to a new field, but in the end has decided to stay in the same Home or the same field. It is not covered in the Charter how the funds generated for the move should be handled if the member decides not to move on to the original agreed-upon destination. We have therefore amended the Charter, so that if plans change, the funds raised by the member should be given back to the Home, so they can determine how the funds should be used. (Like any other financial matter, if the member has a special need, he could present his request to the Home to be voted on.)
To reflect this in the Charter, we have added point A.3.f) to the Right of Mobility, page 25, as follows:
f) If the member's plans change and he decides to remain in the Home, or will be making a move that will require less funds than the original amount voted on, the funds which the Home allowed the member to set aside in preparation for his move should be returned to the Home. If he is making a move that will require less funds, the Home must give him the funds needed. If he is remaining in the Home, the Home would decide, by a two-thirds majority vote, for what purpose these funds should be allocated.
In some situations the Home member, having raised a certain amount of funds to leave the Home and travel to another area, may decide to remain in the Home or the same field after all, or his plans may change due to new circumstances. In this case, since the Home allowed the member to take time off Home duties to raise these funds, it seems only right that if the funds are not used for the purpose of the move as originally intended, then they should be returned to the Home.
If the member is moving to a closer destination, requiring less funds, the Home would give the departing member the funds needed for the move. The Home would then decide, by a two-thirds majority vote, whether to allow the member to keep the rest of the funds, or a portion of them for personal needs, etc., or whether the funds should be incorporated into the Home's coffers, or set aside for some specified Home expenditure.
If the member is remaining in the Home and not moving to a new Home, then the Home would decide, by a two-thirds majority, on the use of entire amount of funds raised by the member.
We have also added the following sentence to the last paragraph of the explanation of point D of the Financial Rules on page 147:
If the member's plans change and he decides to remain in the Home, or will be making a move that will require less funds than the original amount voted on, the funds which the Home allowed the member to set aside in preparation for his move should be returned to the Home and distribution made in accordance with point A.3.f.) in the Right of Mobility on page 25.
Amendment No.29 PREVIEWING MOVIES BEFORE HOME VIEWING (3/97)
We realize that it's not always possible to select movies from the WS movie guides, but we feel it is imperative that any movies not chosen from the WS movie guide be screened and approved by a preview committee before being shown to the entire Home or groups of the Home's teens or children. Therefore we have amended the Charter to make it a rule that any movies not on a WS-recommended movie list be previewed before being watched by the Home.
To make this amendment, we have added the following sub-clauses to the Home Life Rules, point K, page 133, in the "Fundamental Family Rules."
1. If a Home plans to watch a movie that is not listed on a WS Movie List (or other Family publication), the Home must appoint a preview committee of at least two members 18 or older to judge the suitability of the movie and the age group(s) to which it can be shown. It is recommended that, if possible, a member of the Home's teamwork be on the preview committee. The previewing committee has the authority to disqualify a movie for Home viewing.
a) An exception to this rule is if the movie has already been previewed and recommended by another Home's teamwork who has watched the movie with the age group they are recommending it for, or by an Area or Continental Officer.
We hope that in most cases, Homes will select the movies they watch from those rated by WS in the Family Movie Guides or other Family publications. However, in cases where rated films are unavailable and/or the Home wants to watch a film that has not yet been rated (such as a new release), it's important that the film first be "screened" in order to make sure it is appropriate for the Home, particularly if the planned audience will include teens, JETTs or children. In other words, the Home teamwork must not go solely on the recommendation of someone who may have seen the movie (unless the recommendation comes from another Home's teamwork or an Area or Continental Officer, as explained above), but should appoint a Home previewing team of at least two people, including a teamwork member if possible, responsible to preview the movie.
While this may be an inconvenience, it will save time in the long run from having to deal with the negative repercussions that a bad movie could have on people. You may want to review what Dad has said in the Letters about System movies to help your Home in previewing and rating videos.
Amendment No.30: THE RIGHT OF PRIVACY IN COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN HOMES (3/97)
Plain text e-mail, modem or fax communications sent over the phone lines or the Internet cannot be considered truly private, as they can easily be intercepted and read. Therefore we have amended the Home Life Rules, point G, page 131, to reflect the wisdom of securing privacy in these communications, as follows:
G. To ensure the privacy of our members and their Homes, members should preferably use modem communications instead of live phone calls between Homes. Additionally, e-mail or other modem communications between Homes should be secure.
