New GN series

from Jedran - Monday, June 07, 2004
accessed 2381 times

Warning: This is the first of a series of postings of new GNs. These GNs are rated EC (extremely cultish) so read them at your own risk.

The Next Step!--Missionary Membership
Restructuring the Family of the Future, Part 2
By Peter CM/FM 3483 1/04

Contents
The Importance of the Home as a sample of discipleship..... 5
Why we chose the names Family disciple and Missionary member........... 6
Questions and answers regarding Missionary membership.... 8
When does the Missionary membership category begin?........................ 8
Will CMs be moved to the MM category; if so, when?............ 8
What is the Family discipleship standard?....... 9
Do I have to implement any new changes immediately?... 9
What benefits will Missionary members receive?........ 10
If I'm placed in Missionary membership but want to reapply
for Family disciple status, can I?............ 11
If I move from CM to MM in the next few months and want to
reapply for FD status, when can I do so?.. 11
Where does FM fit in?................. 12
Put on the glasses of positiveness...................... 13

Addendum to "The Next Step" ............ 15

Dear Family,
1. We love you and pray that things are going well for you in 2004. In the first part of this series, "Forward, Always Forward," Mama and I mentioned briefly about the establishment of a new category of service in the Family called Missionary membership. Now we will explain more about this change and how it will benefit the Family and you personally.
2. In order for you to clearly understand how the Lord has led, I want to share with you the history of this development, the thinking behind why this new category was established, and how it's a marvelous solution to some of the problems that we and Family leadership have been trying to resolve for quite a while now.
3. As you well know, since the time of the S2K, and later with the "Conviction vs. Compromise" series, the Lord has made it abundantly clear that we need to preserve the example of full-time discipleship as it is described in the Words of David. As a quick review, what that means is that the Lord is holding us accountable to make sure that the things that make the Family unique and that provide our modern-day sample of 100% discipleship cannot be allowed to weaken, deteriorate, or even disappear through gradual compromise. These unique qualities of the Family include such lifestyle issues as communal living, sharing all things, living the One Wife vision and the Law of Love, training our children to be missionaries, etc.
4. This means that any CM Home that wasn't living up to that standard of full-time discipleship shouldn't have been allowed to retain its Charter membership, but instead should have been reclassified to Fellow membership. But that has been very difficult for your COs and VSs to do, because there have been many Homes and individuals that, while they were not living up to the full-time discipleship standard, neither were they living the average FM standard. So it has understandably been very difficult for your VSs and COs to initiate the process to move Homes to FM if those Homes were pretty close to CM, even if they weren't hitting the CM standard in all areas.
5. There were further problems with leniency on the part of leadership, which we have explained (ML #3468:56-66, GN 1054). There was fairly widespread delinquency in discipline and a tendency to focus on the black-and-white rules when upholding the standard, while letting the more subjective aspects of obedience to the spiritual standards of the Word slip. But besides the weaknesses of the continental and area officers to enforce the standard, there was another side to the problem. In the FM circle, there's a wide variety of commitment and service, but the average standard is significantly lower than the CM circle. Even though many CM people or Homes should have been reclassified to FM due to not living up to the full CM standard, they were still living a higher level of obedience and service than has been expected of the FM Family.
6. Therefore your officers were caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. They didn't want to allow compromise in the CM Family, but neither did they want good, faithful missionaries or missionary Homes to be disheartened by being moved to FM status when those people or Homes were really much closer to CM than FM. The natural tendency when facing such situations was for your officers to give the lagging CM Homes or members the benefit of the doubt and to let them remain CM, hoping they would improve. Such a trend resulted in what we described earlier as the "grading on a curve" syndrome, where the overall level of obedience in the CM Family gradually dropped.
7. When I was involved in the situation in Brazil, from the time the sins of the field were exposed and the chastisement was announced, through the establishment of the basis of evaluation of the Homes, the question of how to handle Homes that didn't really fit in either CM or FM kept coming up. It was a puzzling dilemma, as we knew we had to preserve the sample of full-time discipleship and we couldn't compromise on that score or we'd risk the Family drifting off into the oblivion of compromise; yet our hearts went out to the good missionaries who we wanted to preserve and encourage and reward for their many years of service for the Lord.
8. During the time we were involved in the situation in Brazil, we also came to understand more clearly how some Charter members felt nearly devastated at the thought of being moved to FM --not that that attitude is right or that they should have felt that way, since our Fellow members are very much a part of the Family. But this fear on the part of Charter members was probably due to the fact that there are some situations in our FM Family that are not very good--that are, in fact, a reproach to the Family. So those situations have tainted the reputation of the faithful and dedicated FM Family members and have caused the perception of FM status to become negative. As you know, right or wrong, when perceptions take root and people develop certain attitudes, it can be very difficult to change those perceptions and attitudes.
9. So taking this into consideration, we realized that there must be a better solution, something that is more perfectly fitted to our present-day Family's needs, rather than moving CM people who are a bit below the CM requirements to FM. We desperately sought the Lord and did our best to "think outside the box"--in other words, to explore any and all new ideas or possible solutions.
10. When we first started to discuss this in August 2003, the immediate challenge we faced was in knowing that in the near future we would need to honestly and fairly judge the Homes in Brazil. So this dilemma of the vast difference between the standard of CM and many FM Homes was not just something we could pontificate on in theory and then forget about; we knew we had to do something about it fairly soon. We needed something new, and thankfully, through our Husband's great wisdom and foresight, the Summit took place before we were faced with having to begin the actual reinstatement of the Homes in Brazil.
11. It was obvious that the difficulties and challenges that we faced in Brazil regarding what to do with CM Homes that didn't fit in either CM or FM were common in other fields, too. The Lord was allowing us to see that the situation in Brazil was a microcosm of the Family, and that opened our eyes to some fundamental problems and the need for big changes.
