Jesus People USA - Meet our Family

The JPUSA Covenant

Jesus People USA Evangelical Covenant Church

This covenant is designed to be a witness between each member of Jesus People USA and the community as a whole; a reminder of our commitment to one another. This covenant sets forth the community's policy as it has existed since 1972, and outlines the basic responsibilities JPUSA has to its full-time members, and the members to it.

The Biblical Nature of a Covenant

A covenant is a biblical concept. Examples from the Scriptures include God's covenant with Noah (Genesis 6:18), Abraham (Genesis 15:18), Moses (Exodus 34:10), and His everlasting covenant promised by the prophets and fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 7, 8). There are also numerous examples of covenants made between men, from Jonathan and DavidÕs pact of friendship (I Samuel 18:3) to Joshua's covenant with the people of Israel to serve God and cast away false idols (Joshua 24) to the marriage covenant (Genesis 2:24). From that biblical context, JPUSA sees our covenant as not only an agreement between the community and each individual member, but also an agreement including a third party, God. A covenant with JPUSA does not equal salvation, nor does it bring a person into a special "elect within the elect," a higher order of Christians. It is the agreement of an informed individual, the member, and JPUSA, one small expression of the Church, that we see God leading us together in service to Him.

We have seen many "covenant communities" draw up a detailed covenant, then attempt to live that covenant out, resulting in either failure or sterile religious legalism. For ourselves, we find a covenant more an outgrowth of relationships than their cause. The marriage covenant is the result of two individuals' love and commitment to one another; the covenant between a Christian and his or her Lord is in essence joyfully accepting what Christ already accomplished for us with His death and His resurrection; a covenant between JPUSA and any of its members is only the ratification of what appears to both the community and the person as God's will at least at this time. In short, signing this document is the outward sign of a heartfelt voluntary commitment between Jesus People USA and the member.

Webster's Dictionary defines a covenant as, "a binding and solemn agreement made by two or more individuals, parties, etc. to do or keep from doing a specific thing." Inherent in a covenant is the idea of promises and duties on both sides, spelling out what the nature of the relationship is and will be in various situations. In that respect, this document is not only a covenant between each member and the community, but also contains information that may be helpful to someone considering membership in JPUSA. We will attempt to spell out the community's responsibilities, duties, and heart for each member, as well as the member's responsibilities toward the community.

Who We Are, How We Function

Jesus People USA is an intentional Christian community based in Chicago, Illinois. The community is located in the inner-city where we live out our understanding of the gospel: evangelizing the unsaved, nurturing, instructing, and discipling Christians according to sound biblical principles, and providing material aid, friendship, and other practical help to the poor as outlined in Matthew 25:34-40: "Then the King will say to those at His right hand, 'Come . . . inherit the kingdom prepared for you . . . for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me . . . as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."

Informed by the example of the first-century church at Jerusalem described in the book of Acts, JPUSA members share a common purse. The community is governed by a council of elders consisting of at least seven people responsible for the oversight and growth of the ministry, according to the principles taught by the Apostle Peter: "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseer . . . not greedily for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock" (I Peter 5:2-3). The council is also the board of directors for corporate purposes, and on them rests the responsibility to amend the rules and bylaws by which the community operates. Numerous other older community members hold key positions of leadership bearing significant responsibility for both making decisions and carrying them out.

The leaders submit one to another, to other members of the community, and to God's Word, the Bible. No final authority lies with any one individual. Rather the leadership is made up of a number of mature, mutually accountable community members attempting to imitate Christ's example of servant leadership. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). In turn, each member's commitment is to abide by decisions made by the leadership in accordance with biblical principles. Yet always keeping in mind that we each must answer to God for our own actions, no member of JPUSA should ever follow direction contrary to God's Word or his or her own conscience, no matter who would advocate such teaching or action. "So then, each of us will give an account to God" (Romans 14:12).

Membership in Jesus People USA

Anyone wanting to join the community must be at least eighteen years old and profess a born-again experience with Jesus Christ, as well as a continuing personal relationship with Jesus as Lord of his or her life. Additionally, they must affirm agreement with JPUSA's published statement of faith. The community fellowships with many Christians who on certain points have doctrinal differences with us, but when people live as closely as we do, doctrinal contention over significant points of faith within our membership can cause destructive discord and strife.