Amendment No.31: PROCEDURAL CHANGES FOR TRF SUPPORTERS RETURNING TO DO STATUS (3/97)
1. Procedures for TRF Supporters Applying to Join an Existing DO Home:
We have modified the Charter procedures so that a DO Home which wishes to accept a TRF Supporter applying for DO status can do so more easily. TRF Supporters will no longer have to wait for clearance from the Continental Office before they can begin the procedure for becoming DO members. The Home accepting the TRF Supporter can now simply inform the Continental Office of their intent to do so, and if their application is not denied by the Continental Office within 45 days, the Home may allow the TRF Supporter to begin the procedures for becoming a DO member.
This period would give the Office time to check back records to see if there would be any reason to put a stop to that TRF Supporter joining the Home. If, for whatever reason, the Office does not get back to the Home within that time period, then the Home is free to go ahead with the reinstatement procedures, as presently outlined in the Charter.
We have done this by modifying and combining clauses 1 and 2 under point B in the Procedures for TRF Supporter Members Changing to DO Status and Moving into an Existing Home, page 99, to read:
B. The DO Home teamwork must check with the Continental Office to verify that the TRF Supporter is a member in good standing and eligible for prospective DO status. To do this, the teamwork must clearly state on their Home's TRF that they would like to allow a certain TRF Supporter to move into their Home on a specified date to begin his probationary period for returning to DO status.
1. Unless the Continental Office informs the Home teamwork within 45 days that the TRF Supporter applicant is ineligible to return to DO status and must remain on TS status, the Home may proceed with implementing the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a DO Home, page 92, for the TRF Supporter joining their Home.
2. TRF Supporters joining the DO Family by forming their own Home:
In order to make it easier for TRF Supporters to rejoin as DO members, since it can take up to 12 months for a TRF Supporter Home to become a full-fledged DO Home, gain their Right of Mobility, etc., we have dropped the stipulation that a VS or designated representative (DR) must visit before the TRF Supporter Home can begin their probationary period. This also eliminates long delays where the TRF Supporter wishing to rejoin has to wait for a VS to visit their Home before proceeding with their change of status.
To amend the Charter to allow for all the above, we've modified the Procedures for Moving TRF Supporters to DO Status as follows:
29. PROCEDURES FOR MOVING TRF SUPPORTER MEMBERS TO DO STATUS
A. If TRF Supporters want to return to DO status as their own Home, they must notify the Continental Office of their desire to do so. In their letter, the TRF Supporters should explain their history and why they were reclassified. At this time they should also request a copy of the "Love Charter" if they do not already have one.
B. If, after reading the Charter and prayerful consideration, the TRF Supporters determine that they would like to attempt to meet the DO standard as outlined in the Charter, they should specify on their TRF that they have read the Charter and agree to abide by it, and request permission to begin their six-month probationary period as DO members.
1. If the applicants are not in good standing or are ineligible for a return to DO status, the Continental Office will inform them of the reasons why their application has been denied within 45 days.
2. If notification of ineligibility is not received from the Continental Office within 45 days, the members may commence a probationary DO period of six months.
a) If necessary, the Continental Office may postpone the returning members' probationary period for up to an additional 60 days, during which time the Home would be visited by an Area Officer or designated DO representative to ascertain the returning members' eligibility for DO status. The Continental Office must inform the applicant Home of this delay.
C. If other members of the TRF Supporter Home also desire and have applied to return to DO status, then all members living in the Home should be notified by the Home teamwork that their Home is beginning their probationary period for returning to DO status. All voting-age members must agree to abide by the Charter for as long as they remain in the Home.
1. If only one individual or a few members of the original TRF Supporter Home have been accepted to return to DO status, then those returning to DO status will either need to open a new Home by themselves or ask to be accepted in an existing DO Home. (See Procedures for TRF Supporters Changing to DO Status and Moving into an Existing DO Home on page 98.)
2. If all, or a majority of the Home members are rejoining as DO members, they have the option of remaining in their existing housing. However, all members who retain their TS status will need to move out of the Home.
D. During this probationary period, the applicants must complete the reading of the Babes Basic Course, which may be ordered from their Continental Office, available to the applicants for the printing and shipping costs. At the end of their six-month probationary period, unless a VS or a Continental Office-appointed designated representative has visited and disqualified the probationary Home, they will commence a transitional DO period lasting six months.
1. The probationary period may be shortened to three months if all applicants complete the reading of the Babes Basic Course during that time. In this case, the Home must notify their Continental Office that they have completed the Babes Basic Course. Unless they hear otherwise from their Continental Office, or an Area or Continental Office-appointed designated representative has visited and disqualified them, they will commence their transitional DO period.