12. It is through this thought process and facing these needs that the idea for the Missionary membership category was born. We discussed this idea of a new category of service while in Brazil in August, and in the videos I made then I considered mentioning that there might be another place of membership. But when we prayed about it, the Lord indicated that it was premature to make that promise, as there was much prayer, counsel, and hearing from Him that would need to be done, and there was no guarantee as to how He would lead in the end.
13. By a miracle of the Lord's timing, however, we were able to explore this possibility in full during the Summit, and the Lord then made it very clear that it was His will to create the Missionary membership category, which is a tremendous solution to several needs. Not only does this make it easier to preserve the sample of discipleship Homes in the CM Family, but it also supplies a place of service that is closer to the CM Family for those who aren't able to live the full discipleship sample for one reason or another, but who are much more active than the average Fellow member.
14. During the Summit, the details of the Missionary membership category were discussed extensively and prayed about, and the original drafts of the criterion and procedures were written. And thankfully, since this had been decided upon and would be going into effect in April of 2004, we were able to use this new category when evaluating the Homes in Brazil. In effect, the reinstatement of the Homes in Brazil became a hands-on experiment as to the effectiveness of this new plan, and we were very happy with the results.
15. Having another category, one of active service, made the Brazil COs' job of reinstating the Homes much easier, because when Homes weren't living the full discipleship standard but were active missionary Homes living close to it, we had an alternative level of service to offer them. This actually solved the two big dilemmas we were facing, so that we were able to preserve the integrity of the judging of the Homes, not allowing those Homes that were truly not living the discipleship standard to retain their CM status, and at the same time we were able to place such Homes in a level of membership that was much more accurate and befitting their level of dedication and service.
16. The final results of the reinstatement of the Homes in Brazil are as follows: Of the 72 Homes that were previously CM, 37 were reinstated to CM status, 23 were reinstated to Missionary membership, and 12 were reinstated as FM. The decision to reinstate Homes to CM was based on the Home and personal reports that they wrote during the chastisement period, which gave a pretty good picture of their witnessing and Activated stats, their overall missionary work, their spiritual state, and their level of obedience to the Word and the Charter. Remember, the basis for the evaluation of the Homes in Brazil had been provided in advance. The compilation of New Wine that supported the basis of judgment was also published at the same time, making it clear that the Homes were accountable for what would be required of them if they hoped to regain their CM status. (See GV 162 and GNs 1055-1056.)
17. The Homes that were formerly CM and were reinstated as MM Homes are active missionary Homes made up of sincere people who were devoted to the Lord and the Family, and had some kind of missionary work going. While many of these Homes are a good sample in many ways, as they live by faith, teach their children at home and witness, they were not, however, given CM status because there were factors in their situation--either regarding their lifestyle or their spiritual state--that disqualified them from being a Home that provides a complete sample of revolutionary discipleship as per the Words of David.
18. This Missionary membership category should not be looked at as a punishment or a demotion. This category is a gift from the Lord for the Family. Mama and I see it as a very positive step forward, as something that honestly reflects the state of many Family members and relates accurately to the present-day needs of the Family. Some of you who find that you're more suited for Missionary membership might initially feel disappointed, but we want to encourage you to see things differently.
19. Missionary membership is a place for active, on-fire Homes, for people who are devoted to the Family, for good missionaries. The Homes and Family members who are allowed to be in this category will be those who are doing things for the Lord, witnessing, promoting Activated, and maintaining a good spiritual standard. This category is much closer to the CM standard than is the FM place of service, and those who are awarded this membership status will need to work hard to maintain it. There will be some sort of regular review of these Homes (as was announced for the CM Homes), and there are disciplinary measures for individuals not living up to the standard. We will not allow the integrity of this category of service to deteriorate, as has happened with some FM Homes, which pulled down the FM category as a whole and greatly contributed to the negative view that many have had of FM.
20. The differences between Missionary members and Charter members will mainly relate to the sample of discipleship as per the Words of David. What this means is, those Homes that are CM will need to be obviously living all aspects of discipleship, both in their lifestyle and their spiritual lives. The CM Homes bear the responsibility of preserving the complete sample of full-time disciples that makes the Family different from the other Christians and missionaries in the world. This sample is in regards to such things as communal living (which will soon consist of much bigger Homes), avoiding System jobs as much as possible, living in unity and having all things common, living by faith, homeschooling their children and raising them to be missionaries and disciples, having a well-rounded missionary work that includes promoting Activated, etc.
21. There may eventually be more Homes in the MM category than in the CM category. That's perfectly fine. Each place of service has its purpose. While the Lord expects the CM Homes to provide a certain unique sample to the world, if you or your Home cannot provide that sample, for whatever reason, that's not a black mark against you. He still expects a lot of you, and you should be proud to be a Missionary member. What that means is you are Family missionaries and followers of the teachings of David.
22. We have put the title "sample discipleship Homes" on CM Homes, as that is their mission and responsibility. They are to provide a sample of the Words of David, to prevent the Family from losing the uniqueness that has been our characteristic from the very beginning.
23. In order to serve as a reminder of the direction we're going as a Family, Charter members and CM Homes will now be referred to as Family disciples (FDs) and Family discipleship Homes (FD Homes). There will also be the categories of Missionary members (MMs) and Fellow members (FMs). From this time forth, in this GN and in the GNs that follow, we will use these new handles. (Note: In countries where it is officially illegal to be missionaries, your local leadership will pray about a name that will be used as a local reference for this category in your country, instead of Missionary members.)

