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Who we are
Who we are
Q: What is the Lindisfarne Community?
A: We are an independent, ecumenical religious community in the Anglo-Celtic tradition.
Q: Why "Lindisfarne"?
A: The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a small island off the North East Coast of England. It was the first place where Celtic Christainity came through missionaries from Iona in Scotland. It is said to be the "cradle of Christianity" in England. Our religious order is named after this holy place.
Q: How do I join the Community?
A: You will be in broad agreement with the sentiments of the Community found on this web site (the Community's way of living and understandings) and you will have the desire to live a serious spiritual life outlined broadly in "the Rule of the Lindisfarne Community," our shared commitment. If you find yourself in that position, then we would like to develop a relationship with you. After a period of enquiry, there is a novitiate of a year followed by professsion in the Community. Contact us.
Q: Is the Lindisfarne Community orthodox in its beliefs?
A: In the community we accept the great creeds of the early church (the Apostle’s and the Nicene) as an historical expression of the faith of the Christian church. At the same time we recognize that there are a variety of interpretations of the creeds. Community members tend to be theologically progressive, though there are a variety of understandings among us. We are a community of practice rather than holding to strict statements of faith. Members of the community are at liberty to work out their own beliefs. We give community members space to grow and change.
Q: Can I be a member of another Church or religion?
A: Yes. We have a number of members who are profesed in the Community and who have a commitment to a local Christian church in their vicinity, or who have Buddhist or Daoist connections.
Q: Do you live together as a community?
A: No. we are a scattered community. To understand how the Lindisfarne Community functions, think of something like a "third order" community such as "Third Order Francsicans."
Q: Is the Lindisfarne Community an interfaith community?
A: We are rooted in Christianity (as is our liturgy) but we are happy exploring inter-spirituality. Some community members have a "double-belonging" self-identifying as, for example, Buddhist Christians, or Daoist Christians. We have found, as Thomas Merton did, that spiritual practices are common to all the major world faiths.
Women & the New Monasticism
Women & the New Monasticism
History
History
The Lindisfarne Community has been in process of development since the late 1980s, when its founding Abbess and Abbot came into contact with Celtic Christian spirituality with a group of church leaders, Northumbria Ministries, in the North East of England. At the time Andy Fitz-Gibbon was pastor of Stocksfield Baptist Church, Northumberland.
• In 1993 In Christ Ministries Inc was established as a religious 501(c) Not For Profit Corporation in New York to help facilitate the work in the United States. ICM Inc continues to administer finances on behalf of the Lindisfarne Community.
• In 1994, after ten years ministry at Stocksfield Baptist Church Andy was seconded by the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) to explore the idea of Christian community based in homes, looking at patterns in the New Testament and beyond. Jane joined Andy as co-leader. A new community was begun in Hexham Northumberland.
• In 1995, still under secondment of the BUGB, the Fitz-Gibbons moved to Ithaca, NY and established a new home based community and an itinerant ministry of spiritual renewal.
• In 1998, the home-based community became known as "Community of Friends in Renewal" and Jane was formally ordained to Christian ministry at an ecumenical service in Ithaca NY.
• In 2000, the BUGB secondment ended, and the Fitz-Gibbons decided to continue ministry in the USA.
• In 2001, Community of Friends in Renewal was chartered as a jurisdiction in the one holy, catholic and apostolic church by Archbishop Wayne Boosahda of the Archdiocese of St. Patrick, Community of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC). Jane and Andy Fitz-Gibbon had their ordinations reaffirmed and were ordained priests and appointed Abbot and Abbess, "apostolic overseers" of the community. The first four deacons of the community were also ordained by Archbishop Boosahda.
• In Spring 2003, "Community of Friends in Renewal" become "The Lindisfarne Community" in preparation for the episcopal consecration of the Fitz-Gibbons.
• In June 2003, Andrew and Jane were both consecrated bishops in apostolic succession by Archbishop Wayne Boosahda (the CEEC), Archbishop Joseph Grenier (Celtic Christian Church) and Archabbess Charlotte Rogers Buckans (Anglican Catholic Communion, USA).
Since then, the Lindisfarne Community has continued to evolve and grow as new members have joined us and we have received new insights. We are an inclusive and affirming community welcoming all who join our quest for a deep spirituality lived in the world.
Along the way these are the influences that have shaped the community:
• The Anabaptist radicals of the sixteenth century, those at the time of the Reformation who practiced their faith "against the flow." They valued community, peace and radical commitment. They had a dynamic spirituality. The Wesleyan movement in the seventeenth century had similar values with regard to discipleship and small groups.
• The Celtic Christain emphases of the fifth to ninth centuries in Britain and Ireland. Here was a less hierarchical spirituality that valued the arts, music, poetry, had a healthy view of the wonders of nature, and affirmed women in ways the church has rarely done.
• The monastic movement of the desert and the early middle ages. The Celts led us to look again at the spirituality of the desert fathers and mothers and the later development of monasticism.
• The Christian feminist movement of the last quarter of the twentieth century. We believe that the movement has helped the church to consider again the radical, embryonic potential of freedom found in the gospels and in Paul's early charismatic practice.
• The charismatic movement of the latter half of the twentieth century and a rediscovery of spiritual gifts, new forms of worship and the dynamism of the Holy Spirit.
• The Convergence Movement synthesizing sacramental, evangelical and charismatic emphases.
• Diverse spiritualities and practices from eastern traditions, Buddhism, Daoism, Hindusim, and Sufism.
• The movement to affirm and include LGBTQ+.
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