AllSouls’RuleofLife
HowdoIjoinAllSouls?That’sagreatquestion,onewebelievetobemoreimportantthanwe
mightthink.Here’sourdilemma:weareaChristiancommunitynotaclub.Weareacommunity
formedinandmadepossiblebythedeathandresurrectionofJesusChristwhichmeansthat[1]
Jesus’hospitalityisfarmoreradicalthananysocialclique,cuttingacrossthebarrierswe
construct,[2]belongingtoJesus’community,inthemostprofoundsense,issomethingJesusdoes
tousinourbaptism,transformingusinourdeepestbeing,and[3]JesuscallshisChurchintothe
worldasavisiblecommunityenactinganewwayoflife.Inotherwords,everyone’swelcometo
walktogether(fromwhateverplacewemayfindourselves)intooursharedlifeinJesus.Wewant
morethanstructuralminimalism(i.e.what’stheveryleastwecanaskofoneanotherandstill
stickaroundtogether?)orstaticrationalsystems(justsayyoubelievethisorjustsignthat–and
you’rein).Welongtopursueameaningfullifetogether,alifeoffriendshipandsharedmissionas
wegrowuptogetherinGod.1
So,whenyouask,canIbeamemberofAllSouls?,youareprobablyaskingoneoftwoquestions.
Youmaysimplybewondering:canIbepartofthelifeandcommunityofAllSouls?Theanswerto
thisisalways,unequivocally,yes!Absolutely.Youarewelcomehere.Comebepartofus.Weinvite
youintofriendship.Youdon’tneedtodo
anythingotherthantaketheplunge.Ifyouwant
in,you’rein.
However,youmaybeaskingsomethingmore.
Youmaysenseastirringforsomethingdeeper,to
bemorethanonewhobelongstothecommunity
butalsoonewhosharesthecommunity’sidentity
andmission,toberesponsible,withus,forwhat
wesenseGodcallingustobeanddo.Inother
words,howcanIoffermyheartandlifetothis
particularcommunity,intoAllSouls’sharedlife
andpurposebeforeGod?
Withthefirstquestion,youarewonderingifthereisspaceforyou.Thereis.Nostringsattached.
Wearecommittedtoyou–andwearecommittedtoyouhavingaplaceatthetablewithus.
Acts2:42-47describestheexperienceoftheearlychurchcommunitythisway:“…allthebelieverslivedina
wonderfulharmony,holdingeverythingincommon.Theysoldwhatevertheyownedandpooledtheirresourcesso
thateachperson'sneedwasmet.TheyfollowedadailydisciplineofworshipintheTemplefollowedbymealsat
home,everymealacelebration,exuberantandjoyful,astheypraisedGod.Peopleingenerallikedwhattheysaw.
EverydaytheirnumbergrewasGodaddedthosewhoweresaved.(TheMessage)
1
Withthesecondquestion,however,youarewonderinghowyoucancommityourselftous,how
youcanplantyourfeetfirmlyinthiscommunity,rollupyoursleevesandlivetogetherintheway
ofJesus.Thisquestionspeaksofyourdesireforawayoflifelivedwithparticularpeople.Ourbest
guessisthatifwewanttoliveaparticularkindoflife–andifwewanttodoittogether,thenwe
needtocreatearelationalwayforallofustoaffirmandencourageoursharedcommitmentsto
thesortoflifewesenseGodcallingustoward.
InolderChristiancommunities(particularlyamongthemonastics),communitymemberswould
firstbeinitiatedintothecommunityviabaptismandthenwouldsubscribetoaruleoflife.This
practicewasmademostfamousbyTheRuleofSt.Benedictaround529A.D.Obviously,AllSoulsis
notamonasteryoraconvent,butwedothinkthereissomethingtothisideaofacommunity
committingthemselvestoacertainwayofliving(together)inaplace.