The Importance of the Home as a Sample of Discipleship
24. As a review, I will include a few paragraphs that explain the importance of the Home in providing the sample of discipleship, from "Forward, Always Forward."

The starting point for nurturing and living Family discipleship is the Home. While an individual may have the desire to be a disciple, the Home is where that discipleship is lived. While there are undoubtedly individual Christians who live a form of the discipleship lifestyle according to the truth they have in the Bible, the discipleship lifestyle for us in the Family is defined by both the Bible and the Words of David, and the unique qualities of that lifestyle can only be lived out in a Family Home.
Our Family Homes show the sample to the world that true, living, applied Christianity, as portrayed in the New Testament, exists in today's world. True communal discipleship Homes show the world that there are Christians who are willing to live 100% for God, who are willing to give up the comforts and conveniences of selfish System living to live a life of service to others. Our willingness to live by faith, to witness full time and trust God to supply our needs as we share all things, is a testimony of the existence of a living, caring, very real God. There is very little evidence of this throughout the world, and our sample to the world in this area is important, as Mama clearly stated in the "Conviction vs. Compromise" series.
The communal Family Home is what sets us apart from the majority of Christians in the world; it is what makes the Family unique; it is where Family discipleship thrives, and it is a vital part of living the discipleship life.
Full-time 100% discipleship means to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mk.16:15); to be together with those that believe, to have all things common (Acts 2:44,45); to deny yourself and take up your cross daily, and follow the Lord (Luk.9:23,24); to forsake all that you have (Luk.14:33); to come out from among them, and be separate and touch not the unclean thing (2Cor.6:17); to refrain from serving two masters, God and mammon (Mat.6:24); to lay down your life for the brethren (1Jn.3:16); to trust that God will supply all your needs (Phil.4:19); to continue in the Word (Jn.8:31,32); to glorify the Father in bearing much fruit (Jn.15:8); to show that you are a disciple through the love you have one to another (Jn.13:35).
It's very difficult for individuals to live true discipleship on their own, which is probably one reason the Lord promoted communal living right from the days of the Early Church. He knew how difficult it would be to live up to the standard of discipleship, and in His wisdom knew that we would need the help of one another. He told His first disciples to leave their nets, their tax tables, their jobs and families, and to follow Him. How successful would those first disciples have been if they would have continued fishing every night or collecting taxes every day? Would they have been able to be disciples? Would they have followed all the way? Would they have spread Christianity throughout the world? Probably not.
From the Day of Pentecost forward, "All that believed were together and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men, as every man had need" (Acts 2:44,45). They needed to live and work and share together so that they could live the discipleship life. (ML #3479:68-69, 71-74, GN 1067).

25. (Peter:) If your Home is not this kind of sample of discipleship, you personally can still be a disciple in heart. You might not be able to fulfill all the discipleship requirements necessary to be a discipleship sample Home, but you're still a disciple, a follower of the teachings of the Family. You're a believer, a missionary, and very important to the Lord, to Mama and me, and to the lost of the world.

Why We Chose the Names Family Disciple and Missionary Member
26. I want to explain why Mama and I and the leadership of the Family chose the names Family disciple and Missionary member for the new restructuring of the Family. Obviously we needed to have a name for the new service category. After much prayer, counsel, deliberation and hearing from the Lord, it became clear that these names--Family disciple and Missionary member--were the best, given the circumstances and the goals we're trying to reach. We needed to find names that would adequately reflect the level of commitment and service required of each category, and that would be clear, easy to understand, and not too wordy or complicated.
27. As was explained earlier, saving the Family means we must preserve the sample of full-time discipleship. That isn't an easy concept to explain, and it hasn't been easy for the Family overall to grasp the seriousness of it. The sample of discipleship has to do with the sample of your Homes, not just individuals. In Jesus' day there were many disciples of varying degrees of dedication. They were followers of the teachings of Jesus, although they had different lifestyles. But the standard of full-time discipleship for the children of David has been clarified through the Letters; it's been enhanced and enlarged upon, to the point that full discipleship as per the Words of David includes many specific lifestyle points such as living communally (in fairly large Homes), living by faith, sharing all things, homeschooling your children and raising them to be missionaries and disciples, having a well-rounded missionary work that includes promoting Activated, etc.
28. You who are FD members bear the commission to preserve the sample of full-time discipleship of the Family. You must portray the sample of discipleship in the full sense of the term; you are required to live all these aspects of full-time discipleship that are described in the Letters and to maintain the lifestyle that is a picture of modern-day discipleship. Therefore, you will bear the name disciple in your title, as this is the prime defining quality of your membership category, your unique calling and commission, and something you must never forget.
29. You who are Missionary members are active, missionary-minded, fruitful members, but since you are not required to live the complete standard of full-time discipleship in all areas of your lives, as a Home and as an individual, your official Family membership title will not include the term disciple. As active service members of the Family you can, however, choose to embrace and live the tenets of discipleship according to your own personal faith and conviction. You can be disciples in heart and dedication, and you are still followers of the teachings of Jesus and David. Your lifestyles may represent varying degrees of the sample of discipleship, but that is voluntary; it's not required that you live up to the full discipleship sample.
30. The FD Homes, however, must portray a sample of modern-day discipleship as explained in the Words of David. That's the crux of the matter. We're not talking about individuals here; we're talking about a sample that is provided by our communal Homes that are living the discipleship standard. This does not mean that we feel the FDs in the Family are the only disciples of Jesus in the world or the Family. There are many people in the world--not only our MMs and FMs, but also devoted Christians of other denominations--who can be considered disciples of Jesus.
31. What we must preserve if we are to save our sinking ship is what makes the Family different, what defines discipleship for the Family. It's that sample we must preserve, and it will be lived by a smaller percentage of the Family. That's perfectly fine. We expect that.
32. One thing the Lord brought out is that the new understanding that is taking hold in the Family, the discipleship standard of today as portrayed in the New Wine and the CvsC series, is fragile. As you know, changes of mindsets and outlooks are the hardest to take root in the Family. Much forward progress has been gained and now there is much more clarity in the Family as to what the sample of full-time discipleship is and what living it means, and the Lord has instructed us to protect this. One way He has shown us to do so is by making the names of the categories Family disciples and Missionary members.

