The Lindisfarne Community Rule

In the Lindisfarne Community we seek to follow the way of the new monasticism as expressed in our Rule. 

Our Rule may be summarized as: “To love, to serve, to forgive.” 

Our community prayer is: “That I may be as Christ to those I meet; that I may find Christ within them.” 

We are committed to:

1. A balanced life of Prayer, Study, Work and Rest.

2. The Understandings of the Lindisfarne Community — to make them our own and to live according to them.

3. The Practices of the New Monasticism: 

• Eucharist. 

Eucharist as frequently as possible and usually not less than once each week.

• Daily Office. 

Daily prayer and Bible reading. (the Lindisfarne Community has its own edition of the Daily Office, based on the Anglican and Celtic traditions.)

• Meditation. 

Daily periods of personal meditation and stillness; resting in the presence of God. 

• Mindfulness. 

The practice of finding God in all things and being thankful; becoming aware of the creation as we live in the light of God over all and in all. 

• Study. 

Joining the head and the heart, seeing no conflict between a deep spirituality and academic pursuits. 

• Service.

Service in the church or the world as a regular commitment. 

4. Soul Friendship.

The Celtic idea of the anamchara. A Christian friend, lay or ordained, of maturity and wisdom, from within or without the Lindisfarne Community, to help guide spiritual life.

The Daily Office

The Daily Office has its roots in the early monastic tradition when it was considered the duty, the officium, of the monks to pray daily for the whole church.

In time the daily rhythm of prayer developed into seven periods of praying using the Psalms and other scriptures. The Church of England simplified the Office to Morning and Evening Prayer, which became the regular pattern for Sunday worship, though at its inception the idea of morning and evening prayer was for a daily practice not just Sunday.

The liturgical movement of the late 1960s onwards, together with a new interest in monasticism, has prompted the publication of a number of office books to help the faithful pray in a daily pattern. All the Offices contain prayers for the days of the week in a regular cycle. Most revolve around the church year of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. This pattern helps prayer and reading focus on the events of the life of Christ. The Office also gives participants a sense of sharing in the worship life of the whole church throughout the world.

Below are popular editions of a Daily Office which we recommend:

A New Waya of Living. The office of our community.

David Adam, The Rhythm of Life: Daily Celtic Prayer (London: SPCK, Harrisburg PA: Morehouse, 1996).

A useful resource of daily prayer. An excellent complementary book to the above.

Common Worship: Daily Prayer (London: Church House Publishing, 2002).

The Church of England’s new Daily Office. This is a provisional publication, being used as a “test drive” by parishioners before a final edition is produced in 2004. The book contains a wealth of resources for use at different periods in the church’s calendar.

Contemporary Office Book (New York: Church Hymnal Corp., 1995).

The Episcopal Church USA. This excellent book has the readings in full for the daily lectionary (the same lectionary as in the Lindisfarne A Way of Living).

Celebrating Daily Prayer (London, New York: Mowbray, 1992)

The Office used by the Society of St. Francis. A great resource of saints' days and festivals.

Celtic Prayer from Iona (Mahweh, NJ: Paulist Press, 1997).

The title says it all.

Celtic Daily Prayer (London: Marshall Pickering, 1994, 2001).

Daily prayers and meditations from the Northumbria Community. A wonderful source book of Celtic stories and emphases.

The Lindisfarne Community Understandings

1. As a Christian community we seek above all else to be Christlike—to be as Christ to those we meet; to find Christ within them. Over the years we have deepened our understanding of what that means to us. Our understandings are those things we aspire toward as we follow Christ and seek to keep the community Rule. They are at the core of who we are and seek to become. They are not a list of do’s and don’ts; nor are they a list of self-congratulations, “look at us we’ve made it!” At their heart they are our prayer. We see these understandings in the life of Jesus; shining, precious gems, winsome, lovely, drawing us out of ourselves and towards Christ.