2. The Continental Office is responsible to supply the applicant Home with DO TRF forms and reporting instructions.
E. During the six-month transitional period, they are eligible to receive DO mailings. However, though they are voting members in their own Home, they are not eligible to exercise the following DO rights and privileges:
1. Right of Mobility
2. Voting in Home Referendums
3. Sex with full DO consenting adults and legal-aged teens. (Or for transitional teens 16 years and over, sex with full DO teens of the same age bracket.)
F. At the beginning of the transitional period, all voting-age members of the Home must test negative for the HIV virus and again test negative after a six-month period.
G. At some time during the transitional period, the Home must receive a visit by an Area Officer or designated representative to verify that the prospective DO Home is living according to the Charter.
1. It is the responsibility of the Continental Office to ensure that an Area Officer or designated representative visits the prospective Home at some time during their transitional period.
2. The TRF Supporter applicant(s) should cover the expenses of the VS/designated representative visitation. It will be left up to the VS/representative to work out the details of such payments directly with the TRF Supporter(s) applying for DO status.
3. If the Area Officer or DR determine the Home is not living according to the Charter, the Home members must be told by the Area Officer or DR in what areas they are falling short of the Charter and what they must do to come up to the DO standard. The Home must again begin their probationary DO period, following the procedures from point D above onward.
H. Once the Home has completed their six-month transitional period, they become a full-fledged DO Home with all the rights pertaining thereto.
Amendment No.32: CLEARANCE REQUESTS (3/97)
(The following amendment does not apply for Sensitive Countries.)
In order to expedite clearance procedures, we have amended the Charter to allow those requesting clearance to move, if they have not heard back from their Continental Office within the time frame specified in the Charter. We have also shortened the time frame so that clearance is automatic within 30 days from the time the Continental Office receives the request, whether they are continental or intercontinental clearance requests,
We have added the following sentences to the end of the first paragraph of the explanation in the Right of Mobility, A.1, page 19: Except in the case of Sensitive Countries, clearance is automatically granted if the member does not receive a response to his clearance request from the Continental Office within the prescribed 30-day waiting period. Within 14 days after receipt of a clearance request, the receiving Continental Office must respond to the applicant with a form message receipt, acknowledging that their clearance request was received and including the date that the application arrived, which date then begins the applicant's 30-day processing period.
We have also modified the following sentences in the same explanation on page 20: "Knowing that the Continental Office, upon receiving their request, will answer it within 90 days, they decide to use the time for preparation and fundraising." We have changed it to read: "Knowing that the Continental Office, upon receiving their request, has up to 30 days to respond before the YAs are automatically cleared, they decide to use the time for preparation and fundraising." And "Once the couple's clearance is received from the Continental Office" to, "Once the couple's clearance from the Continental Office is official"
Point E, page 29, in the Right of Mobility, will now read:
E. Move to any country, or be a witnessing road team for over 30 days in any country, providing they have received clearance from the Continental Office of the prospective country. Except in the case of Sensitive Countries, clearance is automatically granted if a member does not receive a response to his clearance request from the Continental Office within 30 days of the Continental Office receiving his request.
We have also added the following point 1 following E, on page 29 (the present point 1 will become point 2):
1. Within 14 days after receipt of a clearance request, the receiving Continental Office must respond to the applicant with a form letter/message receipt, acknowledging that their clearance request was received and including the date that the application arrived, which date begins the applicant's 30-day processing period.
The explanation following E has been modified as follows:
You have the right to move to other countries, either within your CRO Area or in another CRO Area. (See Clearance Application Form in Appendix B, page 171.) The Member Evaluation Form has now been discontinued. All clearance applications now only need to include the application form and a Want Ad, unless the applicant wants to open their own new Home in a city presently without a Home, in which case only the Clearance Application Form is needed to apply for clearance. The Continental Office will decide whether or not to publish the individual's Want Ad. If a Want Ad is published, this would also signify that clearance has been granted.
We have also dropped the following from the same explanation: "Once the Continental Office receives your clearance request, they must give an answer within 30 days if you are within their Continental Area, or 90 days if you are outside of it. They will try to answer you much sooner, but these are the limits."
Point J, in the Responsibilities of Continental Officers, page 82, is being changed to read as follows:
J. Give or deny clearance, within 30 days of receiving the request, to any person requesting clearance to a country within their Continental Area. Except in the case of Sensitive Countries, clearance is automatically granted if the member does not receive a response to his clearance request from the Continental Office within the prescribed 30-day waiting period.