Questions and Answers Regarding Missionary Membership
33. I'm sure you have a lot of questions about the details surrounding this new category of service. I will address some things in a question and answer format here. Other points will become clear when you read the Missionary Member Statutes that are being published at the same time as this GN.

* When does the Missionary membership category begin?
34. Missionary membership will officially be in existence beginning April 2004. Of course, it will take some time until Missionary membership is fully functional and operating smoothly and efficiently as a new category of Family membership and service. Creating a new category of Family membership is no small matter, and there are many practical, logistical, and business-related details that will require fine-tuning as we get started, so please bear with us during this time of flux. But it will be available as an option for those who are presently CM beginning April 2004.

* Will CMs be moved to the MM category; if so, when?
35. Upon receipt of this GN, all present Charter members should take time to seriously consider this new Missionary membership option of service, and seek the Lord as to whether you, and perhaps even your whole Home, may be better suited to Missionary membership. If you are honest with yourself and recognize that you are not living up to the CM standard, or perhaps have not been for some time, then the right thing to do would be to inform your COs and VSs of your decision to move to Missionary membership. You will not be looked down on for making such a choice; in fact, we will admire you and be thankful that you've taken stock of your situation and have obeyed the Lord by moving to a level of service that reflects the reality of your daily life. This is very commendable.
36. Mama and I have commissioned your COs and VSs to prayerfully assess and evaluate all the present CM Homes in their areas, to determine which Homes are truly living the discipleship standard and sample, as is laid out in the "Conviction vs. Compromise" series and the Charter. Those who aren't consistently living this discipleship standard or fulfilling the necessary CM/FD requirements will be helped to a more suitable place of service in Missionary membership, or if appropriate, to Fellow membership.
37. It will take a number of months before all those who are currently CM, but not living up to the discipleship standard, are helped to their proper place of service in Missionary membership. The COs and VSs will begin, upon receipt of this GN, to counsel and/or visit those in the present CM Family who would be better suited for service in Missionary membership, but this will take time, as there are few COs and VSs compared to the 668 CM Homes throughout the world. This means that while some Homes and individuals may move to Missionary membership right away, perhaps even in April, other Homes and individuals may not change status until much later in the year.
38. If the COs or VSs approach you or your Home about serving the Lord and the Family in Missionary membership, please be open to their counsel and direction. We realize that such guidance may not seem to be happy news, but at this point we have to stay focused on the Lord's goals for us as a Family, one of which is for every Family member to be placed in their appropriate place of service. Why? Because that's where each one fits best, and where the Lord can use each one to his or her full potential.
39. Please understand that the category in which you serve the Lord in the Family does not affect the love and appreciation that Mama and I have for you. It's not that we love Charter members the most, and we love Missionary members or Fellow members less. Please don't listen to the Enemy's lies if he tempts any of you who are not CM to feel less loved or appreciated. Mama and I love each of you Family members dearly. We respect each of you, and we are truly thankful for each of you. We honestly and sincerely believe that each of you is a very important and integral part of the Family, and each of you plays a crucial role in our reaching the world with the truth and God's love. We are all in this together! Mama and I don't judge people or put labels on people according to whether someone is CM, MM or FM. We love each person in the Family as an individual, as does the Lord. That isn't going to change!
40. At this point in time, the Lord is asking us to make fairly major changes in our Family structure, and even categories of membership, in order to strengthen and enhance the Family at all levels. We are committed to obeying our Husband, and in order to do so, your leadership is faced with the difficult decision of helping a fair few of you to find a level of service that is more suited to your lifestyle and ability. It's a tough job, because your leadership loves you and recognizes your sacrifices. More than anything, they and we want to see you who are not able to live up to the discipleship standard in a place where you will be happy, fulfilled, challenged, and able to serve the Lord to the best of your ability. That's what the goal is, and we believe that the Lord has provided just that place in this new MM category of membership. We are happy about Missionary membership, and we pray that you will be too.

