Constitutional text - Chapter Tree - Our Community life

of grouping people into districts, etc .. Tue whole question
of large and small cornmunities would also enter here.
A religious corronunity must be more than an aggragate of individuals
living side by side or near each other, but who
do not in fact form an interacting unity of faith and love,
sharing material and spiritual goods. To create an authentic
religious corrnnunity the mernbers must surrender thernselves
to values and goals that are shared with others.
- a corrnnon project or rule.
This is to insure that there is a sh.ared vision , shared
goals. The corronon project should spell these out and also
indicate the means that have been chosen to attain them.
This perrnits the individual to corronit hirnself to something
clear and to also be held accountable.
- livin within defined structures of overnrnent - under a
moderator
Man needs structures to live together in justice and love.
It is only realistic that some form or process govem the
interaction of the individuals and organize the life and
work. With the recent emphasis on subsidiarity and coresponsibility
there has been a tremendous amount of change
going on in this area of corrnnunity life. New processes for
arriving at decisions are ernerging giving great importance
to discernrnent and consensus. Democratic processes are
strongly influencing governrnent in religious life. This
is generally considered as healthy, provided the exigencies
of vowed obedience are not ignored, because ultimately the
comrrunity is served and ministered to by one who has the
responsibility of making the final decision and also calling
others to conform to this decision.
Goveming structures and processes must always try to
achieve a balance between respect for the uniqueness
and freedom of each person and challenge to the responsibility
that each member has for the identity, life,
love and service of the corronunity. It is also important
to bear in mind that structures must not be allowed to
solidify and instead of serving life begin to dominate
it. Tue st1uctures ITRJst have built into them the mechanism
for evaluation, change and adaptation.
- times of corronon prayer - the Eucharist together.
Unless this occurs regularly and frequently enough it is
difficult to see how the essential faith element willremain
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