We have also added the following point 1 following J, on page 82:
1. Within 14 days after receipt of a clearance request, the receiving Continental Office will need to respond to the applicant with a form message receipt, acknowledging that their clearance request was received and including the date that the application arrived, which date begins the applicant's 30-day processing period.
Point K, in the Responsibilities of Continental Officers, page 82, will be dropped. The explanation after point J will include the following:
The Member Evaluation Form has now been discontinued. All clearance applications now only need to include the application form and a Want Ad, unless the applicant wants to open their own new Home in a city presently without a Home, in which case only the Clearance Application Form is needed to apply for clearance. The Continental Office will decide whether or not to publish the individual's Want Ad, depending in part on whether they are considering denying clearance to that individual. If a Want Ad is published, this would also signify that the clearance has been granted. Although the applicant receives automatic clearance if the Continental Office does not deny clearance within the specified time period, members planning to pioneer their own Home are responsible to ascertain whether the city they are planning to move to already has a DO Home. If so, they will need to follow the Procedures for Opening a Home in a City That Already Has a DO Home.
In the same explanation we've dropped the following sentences: 2.) "The CRO must respond to these clearance requests within 30 days of receipt. 3.) The CRO must respond to these clearance requests within 90 days of receipt. CROs are often away from their Home Base and thus unable to answer every request immediately, so 90 days is to allow sufficient time to answer clearance requests."
We have also changed the wording of the following part of the explanation on page 82:
"Remember that from the time the CRO receives the request, he must answer it within the time specified, either 30 or 90 days. It does not necessarily mean that you will get your clearance within 30 or 90 days of sending your request. If you mail a request for clearance to another CRO Area, it may take two weeks for the letter to reach the CRO. By the same token, it could also take two weeks for the CRO's letter to reach you after he's mailed it. In such a case the total time the incoming and outgoing letters are in the mail could add one month to the process."
This explanation will be changed to:
"The Continental Office must acknowledge receipt of your clearance request within 14 days. Your clearance request will automatically be granted unless you receive notification from your Continental Office, within 30 days from the date on the notification receipt from the Continental Office, that your clearance has been denied."
We have also modified the note to the Continental Offices in the Clearance Request Form to read: "Note to Continental Offices: This form must be answered within 30 days of its receipt, or clearance is automatically granted to the applicant."
Amendment No.33: TRIAL PERIOD WHEN JOINING A HOME (3/97)
We have amended the Charter to make it possible for Family members and new disciples who are joining a Home to do so on a two-month trial period basis. If they decide to leave the Home before the two-month period is up, they will be permitted to take with them possessions which they brought to the Home when they joined it.
To reflect this in the Charter, we have amended point B.7 in the Procedures for Accepting New Disciples into a DO Home, on page 95, to read:
7. After two months--if they decide to stay in the DO Family--give their material possessions to the Home they've joined, with the understanding that they will permanently relinquish them, with the exception of those things the Home decides the new disciple needs.
We have also amended the Right of Mobility by adding a new point 6, under D, on page 29, to read:
6. Before a new member joins a Home, it should be worked out between the Home and the new member which of his or her possessions the new member would be authorized to take with them if they should decide to leave the Home before they have completed their first two months in the Home.
Although we are all expected to live Acts 2:44,45 in our Family Homes, joining a new Home is a big step, and sometimes after a short while, people find they have different burdens or goals or are otherwise not compatible with the other members of the Home. Although a departing member is responsible to fulfill all of the Charter requirements before leaving the Home, in order to do all we can to encourage our missionaries to venture out and seek out teams to work together with to fulfill God's Great Commission, we have added the above clause to make the separation as easy as possible, should the Home and a new member find after a short while that they are not suited to working together.
Just as we have a formal trial period before marriage, we feel it is a good plan to have a similar arrangement when people first join a Home. This will ensure that families or individuals who leave a Home before the first two months have passed will know exactly what they will be able to take with them when they depart. This will help to ensure that departing members will not have to leave without sufficient needs for moving to another Home, or for opening their own Home.
For instance, if a family joins another Home with a car and caravan, some furniture, cash, a computer, etc., before they move in it should be decided which of these items they would take with them if they decide to leave the Home before the end of the first two months. (Please see point D of the Financial Rules on pages 146-148 for further information concerning this subject.)