* What is the Family discipleship standard?
41. The FD standard is articulated in the "Conviction vs. Compromise" series and the Charter. This is the discipleship standard that the Lord and Mama have clearly put forth, and we've all had it in hand for over two years. We can't say we didn't know what the discipleship standard was; we've all had ample warning. We are all accountable. Therefore, if you haven't been consistently abiding by the discipleship standard as outlined in the Charter and the CvsC series, and your leadership points this out to you, please accept and be thankful for Missionary membership, where you can continue to actively serve the Lord in the Family.
42. Throughout 2004 we'll be publishing more about the Family discipleship standard. As a result of the Lord's commission to Mama and me to not only strengthen the Family as a whole, but to specifically preserve the sample of full-time Family discipleship as outlined in the Words of David, there will be some clarifications and changes made in the discipleship arena. As we've sought the Lord about the major compromises that have damaged the sample and testimony of Family discipleship, the Lord has shown us a number of areas to focus on and strengthen, which we'll be addressing over the coming months. Some of this counsel will result in new Charter amendments. During the remainder of 2004, however, the Family discipleship criteria will continue to be the CvsC series and the Charter. This was the case in Brazil, and again, if you wish to review what that standard is in detail, you can refer to the Basis of Evaluation of the Homes in Brazil (published in GV 162) and the compilation "What Is Full-time Discipleship?" (ML #3469, GN 1055-1056).

* Do I have to implement any new changes immediately?
43. As you read about various new requirements or changes for the CM/FD level of membership, such as the new minimum Home size, it's important to remember that these do not go into effect until January 2005. We're letting you know about such changes now so that you can begin moving in that direction and make your plans accordingly. However, your status or the status of your Home will not be evaluated based on any new requirements or coming changes until January 2005. This is very important to understand.
44. The basis of Family discipleship, as I said earlier, is the "Conviction vs. Compromise" series and the Charter. This standard of discipleship, along with the existing rules in the Charter, will remain intact through the end of 2004. There will be some Charter amendments that will go into effect in January 2005 as a result of clarifications to the Family discipleship standard which will come to you via the GNs during 2004. However, the Charter rules and procedures stand as they do today, and your leadership will continue to operate by them. Beginning in January 2005, any new amendments to the Charter, such as the new minimum Home size, will begin to be enforced.
45. While it would be wise to begin moving in the new direction that the Lord is showing, you will not be penalized or transferred to another level of service at any time during 2004 because you have not met the new Home size rule, for example, or any other new requirement or "coming change" that we're letting you know about in advance. Remember, any new Charter rules or amendments related to the standard of discipleship come into effect in January 2005.
46. This means that if, over the next few months, your leadership recommends that you transfer from CM to MM, they have based that decision on the fact that you have not been consistently living up to or meeting the discipleship criteria outlined in the Charter and the CvsC series. It has nothing to do with new changes coming, or that you aren't meeting any "new" or "higher" standards, or new amendments to the Charter. It simply means that the lifestyle you are living today is in reality fulfilling the requirements of Missionary membership, and not meeting the Family discipleship standard; thus a change is in order.
47. As the COs and VSs prayerfully assess each Home in their area that is presently CM over the next several months, they will do so using the "Conviction vs. Compromise" series and the Charter as their touchstone and guide.
48. It's very important that you understand that the COs and VSs will now be applying the Charter as it should have been applied all along. So if they aren't granting you the same exceptions they were before or making as many automatic allowances and exemptions for this or that point of the Charter, or they discipline you or your Home because you've contravened the Charter, please realize that your officers are not enforcing new rules but ones that already exist. This isn't a new or higher standard, but one that was published years ago and which we should have been living all along.
49. As I explained in "New Year's Challenge for 2004" (GN 1054), Mama and I have commissioned the COs and VSs to employ the Charter as it was meant to be, and this might come as a surprise to some of you who have gotten used to the Charter standard not being fully applied to your lives. If you find yourself feeling this way, ask the Lord to help you make this needed adjustment. Please don't think it unfair if your officers ask you to live up to the existing rules.
50. Come January 2005, any new rules will kick in. By January 2005, the Family discipleship standard and the procedures by which individuals' and Homes' status will be evaluated will be explained more fully and understood by all. At that point, you will have a clear picture of what will be expected of you, of any new rules and changes, and how they will impact your Home. This may seem a little blurry to you now because we aren't able to share all the counsel and explain all the changes in one shot, but as further GNs in this series reach you, you'll see the Lord's comprehensive plan unfold.

* What benefits will Missionary members receive?
51. As was stated in "Forward, Always Forward," those in Missionary membership will be required to tithe, as well as give their 1% to the FAF and 3% to the common pot of their local area. Regarding the benefits for Missionary membership status: MM Homes will continue to receive all the pubs that CM Homes receive today, and they will receive as much service from the boards as the board members are able to give. MM Homes will receive the following FAF benefits: Home loans, baby bonuses, pass-on gifts, and tool funds. Pioneer gifts will also be available to Missionary member Homes if the COs in their region decide they are eligible, according to the Missionary member pioneer Home requirements. (Please see the addendum later in this GN for the details on MM Pioneer Home requirements.) There will, however, be a variation concerning the HER for MM Homes.
52. We expect that a large number of new Missionary member Homes will emerge during the Family restructuring, and since many MM Homes will likely be small, in some cases just one person, giving a HER to every new MM Home would have the potential to drain the FAF quickly. WS does, however, want to ensure that all MM Homes have access to emergency funds. When we asked the Lord how to achieve this, He indicated that it would be best to ask that the MM Homes that were previously CM or FD turn in their HER. This will ensure that the FAF will have enough funds to provide the MM Homes with emergency funds as needed. MM Homes will qualify for emergency funds just as FD Homes do, but they will not hold them in their Homes in the form of the HER.
53. To make sure the emergency funds are available to MM Homes quickly, WS will make whatever arrangements are necessary with your area leadership and offices so that they can get emergency funds to any qualifying MM Home that requests assistance within 48 hours. The decision to give HER funds to a requesting Missionary member Home, and what amount, will be made by the COs of the region. Any MM Homes that are too far removed to have the funds reach them within 48 hours will be given $500 of emergency funds to use immediately if needed, once permission to use those funds has been granted by the continental officers of the region. Funds deemed as having not been used for emergency purposes will be considered a debt. HER funds are only available for Missionary members and not other non-Missionary members living in the same household.