2. We know too, that our community must be for “sinners” and not “saints.” We are ordinary people struggling with the realities of day to day life in an imperfect world. We are aware, therefore, that our way of living will always be incomplete. When people join the Lindisfarne Community, as any other intentional community, natural illusions and idealism about community will quickly be shattered. However, disillusionment leads towards reality. Discovering Christ among us is the beginning of true community.

3. Love is to be at the heart of the Lindisfarne Community. “Love your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your enemies.” The immensity of the task makes it naturally impossible! Yet we are called to be a community of love. We need to remember, it is God’s love, not ours; perfect, eternal, constant. With God’s love there are no strings attached, no conditions to be met, no favoritism. Yet it is not sentimental nor romantic, for love is not merely a feeling, it is an act of will; the “naked intent” of the heart to love God, neighbor and enemy. There is the deepest of all joy in the love of God. We seek to learn to love, to walk in love, to exult in love, to make love our highest aim, to let God’s love fill us completely. Our desire is to be free within the love of our heavenly Father-Mother — to know God’s passionate love for us and to live our lives from within God’s acceptance of us. This love of God is reflected in our love for all, even those who are considered our enemies. It is a reconciling love; a love that seeks peace. It is a love for the whole of creation.

4. Our spirituality is at the level of being. It is who we are in our truest selves. Our spirituality is developed by seeking to follow the Rule of the community; by pursuing Jesus in spiritual intimacy; by developing a secret history with God. We encourage the reading of the great adepts of spirituality in the Christian and other traditions. We are a charismatic community and encourage members to seek spiritual gifts; the Holy Spirit is generous in distribution. In the Celtic Christian tradition the Spirit was depicted as the “wild goose.” In the Lindisfarne Community, we seek to follow the wild goose, wherever she may lead us

5. Such a life must be characterized by humility. We aspire to be honest, real and down-to-earth. Humility is opposed to the arrogance, isolation and deception that pride brings. We accept our spiritual poverty, our limitations and dependency and also accept responsibility for the use of our gifts and strengths for the service of God. The humble are willing to receive as well as to give. Humility respects and esteems others. It is a form of the love that does not seek its own way. We seek to be a grace-filled community as we “wash one another’s feet.”

6. In this we are seeking to be authentic people, so that there is nothing false about us. We refuse to wear masks, seeing our lives whole and entire, being utterly honest with ourselves. Integrity toward others flows out of fearless personal honesty. There is a need to break down the difference between the sacred and the secular; to be the same on Monday as Sunday; to be the same at work as at home; to be the same with our family as with our friends and colleagues. 

7. We are challenged by a call to simplicity. Our deepest need is to grow in our knowledge and love of God, not the accumulation of more material things. There is a beauty in space, in openness, in solitude. We seek to enjoy beauty without owning or possessing; to stay focused, single minded, with purity of desire. 

8. To be faithful, as God is faithful, requires a community where faithfulness can be learned. In our calling to become community, our faithfulness will be tested. We should not resist the test, but, rather embrace it. Like “silver tried seven times” we will be all the stronger; the community will be more real. In the testing of faithfulness we learn to rejoice together and to suffer together.

9. In the Lindisfarne Community gender, sexual orientation, age, race or class are not barriers to service and function. We believe that both men and women may be called by God to the offices of bishop, priest and deacon. In God’s sight we are all equal. In the story of the garden, God gave to Adam and Eve an equal dignity, an equal calling, an equal responsibility and an equal blessing. Yet, at the same time we are called to radical subordination, preferring the other above our self. In this we seek to allow the Spirit to dig deep into our unconscious to remove hidden prejudices; that our attitudes, speech and actions may be free of discrimination.

10. We value the freedom given to us by the Spirit of God. Yet true freedom is not license, to do as we please, to satisfy every whim of desire. Freedom is the liberty to be all God wants us to be; liberty to love and be loved; liberty to serve and be served. To maintain freedom we need to check our hearts often for traces of legalism toward ourselves and toward others. True freedom means the absence of the need to control others, to dominate them. It means the absence of the need to self-justify, to prove ourselves in the sight of others.