Amendment No.34: MANDATORY CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS (3/97)
In the original drafting of the Charter, we promoted City Councils (see Right of Mobility, C.1, and Basic Responsibilities of the DO Home, J). We also later published a specific suggestion in LNF 244 that cities with more than one DO Home hold City Council meetings on a regular basis.
To encourage full participation, we, your WS and CRO leadership, feel it is necessary to go a step further and to make City Councils in cities and/or metropolitan areas having more than one DO Home mandatory. Our busy Homes are finding that what is not required often does not constitute a priority in the Homes' activities, and therefore does not happen on a regular basis. While it takes some effort and organization, cities where City Councils are being held regularly have found these to be very fruitful, unifying and well worth the effort. Therefore, in cities with more than one DO Home, City Councils are now required at least once every three months, and encouraged on a monthly basis.
To mandate these City Council meetings, we have amended the Required Meetings and Activities by adding a new point D on page 150 of the Charter (Point D of Required Meetings and Activities will become point E, and so forth) to read:
D. Send a representative from their Home to at least one City Council meeting in every three-month period, if their Home is in a metropolitan area with more than one DO Home.
If a city has more than one DO Home, a City Council consisting of representatives from the local Homes should meet at least quarterly, 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 DO Home is required to send a representative to at least one City Council meeting in every three-month period. The DO Homes in the city should themselves elect a "meeting coordinator" to organize the City Council meetings for the first three-month period. The coordinator may either chair the City Council meetings or appoint someone else to do so. After three months, the Homes would decide on who will fill the meeting coordinator position on a rotating basis among the Homes participating.
The meeting coordinator will not be a shepherding role, and the coordinator would have no leadership authority other than simply helping to organize and coordinate the meetings. The coordinators would not be obligated to give any charismatic speeches or presentations; all they would need to do is simply pick some 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, but only one is required in any given three-month period.
We have also added a new point K to the Basic Responsibilities of the DO Home, on page 48, to read:
K. Participates in at least one City Council meeting during any given three-month period, if located in a city or metropolitan area with more than one DO Home.
In order to coordinate their witnessing, provisioning and other activities, every DO Home that resides in a city with more than one DO Home is required to send a representative to each City Council meeting which is held. Preferably these meetings should be held monthly, but are required at least quarterly.
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.
Amendment No.35: CLEARANCE NEEDED FOR TAKING A WITNESSING ROAD TRIP TO ANOTHER COUNTRY (3/97)
Road teams to other countries within their Continental Area do not need clearance, unless they would like to witness in a city that already has a DO Home. In such a case, the road team would need the agreement of the Home(s) in the city they wish to witness in before doing so. (Clearance is still required for those wishing to witness in a Sensitive Country.)
However, after counseling with the CROs, we felt it was necessary to amend the Charter to require that witnessing road teams planning to stay longer than 30 days in another country must receive clearance from the Continental Office before doing so, since they would almost be operating as a temporary Home in the country.
To make this amendment, we have modified the Right of Mobility, point E, page 29, to say:
E. Move to any country, or be a witnessing road team for over 30 days in any country, providing they have received clearance from the Continental Office of the prospective country. Except in the case of Sensitive Countries, clearance is automatically granted if a member does not receive a response to his clearance request from the Continental Office within the prescribed 30-day waiting period.
1. If the witnessing road trip will stay less than 30 days in any three-month period in the prospective country, then a request for clearance is not required. (Clearance is still required for those wishing to witness in a Sensitive Country.)
a) It is the road team's responsibility to determine if the city or metropolitan area in the country they are witnessing in has a DO Home in it before they begin any witnessing activities in that city/metropolis, and if there is one, to first receive permission to witness in the city or metropolis.
We have also changed the last sentence of the explanation under point K of the Responsibilities of Continental Officers, page 83, to read: If the main purpose of your trip is to visit friends and relatives and you will not be involved in outreach work, such as a witnessing road team would be, then you would not need prior clearance.
Amendment No.36: CLARIFICATION OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND SEXUAL CONTACT (3/97)
Although kissing an outsider is still an excommunicable offense due to the threat of AIDS, we have amended the Charter to do away with the necessity of excommunicating voting members for only kissing other voting members who are outside their age range.
To amend the Charter we have added "sexual activity" and "sexual contact" to the Definition of Terms as follows:
Sexual activity: any sexual relations, including deep kissing
Sexual contact: any sexual relations between members age 16 and over that goes further than deep kissing.