* If I'm placed in Missionary membership but want to reapply for Family disciple status, can I?
54. Certainly! We anticipate a fair bit of movement both ways between FD and MM, and one of our goals is to make it less cumbersome or time consuming for those who have made the needed changes in their lives and Home to be able to return to FD service.

* If I move from CM to MM in the next few months and want to reapply for FD status, when can I do so?
55. If you are in Missionary membership at any point during 2004, your first opportunity to reapply for FD status will be in January 2005. This means that if you go from CM to MM at the beginning of May 2004, for example, you'll have to wait for eight months before being able to apply for FD status. This waiting period is only a factor during 2004. Further down the line there won't be such a wait.
56. Reapplying for FD status from MM will be possible in January 2005, and you will receive the procedure for doing so within the next few months. However, during 2004, because the Family as a whole is undergoing a massive amount of change and restructuring, it won't be possible for your field leadership to process the requests for a change in status from MM to FD. During the remaining months of 2004, the COs and VSs have a huge job on their hands--evaluating all the CM/FD Homes and helping individuals and Homes to find their correct level of service, whether FD, MM, or FM, which will require a great deal of prayer, counsel, communication, and visitation. There are a number of restructuring-related pubs to publish throughout 2004, and the COs and international board members will be involved in the creation of these pubs and board handbooks. There are also numerous Charter procedures to be hammered out and put on paper as a result of the many changes, the new Missionary membership category of Family membership, etc. In short, 2004 will be a busy year for us all.
57. For this reason, the Lord showed us that in order for your field leadership to thoroughly carry out the many restructuring-related matters during 2004, we would need to put on hold any applications from MM to return to FD until January 2005. We were sorry to have to make this decision, as we're sure there will be some of you in Missionary membership who will quickly recognize the areas that you've fallen short in, and you'll work hard to strengthen your weaknesses in order to return to FD service. If this hold on applications for MM moving to FD were not in place, then some of you would probably be able to regain your FD status more quickly. As it stands now, you'll have to wait until January 2005 to apply. We discussed this situation at length in an effort to find an alternative solution, knowing that it would be difficult for some of you, but we ultimately made this decision in order to provide ample time for the COs and VSs to coordinate the many other aspects of the restructuring. One thing to bear in mind is that as an MM Home you will be receiving the same pubs, and most of the same benefits, that you received as a CM Home.
58. We pray that you'll understand why this decision of having those who are moved to the MM category not apply to FD until the beginning of 2005 had to be made, and that it was not our preferred choice. There are some hard choices to be made in initiating a worldwide restructuring of the Family, with limited personnel, resources, and time, and with the priority being to save our ship and obey the Lord's directives, this was one of those choices. Though not ideal, we hope that this explanation answers your questions and shows you the bigger picture and purpose behind this wait.
59. We believe that Missionary membership will be an inspiring and fulfilling place of service. But even if an MM individual or Home wants to return to FD right away, they won't have many months to wait before they can apply. And in the meantime, they can and should go ahead and live the FD standard in full, so that when they submit their application, the field leadership will clearly see that they are fully living the discipleship standard and qualify for FD status.
60. In order to facilitate movement from MM to FD once January 2005 rolls around, we have instructed the COs and VSs to reserve the first quarter of 2005 for processing applications from MM Homes and individuals to return to FD status. So despite the initial waiting period, you can rest assured that if you are in Missionary membership and you apply for FD status, your applications will take priority in the first few months of 2005. We pray this will enable those of you who wish to regain your FD status to have the opportunity to do so.

* Where does FM fit in?
61. Though some of our Fellow members are not living up to the standard and will be required to work on it, their standard of membership will remain similar to what is presently outlined in the Fellow Member Statement. The new Missionary membership category requires a higher level of dedication and action, in the form of active service and a healthy spiritual standard. While Family members at all levels are encouraged to witness and preach the Gospel and fulfill certain requirements, there are far fewer requirements in the FM circle, in both lifestyle and missionary work, than there are in the MM and FD circles.
62. Here's a brief on the three circles of Family membership:
* FM provides a lower-commitment level of Family believership and membership.
* Missionary membership provides a significant-commitment level of active service and missionary work.
* Family discipleship provides a full-commitment level that demonstrates the sample of discipleship Homes living the Words of David.
63. In today's FM circle there is a wide variety of individuals. Some are dedicated missionaries who do not qualify for CM status for a particular reason, such as having to live on their own to help their minors who are leaving the Family, or because they are unable to live and interact harmoniously with others in a communal setting. Meanwhile, others are believers and read the mailings, support with prayer and in financial ways such as tithes and offerings, but for a number of reasons are engaged in little or no service, such as witnessing. There's quite a difference in range of commitment and service within the FM circle.
64. Some individuals or Homes who are today in the FM circle could, in time, move into Missionary membership. I'm referring to those FM Homes or individuals who are already living up to the criteria outlined in the Missionary Membership Statutes. You probably know some FM folks in your area who could qualify for Missionary membership--they are active in witnessing, they are a good sample and a positive reflection of the Family in their daily life, they live in unity with others and the surrounding Homes, their children show fruits of godly training and faithful schooling, etc. These are folks who, had there been Missionary membership at the time that they changed status from CM to FM, could have moved to MM, but for lack of another level of service in between CM and FM, they became FM. While they weren't living up to the CM standard, they didn't exactly fit in the FM category either. For these folks, Missionary membership will provide a level of service that is not only better suited to them, but one that acknowledges the good job they're doing and gives them recognition for it.
65. Those presently in the FM circle are welcome to apply for MM or FD status in January 2005. For the same reasons that I explained earlier, the COs and VSs are simply unable to process applications to change status during the preceding months, and that also applies to present-day Fellow members who wish to transfer to another level of service. Any applications submitted by FM individuals or Homes to gain MM or FD status will be focused on during the first few months of 2005, as one of the priorities of the COs and VSs, but will not be processed until then. Please understand and respect this.
66. Come January 2005, those of you who are presently FM but who are in actuality living the Missionary membership lifestyle are more than welcome to apply for MM status. If moving to Missionary membership is your intention, I recommend that you start living the full MM standard today. Doing so will show both you and local leadership if you really have what it takes to maintain this level of active service. There are quite a few demands in Missionary membership, so before you submit your application, make sure you can meet those demands on a consistent basis and that you're happy and fulfilled doing so. For starters, get out witnessing, push Activated, and get your follow-up in gear so that you can feed the sheep and bring forth more fruit!