If our statement of faith has a major point or points incompatible with a member's beliefs, we urge the member to discuss his or her convictions with a pastor. While obviously no two of us are going to agree on the interpretation of every sentence of Scripture, JPUSA's published statement of faith is based on evangelical theology and reflects the central doctrines held by the majority of Protestant Christians throughout history. After a time of searching the Scriptures together and prayer, if the member still feels the community's teaching is in conflict with his or her understanding of God's Word, that particular member will do best to find fellowship with Christians more in agreement with his or her stance. This does not imply judgment on our part, but only the desire to help the member and our community continue on in their respective walks of faith. "Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind" (Romans 14:5b).

Like any group of Christians, JPUSA has certain ways of doing things that work for us. Prospective members may have to try it to know if it works for them. That is why we ask a prospective member to spend a two to four week trial period living in the community, which may be extended if JPUSA feels it appropriate. First, the trial period lets the prospective member view daily community life firsthand, so he or she can make an informed decision. Second, it lets the community see how the prospective member deals with the pressures of community living. After the trial period, an elder or other older member will meet with the potential member and discuss membership. If that person wishes to join JPUSA, the council will make a final decision.

If the person is accepted after his or her trial period, that person becomes a provisional member for one year, a time during which all the terms of this covenant apply to that person. At the end of that one-year provisional membership, the provisional member and JPUSA's council reevaluate that member's commitment to the community; if both believe the relationship should continue, the provisional member automatically becomes a regular member. The terms of this covenant continue to apply for as long as that member remains at JPUSA.

The leadership of the community encourages members to periodically re-examine their reasons for living at JPUSA. A meaningful life in our community requires a sense of calling and purpose. Over the years we have learned the hard way that once a member loses this sense of purpose in their daily life, JPUSA is not a good place to simply "mark time." Often this dynamic results in disillusionment, conflict and resentment. By officially sanctioning and in fact encouraging members to regularly re-examine their membership commitment we hope to make the decision to stay at JPUSA more purposeful, and the decision to leave JPUSA less stressful.

Any member may end his or her membership and leave the community at any time, and membership in JPUSA is automatically ended on the day that person permanently leaves the community. We encourage anyone planning to leave to communicate with the community's Transition Committee, not to "convince" him or her to stay, but so that we can together pray over God's continuing will and hopefully smooth out some of the rough spots inherent in making the transition out of community. As friends who have lived and learned together, we want to be honest and open in a time that may be taking us different directions. For our part, we would always rather have a member's departure be with mutual good wishes and our prayers.
The final decision on membership is committed to the discretion of the Council of Elders. In the event that a member, in the judgment of the Council, acts or speaks in a manner inconsistent with our published statement of faith, or violates the moral and behavioral standards of JPUSA, the council has the option to end the membership of that individual. At that time, we try to direct such a person to a place more appropriate to his or her needs. We remind these individuals that God's plan does not begin and end with JPUSA, but that He has a special place for every Christian.

Daily Living

The community provides its members room and board in its own facilities. Every member is assigned a room in one of the JPUSA buildings; single people share a room "dormitory-style" with other singles of their own sex, while married couples have a private room. Infants up to one or two years old, depending on the parents' wishes, stay in the parents' room. When the parents feel the child is old enough to move out, they move the child to a room on the same floor as close as possible to their room. Our community attempts to get people settled, but does reserve the right to change room assignments at times in order to best meet the community's needs. "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4).

We serve three simple but hearty meals a day in our community dining room, and for those with special dietary needs (e.g., diabetics) we do our best to provide a proper diet. Members' daily needs such as toilet articles, clothing, and money for special celebrations (birthday, Christmas, etc.) are met from the common fund as the Lord provides. "And they sold their possessions and goods and distributed to all, as any had need" (Acts 2:45).

In accordance with our vision of living in close identification with the poor, we use public health care (e.g., John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, city health clinics) for most health needs. JPUSA does not provide health insurance, and unless a member has individual health care benefits such as V.A. benefits, public health care will be used except when the medical problem necessitates otherwise. The relative poverty we know in contrast to the middle-class norm of American society is, to us, not a liability but an honor.

We believe that Christ has shown us that ordinary people, by pooling their resources, can accomplish extraordinary things. This sharing not only includes physically and spiritually pitching in and working hard, but also includes pooling our financial assets together into the community fund. The concept of turning over one's material assets is a delicate one, and in order to help everyone involved be sure of their purpose and motives (and not be swept away by a whim of the moment), JPUSA has instituted certain safeguards. First, members are not obligated to donate any assets. Second, members are not permitted to donate substantial assets (except vehicles) to JPUSA until they become regular members.