{thepath}
Ifyouwanttocommittothiscommunity,then,itmeansfollowingapath(andanymeaningful
relationshiptakesalittletime,right?)thatleadstotakingonasharedruleoflife.Thispathbegins
withreceivingtheKingdomofGodbyembracingJesus’lifeandstoryasyourown-andreceiving
baptism,theinitialriteofpassageintounionwith
JesusandJesus’Church.Ifyouhavealreadyplaced
yourfaithinJesusforforgivenessandlifeandbeen
baptized(nomatterthemodeortheorder),we
welcomeyou.Ifyouneedtodiscussyourpersonal
faithstoryorbebaptized,wearehappytowalkwith
youinthatjourney,nomatterhowlongittakes.
Onceyouarereadytodivemorefullyintoour
community,youwilltakeonAllSouls’ruleoflife
encompassingbothpersonalquestionsofobedience
toJesus(particularlynamingJesusasLordoverour
money,oursexualityandourpower–thethree
realmsChristianshavelongidentifiedasprimeplacesoftemptation2)andcommunalquestions
(aroundourcorehopesofhospitality,restorationandshalom).
Ourruleoflifeemphasizesourcommunalpracticesandwayoflife,theyareundergirdedbythe
essentialelementsof:[1]faithinJesus,[2]allegiancetoJesus’authoritywhichhehasrevealedto
usinhislifeandinhiswords,Scripture[3]communionwithJesus’Church,sharing“onefaith,one
baptism,oneLord”asGod’speoplehavelongaffirmedinoursharedcreeds(Apostle’sCreed,
NiceneCreed).
So,committingtoAllSoulswouldlooklikeaprogressionofrelationships,somethinglikethis:
●Hangaroundusabit,gettoknowus–andseeifwhoweareresonateswithyou
●ParticipateinanAllSoulsConversation,hearingmoreofourcommunity’sstory
●EnjoyaroundofmealsandstorieswithotherfolksalreadypartoftheAllSouls’community
2OlderChristiancommunitiesspokeofthesethreecommonplaceswhereGod’sKingdomcontradictsourkingdom–
andwhereallofusneedthegospeltohealandrenewus:simplicity,chastityandobedience.Weusethelanguageof
money(simplicity:whocontrolsourmoneyandourstuff?),sexuality(chastity:howwillweliveanembodiedfaith?)and
power(obedience:towhomandtowhatdoIsurrendermypower/forwhomorforwhatdoIusemypower?)
●Joinanorientingexperience(afriendship,asmallcommunity,apastoralconversation,etc.)to
understandAllSouls’corehopes(hospitality,restorationandshalom)
●AffirmyourownsubmissiontoGod’sKingdomandfaithinJesus
●Receivebaptism(ifnotalreadybaptized)allowingGodtodrownyouinmercyandwelcomeyou
intoGod’sKingdomoflightandlove
●Connectwithapastor,smallcommunityleaderorfriendtoprocessyourjourney
●TakeontheruleoflifetogetherwiththeAllSoulscommunity
Atanypointinthisprocess,apastororelderisavailableforaspiritualdirectionconversation,to
helpyoulistentoGodandpayattentiontohowGodisatworkinyourstory.
{allsoulscommunalruleoflife}
Thosewhodesiretojoinourcommunity’sruleoflifewillaffirmitalongwiththerestoftheAll
SoulscommunityonthelastSundayofthechurchyear,beforeAdventbegins(anditwillbereaffirmedeachyear).
FirstAffirmations(foreveryone,takingruleornot)
Doyoustandhere,wonoverbyJesus’loveandinsubmissiontotheapostles’faithdeliveredtothe
saints?Areyoureadyforjoyousobediencetothecallingofyourbaptism,rememberingyou’re
youroldlifehasbeenburiedinChristandthatChristhasraisedyoutonewlife?Andareyou
eagertofollowGod’stwocommands:toloveGodandtoloveyourneighbor?Yes,byGod’s
mercy.
DoyoudesiretoparticipateincommunitywithAllSouls
Charlottesville,toyieldyourlifetoJesus’authorityand
Jesus’Scriptures-andtofreelygiveyourheart,yourjoy
andyourresourcestoasharedwayoflivinginthisworld?
