The interest in creating a new Society for intentional community and formational endeavors began with the realization that fundamental changes in social structures and thinking within the context of 21st Century America are accelerating. These social and cultural changes present incredible opportunities for people seeking to focus on the interior life, to deepen our relationships with God, and for our engaging with God in the imperative to create with Him. The upcoming generations are primarily unchurched, even while there is a strong spiritual sense among them. They just aren't impressed with the way the organized Church conducts its affairs. The way Christians live their lives must be more inline with Christ's teaching rather than with the morass of current American social and political systems or agenda driven Christianity. We seek to be the image of God (imago Dei) as we are transformed individually and in community for the sake of those with whom we live, work, study, and play.
There are four considerations in the development of the Society:
1. To be present in current contexts. This means we strive to be the image of God outside the walls of what we have known. As a culture, we have entered the social context of "networked societies" where relationships of all kinds no longer simply rely upon geographical place, but upon both physical and virtual spaces.
2. To understand and be present within the cultual contexts of Post-Christendom and Postmodernism. Our society will soon look increasingly pre-Constintinian than post.
3. To be about discovering anew and reclaiming the ancient Traditions of the Christian Faith within the Anglican Prayer Book experience. We strive to pass on the Tradition to new generations in new and constantly changing contexts.
4. We give ourselves to the Christian Spiritual Disciplines to build habits for a lifetime that work to transform and re-form us into the image of God.
Within the changing experience of American society, we are realizing that for the Church to have a positive influence for the good, the beautiful, and for significance (individually and in community), we as the Church need to present a lived experience that looks different from that of the world - not simply because we decide to act differently, but because of the inner transfermation that causes us to be different. If non-Christians look at the Church and see nothing but the more negative aspects of current culture, then why would they or any of us give much attention or credence to the claims of Christ. We are to be the imago Dei, but we must first experience grace and re-formation through the Holy Spirit.
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Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
[The Book of Common Prayer]