JPUSA does not assume any responsibility to pay any debt incurred by a member before he or she joined the community, and therefore we encourage new members to use their assets to satisfy any outstanding financial obligations they may have before they move into JPUSA. Any remaining substantial assets that a member does not wish to donate to the community should be either disposed of before coming to JPUSA or stored somewhere other than any of our community's buildings. Members routinely keep such items as clothing, small appliances, stereos, and recreational gear such as bikes and tennis rackets, etc. Also, it is our community's policy that child support payments made by a non-member parent for a child whose custodial parent is a member go directly and completely to the custodial parent of that particular child for that child's benefit. In addition, the community will not assume responsibility for paying any debt incurred by a member without proper authorization from the Council.

We are cautious in accepting a member's assets, as it is impossible to give them back once they've been used or spent by the community. While members may terminate their membership and leave the community at any time, upon leaving a member is not entitled to take back or be reimbursed for assets which he or she donated to the community. Also, JPUSA has no obligation to pay continuing or leaving members any sum of money representing any portion of the value of their donated assets or services. Upon making a decision to terminate their membership and leave JPUSA, a member is encouraged to meet with the Transition Committee (made up of one Council member and several other older mature members) to work out an exit plan. Based on the Transition Committee's recommendation, JPUSA may elect at its discretion to help a leaving member in whatever way the committee feels we can and should at that time.

Work and Taxes

JPUSA generates most of its support through the several businesses it operates. A majority of new members start out in necessary work such as dishwashing, serving food, maintaining our buildings, etc. After a while they are usually channeled into one of the businesses or ministries of the community. The Council takes into consideration a member's talents, spiritual maturity, and personal desires, as well as the community's needs, in deciding where a member should work. "For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ . . ." (Romans 12:4, 5).

JPUSA is exempt from federal corporate income tax under Internal Revenue Code section 501(d). While the community is tax exempt, the individual members are not. For tax purposes, each member is allocated an equal portion of the community's net income for each year, and if that pro-rata share reaches a threshold amount then individual members are required to pay personal income tax. The community pays each member's payment of any income tax due on his or her share of JPUSA's net income. JPUSA is not responsible if a member fails to report to the IRS any additional personal income not originating from JPUSA membership.

While members are allocated a share of the JPUSA net income every year they do not receive this amount in the form of salary. Most of this income goes toward food, housing, utilities, insurance and maintenance costs, as well as our stated community purposes of evangelism, helping the poor, and discipling believers, all of which are paid for at the community-wide level by our financial department. In addition, members may individually requisition money for entertainment or specialized needs from the money office as funds are available. Members do not need to separately report these discretionary monies on their tax return as these amounts are included in the pro-rata member's share of JPUSA income.

JPUSA members are not employees, thus the community does not carry any workman's compensation insurance or owe the injured members any workman's compensation benefits. JPUSA does not pay social security for the same reasons. Also, JPUSA does not owe or pay its members any set hourly wage for their labor.

Our Calling and Our Vision

We at JPUSA have heard a call from God to reach Chicago's inner city and beyond with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps JPUSA's most important benefit is helping each member grow and mature in the Christian faith through an intensive environment of Christian fellowship, pastoral care, biblical teaching, and active involvement in vital inner-city ministry. We believe God has guided the development of our community according to His will for us. We have observed throughout our history that by pooling our resources and efforts in the ways He has shown us, we accomplish collectively much more than we could individually. At the same time, we at JPUSA realize that ours is only one kind of expression of biblical Christianity among many in the worldwide body of Christ. Ours is a particular call, and membership in JPUSA is for those who hear that call.

"I therefore...beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forebearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Your Covenant

After reading this document, and after prayer and discussion with others, I want to become a partner of Jesus People USA-Full Gospel Ministries. By signing this document I agree to all the points discussed here having to do with my responsibilities to the community and its responsibilities to me.

Signed this day of ___ in the year of our Lord, _______

Member ____________________ Social Security Number _____________

Signed this day of ___ in the year of our Lord, _________

JPUSA elder ________________________________

Name and address of closest relative not living in the community:

Name _________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

City __________________________ State ____ Zip _______________

Telephone Number (___)_______________

State of Illinois

County of Cook

_________________, a notary public for the State of Illinois and County of Cook saw ______________________________, personally known to me, sign the foregoing Covenant as his or her own free and voluntary act for the purposes and uses set forth therein this ____________ day of ______________________ A.D. ___________

NOTARY PUBLIC

My commission expires ________________________