Yes,byGod’smercy.
DoyourecognizethatyouarelovedbyGodwithorwithout
thisruleoflife–andwillyoureceiveGod’sgracein
howeveritcomestoyouthisyear,whetherthisruleoflifeexperienceishowyouexpectittobeor
not?Andwillyoubelievewithyourwholeheartthatitisnotyourownstrength,commitmentor
devotionthatwillyieldfruitbutallwillbefrom“Godwhoworksinyoutowillandtoact
accordingtohisgoodpurpose”?Yes,byGod’smercy.
Doyouhumblyembracetheresponsibilitythatcomeswithtakingonthisruleoflife,beforeGod
andalongsideyourChristiancommunity,knowingthatwewilldependononeanothertolive
togetherintheJesus-way?Andifyouarenottakingonthisruleoflife,doyoustandherein
solidaritywithothersinyourcommunity–andwillyougivethemyoursupportandprayers?
Yes,byGod’smercy.
TheRuleofLife
✠BecauseweareacommunityinthewayofJesusandbecauseGodhasfirstlovedus,wecommit
toloveGodbyourobedience,submittingtoJesusasLordoverourlife,includingourmoney,our
sexualityandourpower.
✠BecausetheTrinity3formsusasapeopledesignedforrelationship,wecommitourselvesto
generoushospitalitybylivingwithoneanotherintangibleexpressionsofcommunity.
✠BecausetheGospel4renewseverything,beginningbyawakeningourhearttotruelife,wewill
openourselvestoseeandhearGod,allowingGodtorestoreourmind,bodyandsoul.
✠BecausetheKingdomofGod5rulesovereverything,wewilljoinGod’sworkofbringingshalom
toourhome,Charlottesvilleandtotheworld.
{backtothecenter}
Evenwithallthis,wecouldn’tagreemorewithFlanneryO’Connor:“Mostpeoplecometothe
churchbyameansthechurchdoesnotallow.”Weareamessytribe,andthegospelinstigatesa
certainkindofholyfree-for-all.HoweveryoufindyourwayintofriendshipwithGodandus–we
areecstatic.Thispathissimplyourattempttobemessytogether.ToloveJesustogether.Toserve
Charlottesvilleandthesurroundingcountiestogether.
3TheTrinity,whereGodtheFather,GodtheSonandGodtheSpiritliveinperfectcommunityservesasourmodelfor
communallife.WearemadeintheimageoftheTrinity(God),andassuch,wearecreatedwithalongingtodeeply
knowothers–andtobedeeplyknownbyothers.
4TheGospelhasmanydimensions.However,atthegospel’scoreisthegoodnewsthatGodhascometousinJesus,
restoringandrenewingallthings,everythingscarredbysin.Thisrestorationbeginswithourindividualstoriesand
movesoutfromthereintoeverysphere.WehavehopeinJesus–wecanbemadenew.
5TospeakoftheKingdomofGodistodeclarethetruththatGodislordoverthewholeearth.Godreignsoverall,even
thoughwehaverebelledagainstGod’sjustrule.Jesus’redemptivework–andtheredemptiveworkofJesus’
community(thechurch)–workstowardthegoodendwhenallofcreationhasbeenrestoredtowholenessandlife.
Addendum1:AllSoulsRuleofLifeFAQ
Areyoutired?Wornout?Burnedoutonreligion?Cometome.Getawaywithmeandyou'llrecover
yourlife.I'llshowyouhowtotakearealrest.Walkwithmeandworkwithme—watchhowIdoit.
Learntheunforcedrhythmsofgrace.Iwon'tlayanythingheavyorill-fittingonyou.Keepcompany
withmeandyou'lllearntolivefreelyandlightly.{Jesus,Matthew11:30)
Whatexactlyisaruleoflife?
FollowingtheexampleofmanyolderChristiancommunities,aruleoflifeisasetofshared
affirmationsandconcretepracticesthatgivetangibleshapetothekindoflifewewilllivetogether.