67. You probably have a number of other questions on your mind concerning all these changes and how they will affect you specifically. More answers and information will be coming over the next few months that will explain the details of the coming restructuring and help to answer your questions. In the meantime, please hold on to the Lord and don't allow the Enemy to tempt you to doubt either the Lord's or Mama's and my love for you. I can guarantee that the Enemy will try to disrupt your spiritual equilibrium and cause you to worry, waver, fear, or to look at these major changes in a negative light.
68. Knowing that this is a very real battle that many of you will likely be faced with, our all-knowing Husband has given a message of both challenge and promise to each one of us concerning how we choose to look at the news of these changes. Please believe this message and ask the One dearest to you to help you to make the right choice, and thereby receive the wonderful rewards and fulfillment that He's promised as a result! It's worth it!

Put on the Glasses of Positiveness
69. (Jesus:) There are two sets of spiritual eyeglasses in front of you, My loves, and you can choose to pick up and put on either one. One pair will help you see things in a positive light, the way that I see things, and the other pair will give you a negative outlook and cause you to see things the way the Enemy wants you to.
70. How you perceive and view the changes that I am bringing about in the Family is up to you--each individual must make a perception choice. You'll either regard the changes I'm bringing about with dread, negativity, discouragement and fear, or you'll be eager, enthusiastic, positive, and full of faith about the way I am working and how it will affect you.
71. I have promised that the changes I'm bringing about are good, positive, and will be instrumental in making each of you, My beloved brides, happy in your service to Me. I'm opening up new realms of Family membership to accomplish this goal, to help each of you to feel content in your service to Me.
72. I don't want anyone to feel as if I'm expecting too much, which then causes you to live with feelings of disappointment and condemnation, feeling that you're failing Me. But neither do I want you to feel like I'm expecting too little, or that you're in a place of service that is squelching your desires, initiative, and will to serve Me. This is why I am redefining every level of service and opening up a new category of Family membership, so that each of you, My children, will fit snugly and contentedly in your place of service, and be happy and fulfilled and challenged as a result.
73. My goal is your happiness, your peace, your joy, your fruitfulness for My Kingdom. I make these changes out of love for you. I know some of these changes may be difficult for you, but they are for your good, to make it easier for you in the long run. So come to Me, lean on Me, and in leaning, tap into My strength and power. Call on the keys of strength, of change, of overcoming, of revolution, and find all that you need to make the necessary changes! Use the weapon of praise, and put on the glasses of positiveness.
74. Do not allow the Enemy's temptations to pick up the negative eyeglasses to get the better of you. Choose right now that you're going to put on the eyeglasses of faith and positiveness, and make the choice from the onset to see every change and modification that I bring to the Family--and to your life and Home--in the way I see it. Sometimes you can't immediately see everything the way I do, but if you choose to want to, in time you will, and great will be your joy.
75. There are only two ways to look at the changes and restructuring of the Family--positively or negatively--and it's a simple choice you alone can make. The situation will be the same either way, the changes will still be enacted and implemented, but your outlook will make the difference between your dreading the future and becoming discouraged, or your being able to flow with the changes and enjoy and thrill to the way I'm working and moving.
76. You determine your outlook. You make your life easier or more difficult according to your choices. You can make the decision to claim the keys of a positive outlook, to put on the glasses of positiveness, and to ask Me to help you to see everything through the eyes of My spirit of faith and enlightenment. There is nothing about the future to dread or fear or worry about when you're wearing the glasses of positiveness, because they filter out all that is inaccurate, of the Enemy, and not a part of Me and My Spirit.
77. So put on the glasses of positiveness, so that you can withstand and defy the negativity of the Enemy. They are your spiritual protection, your assurance of protection against the Enemy's attacks, and they will guide you to walk in My light of truth, following the course I have planned for you, until you reach your personal "promised land" of service that I have prepared for you here on Earth at this time of restructuring.
78. Do not fear the "giants in the land," but go forth with faith to the level of service that I have ordained for you. I will lead you to a positive land, flowing with the milk and honey of the spirit that will be tailored to your needs and desires. There will be grapes of goodness for you to feast on, and the fields in your land of service to Me will be ripe and ready for you to harvest, for it is in My perfect will, as you give your all to Me, that your happiness will abound and your joy will flourish as never before! (End of message from Jesus.)