It also required changing Offenses Warranting Excommunication, point D, explanation on page 119, to say: This means that no DO members can cross over the age boundaries established for sexual relations in the Charter without being excommunicated. In other words, this does not only apply to those over 21 who have sexual contact with those outside of their permitted age group, but also that if anyone over 16 engages in sexual contact with anyone outside of their age range they would also be punished under this rule for these offenses. It also means that no one age 21 or older is permitted to engage in sexual contact with anyone under 21, except for the particular age groups mentioned and under the circumstances listed above. (See Definition of Terms for meaning of "sexual contact.")
We also added a new point 6, under D in the Offenses Warranting Excommunication to prevent anyone over the age of 27 kissing anyone under the age of 21.
6. No sexual activity, which includes deep kissing, is permitted by those age 28 or older with those under the age of 21.
Amendment No.37: UPDATED SEX AND AFFECTION RULES (3/97)
In order to give the authority and responsibility of teen dating to the parents of the teens, we have made the following amendment to the Charter.
We have modified point E in the Sex and Affection Rules on page 137 as follows:
E. For those under the age of 14, dating is at the parents' discretion, but only non-sexual affection is allowed.
(We have dropped the explanation that referred to "simple affection" and FSM 241 that presently follows this clause in the Charter.)
We have also added a new point F, as follows:
F. For junior teens (14 and 15), dating with other teens ages 14 through 17 will be governed by the junior teens' parent(s) or legal guardian(s). However, sexual intercourse or skin to skin touching of genitals is not permitted either by or with those under the age of 16. Teens 14 and 15 are not permitted to date or have any sexual activity with anyone over the age of 17.
Dating by teens, ages 14 and 15, with other teens, ages 14 through 17, will be under the authority and responsibility of the 14- or 15-year-olds' parents or legal guardians.
Those 14 through 17 may date if they wish, providing they have received permission to do so from the junior teens' parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Parents or legal guardians may allow their junior teens to date and have emotional and physical contact with other teens that the parents deem appropriate, but may not permit their junior teens to engage in sexual intercourse or skin to skin touching of genitals by the dating teens. While those 16 and 17 are permitted to have full sex with those ages 16 through 20, 16- and 17-year-olds are not permitted to do so with junior teens that they may be dating.
Those 14 and 15 who break these rules will be subject to disciplinary action, and in jeopardy of being put on Probationary Status or other disciplinary action decided upon by their parents or legal guardians.
We have also added the following definition for "dating" in the Definition of Terms:
Dating: to go out socially with a member of the opposite sex, or to engage in an emotional or romantic relationship with a member of the opposite sex.
Amendment No.38: NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR DEPARTING MEMBERS (3/97)
We have done away with the need for members, when turning in their 30-day notice to their Home, to continue to send a copy of their 30-day notification to both their Continental Office and their Area Office (ABM). It will now only be necessary to send a copy to your Area Office. We have made the following change to point A.1 in the Right of Mobility, page 19, to reflect this change:
1. They are at least 18 years of age and give 30 days notice in writing, stating their planned destination to the Home's Officers, and send a copy to, or otherwise notify, their Area Office. From that point they become non-voting members, and have no vote in Home matters.
The explanation under this section has been changed to:
Those wishing to move must also inform their Area Office (ABM). Once they give their notice, they lose the right to vote on Home matters, and are freed of any responsibility for new financial obligations or debts the Home incurs.
Also, in the same explanation, the following paragraph has been changed to:
The clause also states that you should inform the Area Office of your planned destination. If you are going to be a road team Home, you may not know your exact location, but you should at least try to outline your general plans so your ABM is kept aware of your movement and plans within the Area. (When you leave the Home, the Home should also make mention in the personnel section of your TRF of your departure and destination.)
Point A.1.b) in the Right of Mobility has also been changed to now read:
b) Members 16 and 17 years of age must give 30 days notice in writing, stating their planned destination to the Home's Officers, and send a copy to, or otherwise notify, their Area Office. Such teens must also inform and receive written permission from at least one parent or guardian. From that point they become non-voting members, and have no vote in Home matters.
If a 16- or 17-year-old (senior teen) wants to move out of their Home, they must give a 30-day notice to their Home teamwork, and send the Area Office a copy. They must also inform and get the agreement and written permission of at least one of their parents or their guardians before they can make such a move. Since many of the parents of our senior teens are not living with them, approval from only one parent is needed.