Whyaruleoflifeinsteadof“membership”?
Fromourexperience,ourideasof“membership”areoftenweakandmorelikejoiningtheYMCA
thangivingyourselftoknowandbeknown,toloveandserveamongacommunityofpeople.We
hopetobroadenourimaginationaroundwhatitmeanstobepartofaChristiancommunity,and
wethinkthatthislanguageandthesepracticesmayhelpusdothis.WedesiretobeaJesuspeople,actuallylivingtogether,withallourmessandallourhope.Wehaveahunchthat
somethinglikearuleoflifehasabetterchanceathelpingusformalivingcommunityratherthan
merelyaossifiedorganization.Butthisisakindofmembership,awayofbelonging,awayofbeing
welcomedandawayofcommittingyourselftoJesusandtooneexpressionofJesus’people.We’re
simplytryingtoenrichwhatmembership,atitsbest,trulymeans.
Doesn’taruleoflifeactuallymakeuslesshospitabletothosewhochoosenottotakeon
ourruleoflife?
Itshouldn’t;andifitdoes,we’vemadeamajormisstep.Sinceoneofourcorehopes–andoneof
ourfirststatedintents–istooffergeneroushospitality,anythinglesswouldmeanwearenot
fulfillingwhatwehavecommittedto.Also,itisvitaltoremember(thoughhard,becauseitis
counter-cultural)thatwearenotestablishingaguideforwhoisinandwhoisout–butrathera
practicalmeansforpeopletocommitthemselvestooneanotherandpursuesharedhopes
(because,asweknow,thethingsweleaveentirelytogoodintentionsrarelyactuallyhappen).
Takingonthisruleoflifedoesn’tgainyoupower(itcallsyoutobeaservant)oraplaceatthe
table(becauseeveryonehasthat),anditcertainlydoesn’tmakeyoumorespiritual.Rather,itisa
wayofpracticinghumilityandsubmittingyourselftothesharedlifeofthebroadercommunity.
Asharedidentity(whatwehopewillcomewithasharedruleoflife)oughtincreaseourabilityto
behospitableandgenerous.AllwehavetogiveawayiswhoweareinJesus.Thericherand
deeperoursenseofwhoweare,themoredepthandvigorwehavetogiveaway.Wehopeto
inviteanyoneandeveryoneintoourfamily-andeveryfamilyneedstoknowwhotheyare.
Whataboutthewordrule–itsoundsrigidandlegalistic?
Itcan,you’reright.Butweliketorenewoldwordsthathave(forsome)beenmisusedandbreathe
newlifeintothem.Aruleisanorderedpractice.Itsayswewanttolivethisway.Itisnotintended
tobealegislativecode,butawayoftakingtheoriesandputtingthemintoactioninthewaywe
liveandlove.Aruleoflifeissomethinglikeasolemnoath,likeoneswetakeatourweddingor,in
theBible,thepromisethatfriends(likeDavidandJonathan)wouldmaketooneanother–orthat
communitiesorindividualswouldmaketoGod.AruleoflifeisourwayofsayingthattheGospel’s
notionsofhospitality,restorationandshalomaretorearrangeourlife,notmerelystayas
theoreticalideas.
Whatifthissoundsheavy,andI’mnotsureIcanaddasinglemorething“todo”?
Maybeyoudon’tneedtotakeonthisrule–ormaybewaitforanothertime.Ormaybedigintowhy
itfeelsburdensome–andtalkitoutwithsomeoneelsetoseeiftherecouldn’tbeawaythatthis
mightbefreeingandrichforyou.Ifthiswholethingstrikesyouasjustmoreworkorsomeadded
moralisticdutytoaddtoyouralreadyovertaxedlife,thendon’tdoit.That’snotthespiritor
intention,andweapplaudyouforrefusingtoloadyourselfupwithguiltorlife-drainingduty.