11. We are an ecumenical community. In sacred history, God has allowed many different streams. They are all refreshing in different ways. So we reject party spirit in any of its forms, secure in who we are and where God has us; refusing to mold others to our own understanding of truth. Other people do not have to be the same as us. We are developing a theology which is comfortable in difference. In the freedom that a desire for unity brings, we are to dismantle the walls between separated sisters and brothers across religious and secular boundaries.

12. We are called toward a generous, self-giving lifestyle. In order for that to happen, we try not to hoard our time, talents, money or gifts; developing the habit of giving things away. In the Lindisfarne Community we encourage members not to be limited by the tithe, to be more expansive in our thinking about generosity; listening for the gentle promptings of the Spirit. We are often surprised how giving God wants us to be. We seek, too, to be generous with the faults and mistakes of others. Forgiveness is seventy times seven — in truth there is no end to it.

13. We are committed to hospitality, receiving others as they are; who they are in Christ. Our service is through our homes, with common meals, caring hospitality, as we extend family and friendship. In the breaking of bread, sharing our food, we recognize Jesus amongst us; in entertaining strangers we welcome angels.

14. In the Lindisfarne Community, we are willing to be out on a limb, to be vulnerable. In doing so we always run the risk of being rejected, which is at times an intense form of suffering. Nonetheless, to that we have been called. Jesus was the most vulnerable on the cross and in our discipleship we willingly embrace the cross — to be vulnerable, to be out of control, knowing the freedom that vulnerability brings.

15. We see through a glass only darkly and know our understandings to be merely provisional. We hold our convictions (which are few) without wavering, but hold our opinions (which are many) lightly. Therefore, there must be a great willingness to change — being slow to judge, never condemning, quick to acknowledge mistakes and move on. There is yet more light and truth for us to become aware of, to assimilate and so to be transformed.

The Lindisfarne Community Constitution

1. Emphases

The Lindisfarne Community is a “new monastic,” apostolic network with a heart for spiritual renewal and service. The emphases of the community are drawn from a number of historical Christian traditions — the desert mothers and fathers, the early and renewal monastic movements, the Celtic Christian communities of fourth to ninth centuries in Britain and Ireland, the anabaptist radicals of the sixteenth century, the charismatic, home church and Christian feminist movements of the twentieth century. 

2. Chartering

Since its beginning in 1993, the community has been in a process of evolution and development. In July 2001, the community was chartered as a jurisdiction in the one holy catholic and apostolic church under the guidance of the Most Rev. Wayne Boosahda, bishop of the Archdicocese of St. Patrick, Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches.

3. Community

To be a community means that we share a common way of living. In the Christian tradition God is understood as Trinity—Father-Mother (Source of all being), Child (Eternal Word), and Holy Spirit; the lover, the beloved and the love which is between them. At the heart of the God we worship is community; eternal, perfect community of love. It is the relatedness of friendship in its highest and purest form. In its holiest calling the church is to reflect the community which is the life of the Holy Trinity.

4. Rule

Christian communities throughout the centuries have adopted a Rule to express their commitment to God and to each other. We encourage those in community to live a balanced life and to make a sincere commitment to follow the Rule of the Lindisfarne Community.

5. Leadership. 

The Lindisfarne Community is led by an Abbess and/or Abbot, the Board of the Community, and the Council of Elders. 

The community’s founders and leaders since 1993, the Rt. Revs. Jane Hall Fitz-Gibbon and Andrew Fitz-Gibbon were appointed Abbess and Abbot, apostolic overseers of the community, by the Most Rev. Wayne Boosahda when the community was formally chartered in July 2001. They received the gift of apostolic succession for the community on June 22, 2003 when they were consecrated bishops by the Most Rev. Wayne Boosahda (CEEC), the Most Rev. Joseph Grenier (CCC) and the Right. Rev. Charlotte Buckans Rogers (ACC USA). 

It is the intention of the community that the founding Abbess and Abbot will lead the community for as long as they are able. When they are unable to continue as leaders of the community, a new leader(s) will be appointed by consensus of the Professed members of the community. 