Amendment No.39: WITNESSING WITHIN A METROPOLITAN AREA (3/97)
We have broadened the Charter to allow all Homes within the same metropolitan area to conduct outreach within that metropolitan area, unless the city is closed as outlined in Procedures for Opening a Home in a City That Already Has a DO Home, point A, page 99. It would be up to the City Council (which should ideally include all the Homes in the metropolitan area) to decide if and how to divide up the metropolis between them.
To do this we have modified point C, page 27, in the Right of Mobility as follows:
C. Open a Home, or be a road team Home, in any city within their present country of residence that already has a DO Family Home, providing they are 18 years of age and they have the agreement of the Home(s) in that city and the appropriate Area Office, in accordance with the Procedures for Opening a Home in a City That Already Has a DO Home.
1. Members 16 and 17 years of age are entitled to this right, providing two members of the Home are 25 years of age or older.
2. Homes within a metropolitan area (major city with adjacent towns or cities) may conduct outreach within that metropolitan area.
If you wish to open a Home in a city in your present country that already has one or more DO Homes, you must follow the Procedures for Opening a Home in a City That Already Has a DO Home (page 99). As in point B.1 above, if there will be senior teens in the Home, the need for having two members 25 years of age or older will apply.
Throughout the Charter when we use the term "city" we are referring to a city, town or village. Some cities are in a large metropolitan area, meaning it includes the major city and the adjacent cities and towns. For example, the actual city of Los Angeles might in itself be rather small, but the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is huge and includes a number of other cities.
In general, when referring to "cities" in the Charter, we are not talking about metropolitan areas. If a Home is already opened in the actual city of Los Angeles, you would need to follow the Procedures for Opening a Home in a City That Already Has a DO Home before opening a new Home there. However, you could open a Home in the city of Anaheim, which is another city right next to Los Angeles and which is part of metropolitan Los Angeles, without having to go through this procedure, if Anaheim does not have a DO Home in it.
However, Homes within a metropolitan area are free to conduct outreach within that whole metropolitan area. This means that if, for example, a Home opens in a suburb right outside the actual Bombay city limits, Homes within the Bombay city limits may not forbid that Home from conducting outreach in Bombay itself, since they are part of the same metropolis. This makes it possible for a Home to open in an adjacent suburb or town where it's safer, rents are often cheaper or housing more available, while still being able to conduct outreach within the city itself, unless the city is closed as outlined in Procedures for Opening a Home in a City That Already Has a DO Home, point A, page 99.
However, if a Home opens in a town that is not part of the metropolitan area, they must obtain permission from the Homes in the metropolitan area before they can conduct outreach in that metropolis.
In a city or metropolitan area that has a number of Homes, the Homes are required to create a City Council to coordinate local business or logistical matters such as witnessing areas, etc. (See Required Meetings and Activities, point D.) The City Council should include, if possible, all the Homes in the metropolitan area, not just those within the city limits. However, those on the City Council have no authority over the Homes other than that which the Homes agree to give them. Those on the City Council are not meant to be LASs or DASs, nor do they have any shepherding responsibilities or authority over the Homes in the area.
The City Council, represented by all Homes in a city or metropolis, could also agree together on where each Home can conduct outreach within the metropolitan area, so that each Home's outreach needs are sufficiently met without there being conflict over "turf."
If you are a road team Home, or if you go on a road trip from your Home, and want to witness in a metropolitan area that already has a DO Home, you will need to follow the Procedures for Opening a Home in a City That Already Has a DO Home. In other words, you must receive permission from the present Home(s) in the metropolis before doing so. It would be wise to check with your Area Office about what cities or metropolitan areas have Homes in them so that you can either go witnessing in other cities, or seek permission from the Home(s) in the city/metropolis you want to witness in before you get there.
A road team Home is one which has no fixed residence. For example, two families living in caravans moving from place to place would be a road team Home. They would send in their own TRF and would need to have their own mailing address. Such a team would need the local Home's agreement to do outreach in a city that already has a DO Home in it.
A road team Home is different from a situation where some members of a Home go out on the road for a period of time, but are still listed as members of a regular Home on that Home's TRF.
However, a road team would also need permission to do outreach in a city other than their own that has a DO Home.
If a city or a metropolitan area becomes saturated with DO Homes, the Continental Office has the authority to declare some or all of the cities in the metropolitan area as "closed," in accordance with the Procedures for Opening a Home in a City That Already Has a DO Home, to prevent further Homes from opening.