Inallthis,we’vestruggledwiththetension–havingthisprocessseemburdensomeorimpossibly
complexor(inreaction)actingasthoughjoiningacommunitythatseekstofollowJesusreally
doesn’taskmuchofus.WethinktheGospelcallsusoutofourselvesandpastourcomfortzones.
Atthesametime,Godinvitesustothe“unforcedrhythmsofgrace.”
Aren’tyouaskingmetotakeonaweightything,acommitmenttoandaresponsibilityfor
ourcommunity?
Yes.
Wow.Itjustseemslikealot.
Inaway,sure.However,atthecore,weareaskingyoutocommitto(1)surrenderyourlifeto
Jesus’authority(2)liveincommunity(3)allowGodtospeakintoyourlife(4)giveyourselfaway
forthegoodofyourneighbors.ThesearecoreideastowhatitmeanstobeadiscipleofJesus.
DoIneedtotakeonthisruleoflifetobeapartofAllSouls?
No.Ifyouwanttobeapart,youareapart.Oursharedruleoflifeisforthosewhofeelcalledto
takeadeeperlevelofcommitmenttooursharedhopesandtoputtingthesehopestoconcrete
practicealongsideothersinourcommunity.
Willwebecreatingsomekindofspiritualcastesystem,wheresomeare“better”orwhere
thereisalotofemphasisonwhoisinandwhoisout?
Thereisnocastesystem,no“in”or“out.”Thisistheopportunityforthosewhodesireittomake
promises–andtoasktobeheldtothosepromises–toliveinaparticularkindofGospel-way
withinthecontextofChristiancommunity.
WhatifI’mnotreadytotakeonthisrulerightnow?
Noproblem.Comebepartofus.Rollupyoursleevesandjoinin,whereveryouwant.Also,please
participateinthepublicmomentwhenweaffirmourruleoflife.Therewillbethingsyoucan
affirm(ifyouwish)evenwithouttakingontherulethatwillshowyoursolidaritywithour
communityandyoursupportforthosewhofeelcalledtotakethisstep.
Addendum2:IndividualRuleofLife
Asyouworkthroughthisprocessoftakingonoursharedhopesforthekindofcommunitywe
wanttobe,youmaydiscoveradesiretoformanindividualruleoflifethatwillguideyouforthe
followingyear.Thiswillbeyourpersonalwayoflivingoutthecalltobringourwholelifeunder
theauthorityofJesus-andyouruniquewayoflivingoutoursharedhopesofhospitality,
restorationandshalom.Essentially,itisawaytobeattentivetotheparticularstoryGodiswriting
inyou.Forsome,itwillmeandoingsomenewthings.Forsome,itwillmeanstopdoingcertain
things.Forallofus,itwillmeanseeingJesuspresentinoureverydaylife.
Evenanindividualruleoflifeshouldbeformedwithincommunity.Processthiswithyoursmall
community,aclosespiritualfriendorapastor.MiskaCollier,ourspiritualdirectoratAllSouls,
couldbeawonderfulresourceforyou.
Tohelpyouformyouindividualrule,thesequestionsmaybehelpful:
HowisGod’sSpiritinvitingmetodeepenmycommitmenttobeobedienttoJesusinthesecentral
areasofmylife:money,sexualityandpower?
Hospitality:howistheTrinitycallingmetoliveincommunalrelationshipwithanotherthisyear,
andhowdoIprioritizethatcallingintomyroutineoflife?
Restoration:howdoIsensetheGospelawakeningmyhearttolifethisyear,andwhatspiritual
practiceshouldIpursuetorespondtothisawakening?
Shalom:howdoestheKingdomofGodinvitemetoGod’sworkofmakingCharlottesvillenew,and
howamItousemyGod-givendesiresandresourcesthisyeartojointhiswork?
Pleaseshareyourruleoflifewithapastor,elder,smallcommunityleaderorspiritualfriendsowe
canencouragetheworkGodisdoinginyou.
Ifyoudonotfindthesequestionshelpful,ourpastorsorelderswouldlovetohaveaconversation
withyouandhelpyouconsiderwhataruleoflifemightlooklikeforyou.