The Abbess/Abbot act as spiritual parents and soul friends to the community. It is not an hierarchical position but a position based on maturity and experience, learning and wisdom. 

The legal board of the Lindisfarne Community is composed of the Abbess, Abbot, Community Warden and Prior/Prioress.

The Council of Elders is composed of the Board and all ordained priests.

6. Membership of the community 

Membership is open to women and men, lay and ordained, including those who are married, single or single again. We affirm both celibacy and life long commitment to a partner as valid callings from God.

7. Joining the community 

a. Those who want to join the community must make application to the Abbess/Abbot (or their delegate) and become an “Inquirer” for a period of at least three months. After which time, if it is mutually agreeable between the candidate and Abbess/Abbot (or their delegate) there is a preliminary commitment of a year as a “Novice.” 

b. At the end of that year, again with mutual agreement, the candidate may become “Professed.” Profession signifies a firm commitment to following the Rule of the Lindisfarne Community. This stage of commitment must only be taken with the utmost seriousness, and after much reflection, prayer, fasting and consultation. Professed members may include the designation LC after their name.

d. All members are encouraged to visit Lindisfarne, the mother house of the community in Ithaca, NY at least once each year, if at all possible. 

e. Members may leave the community at any time, with the prayer and blessing of the community. Those who are Professed will only do so with the same care and attention with which they made their profession.

7. Expressing Commitment

There are three ways of expressing commitment for Noviced and Professed members:

a. As a member of a Lindisfarne Eucharistic community

b. As a member of another church

c. As a solitary

8. Membership of a Lindisfarne Eucharistic community

Lindisfarne Eucharistic communities function as local churches, meeting, most likely, on Sunday. Lindisfarne Eucharistic communities are church in every way; including Eucharist, fellowship, teaching, prayer, baptism, a regular financial commitment, pastoral care etc. These communities are open in exercising hospitality and welcoming guests to community meetings. They may well include regular attenders who have not as yet made a formal commitment within the Lindisfarne Community. Children are to be welcomed at community meetings in ways appropriate to their age and development.

9. Forming a Eucharistic community.

a. Application is made to the Abbot and or Abbess.

b. Upon acceptance, the community is considered “in formation” until the following are all true of it:

• There are at least three Professed members.

• There is at least one ordained priest.

• The community has been in existence for at least a year

c. When the above is complete there is a service of recognition and dedication of the new Eucharistic community.

d. At least one member, male or female, of such communities should seek to follow a course of study and mentoring leading to ordination to the diaconate and priesthood.

e. Lindisfarne Eucharistic communities are usually home based and should grow no larger than can adequately meet in the home.

e. The name of a Lindisfarne Eucharistic community will be chosen by the new community. Here are some suggestions :

• a place name such as the Lindisfarne Community at Ithaca

• a saint’s name: “St. Aidan’s Christian Fellowship (The Lindisfarne Community)” . . . short form “St. Aidan’s”

• some other meaningful prefix, such as “Living Water Community (The Lindisfarne Community)”

10. Individual Members From Other Churches

Individual Noviced and Professed members of the Lindisfarne Community may be members of other churches of any denomination. These members of the Lindisfarne Community will seek to be in good standing with their churches and exercise the responsibilities and commitment of church membership as required by that church. 

11. Solitaries

Some Noviced and Professed members of the Lindisfarne Community may be called to the solitary life. We recognize such a calling from God, but also know that such a calling is rare and demands a great deal of maturity and wisdom.

12. Habit

Noviced and Professed members of the community may wear the community cross. For worship services, personal meditation, gatherings of the community or on retreat community members may wear the community habit. The habit consists of a simple flax colored cassock/alb and a rope cincture, flax in color for noviced and black for professed. The cincture is to be knotted three times on one end, symbolic of the Holy Trinity and our commitment to prayer, study and work. When the habit is worn, it is as a sign of commitment to the new monastic way and as a sign of humility. It must not be worn as a sign of achievement or ostentation.