Amendment No.40: DIVIDING OF FAMILY CONTACTS BETWEEN HOMES (3/97)
It is very understandable and reasonable that a friend or contact might want to continue to have fellowship with and possibly give financial help to the person who has been ministering to them, particularly when this person only moves to another Home in the same city, but in some instances further away. So we have amended the Charter to allow for this if the contact so chooses.
To do this we have amended the Right of Mobility, A.2 and 3, page 22, to read:
2. Prepare to leave in an orderly fashion, by turning over pertinent ministry material and thoroughly explaining their ministries, duties and responsibilities to the appropriate person(s).
During the 30-day period, the departing member must turn over all of his ministry material, as well as explain his ministry or Home duties to whoever the Home decides they should be passed on to. This is important if the Home is to continue to function well, so anyone moving should endeavor to be very faithful in passing on their duties.
3. The Home and departing member(s) should agree together on which of the Home's contacts should continue to be ministered to by the Home or by the departing member(s), and who would receive support from them. The Home members should endeavor to reach a loving solution that accommodates the need of both the Home and the departing member(s). Above all, the friend's or contact's spiritual growth and personal desires should be taken into consideration.
a) If the departing member(s) has been ministering personally to any of the Home's contacts, they may continue doing so from a different city or country. However, they should ask the Home's permission before requesting financial help from these contacts, unless the contact specifically expresses his desire to support the departing member and his new Home, in which case the contact should be transferred to the departing member.
b) If the departing member(s) is moving to another Home in the same city or vicinity, they may continue to follow up on and minister to the friends and supporters who they have been personally feeding and ministering to, as well as continue to receive whatever support their friend wishes to give them. They should, however, encourage their supporters to support their former Home, should their former Home depend on that support--particularly if the Home they are moving to is already sufficiently supported. However, if the contact wants to support the departing member instead, he should be transferred to the departing member's new Home.
c) In cases where a Home divides in two, with departing members opening a new Home in the same city or vicinity, they should agree together as to who will care for each contact. If they are unable to reach a decision, they should divide the gifts they receive from these friends equally, if this is agreeable to their supporters. If a supporter is not agreeable to dividing it equally, he may give his support to whomever he chooses.
d) If departing members are moving to another city and will not be able to continue personal contact with their supporters, they may continue to minister to them via mail. However, they should ask others in the Home they are leaving to continue to follow up on their contacts, and should ask their supporters if they would be willing to continue to support their former Home. If a supporter wishes to send the departing member some regular or occasional support, it is the supporter's prerogative to do so.
It's difficult, if not impossible, to design a rule that would cover every situation that may come up when dividing friends and contacts. Each situation must be judged on its own merits, within the above general guidelines. The basic foundation of this clause is that great care must be taken to try to reach a solution together, in love and through counsel and prayer, that is acceptable to both the Home and the departing member(s), with the needs of all (most of all, the sheep) taken into account.
A departing member may continue to follow up on any friends and contacts they have been personally ministering to, whether in person or by phone. If a member is moving to or opening a new Home in the same city, they may continue to receive support from these contacts if the friend wants to continue to support or help them.
If the member who has been ministering to certain contacts is moving to a Home that is already sufficiently supported, he should be willing to encourage his contacts to support his former Home (particularly if they have been dependent on this support), should they agree to do so; and his former Home should be willing to spiritually feed and minister to these friends.
In each case, it would be important to explain to your friends what is happening when there are personnel moves or when a Home divides in two, and also include them in the decision-making process. The sheep will feel and know who is truly concerned about feeding them spiritually, and this is who they will want to help and support. The needs of the sheep are paramount, and their burdens and desires must be respected.
It is not possible to make a rule for each instance or possibility that may come up. However, the needs of the contacts, the departing members, their new Home, as well as their former Home, should be lovingly considered by all those involved. Since finances is a sensitive issue, it is paramount that all parties proceed with a large measure of prayer and love, striving to maintain unity. Contacts and supporters should never be turned against other Family members in an effort to gain their support.
Besides coming to agreement about the financial factor of who the friends give their support to, there are a myriad of other subjects that need to be discussed concerning the follow-up of sheep when more than one Family member or Home is in contact with that person. So Home members should do all they can to work in unity and prefer their brethren as well as the needs of the sheep more than themselves. If a loving settlement cannot be reached between the two parties, and it erupts into serious disunity, this would be in violation of the Responsibilities of the DO Home, point J, as well as the Responsibilities of Individual Members, points E and Q. In such a case, both parties may be subject to Probationary Notice until their differences can be resolved amicably.
[End]
Copyright (c) 1997 by The Family
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family