79. (Peter:) Praise the Lord! On that note of tremendous hope and promise for our Family's future at all membership levels, we will close this GN. Please know that Mama and I are upholding each one of you in our prayers. We are claiming the keys of faith, trust, peace, comfort, vision, and inspiration for the year to come. We look forward with anticipation to the changes that our Commander in Chief is bringing our way, because we know that "He does all things well" and will make of us a more fruitful Family!
With love and prayers,
Peter

Addendum to "The Next Step!"
By the WS Administration Department

1. Home size change for Family discipleship Homes
A. Opening and pioneering Family discipleship Homes
B. What if a Home goes under the six-man minimum?
C. Home size requirements in sensitive countries
D. Why senior teens don't count toward minimum Home size
E. Can new disciples/returnees be counted toward the minimum Home size?
F. Home residency (physical presence of members in the Home)
2. Definition of a Family discipleship pioneer Home
3. Definition of a Missionary member pioneer Home
4. FAF benefits to Missionary member Homes
5. Procedure for moving a Family discipleship Home to Missionary membership

1. Home size change for Family discipleship Homes
As was explained in "Forward, Always Forward" (ML #3479, GN 1067), the minimum Home size requirement in the Charter is being raised to six members 18 years of age and above. Although the new Home size minimum, and these rules, won't be in effect for Family discipleship Homes until January 2005, we thought you would want to know a few more details about them now.
Over the course of Summit 2003 there were many aspects of this change that were brought up for discussion, which a committee of COs and VSs discussed in detail, taking into account all sides of the picture and how any changes made would affect the Family at large. These issues were brought to the Lord for His counsel. Proposals were then drawn up that were presented to the entire leadership body. After further discussion of points brought out by the whole body, these proposals were fine-tuned and will be the basis of the amendments to the Home size rules that will be written into the Charter. The following is an explanation of the major points covered and the consensus that was reached.
These rules will go into effect on January 25, 2005, meaning that those Homes that wish to remain Family discipleship Homes must be at a minimum of six voting members 18 years of age and above at that time. Any Home that has not reached the six-man minimum by that date will automatically become a Missionary member Home.

A. Opening and pioneering Family discipleship Homes
Currently the Charter allows for two or three members, 18 years of age and above, to open a Home in any city that is not designated as a closed city, provided they have the permission of any CM Homes (if there are any) in that city. With the raising of the Home size to six members and the focus being on building winning teams, all new Homes will need to start with a minimum of four members 18 years of age or above and will have four months to reach the minimum Home size of six. The one exception to this rule will be pioneer Homes. Please see the section below entitled "Definition of a Family Discipleship Pioneer Home" for details on what constitutes a Family discipleship pioneer Home.
Pioneering has always been an important part of the Family and our obedience to the great commission to "go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." The Lord admonished us to "go and make disciples of all nations," and the Family wouldn't be where it is today without all of you brave pioneers. By raising the Home size requirement, we realize that when it comes to those who would like to launch out and pioneer, it may not always be possible to have six members 18 years of age and above willing to go and try it. But even a pioneer Home needs to be a solid team and be a good sample of Family discipleship in building a well-rounded work. Our recommendation is that the team be formed before going to pioneer. Ideally, teams should get their members together first before pioneering a Home, even if a smaller scouting team goes ahead to find housing.
We realize that sometimes people will be more readily drawn to a team that is already in a pioneer field and is seeking personnel to further the work, rather than committing to the team ahead of time. Because of this, and because we do want to encourage pioneers to launch out, the Charter will continue to allow pioneer Homes to have a grace period of up to six months to reach the six-man minimum.
In addition, a two- or three-man pioneer Home may be opened, but only with the permission of the COs in the region. Such a Home will need to bring its members up to the minimum Home size of six members within six months, just the same as with a four- or five-man pioneer Home. The Charter will not allow leadership to grant exceptions beyond these "built-in" exceptions. After those six months, if the pioneer Home has not reached at least six members 18 years of age or above, it will automatically be placed on probationary notice; and if at the end of two months of probationary notice the Home does not have the minimum number of Home members, it will be moved to Missionary member status until it can bring its membership up to six members 18 and over. At that time it can reapply for Family discipleship in accordance with the procedures for Missionary member Homes applying for Family discipleship Home status.
Those who don't fall under these exceptions for pioneer Homes will have four months to bring their numbers up to the six-man minimum. By their fourth monthly report, if the Home has not reached the minimum Home size, it will automatically be placed on probationary notice. If the Home does not have the minimum number of members by the end of the second month of PN, it will be moved to Missionary member status.

B. What if a Home goes under the six-man minimum?
Currently the Charter allows a Home that falls under the minimum Home size four months to increase its population, after which time it will go on PN. This will not change. If members leaving a Home results in the Home falling below the minimum of six members 18 and over (but not less than two members 18 and over), the Home will be allowed to remain as a Family discipleship Home, provided by the fourth monthly report after their membership dropped below the minimum it shows a population of at least six members 18 and over. After four months, if the Home has not reached at least six members 18 years of age and above, it will automatically be placed on probationary notice. The Home will be moved to Missionary member status if it does not reach the six-man minimum by the end of the second month of their PN. This rule will be strictly enforced, and the COs will not have the authority to grant exceptions to Homes which do not meet this requirement.
As explained earlier, we are not encouraging six-man Homes. We are encouraging 8- to 15-man Homes that will have all the components necessary to build a well-rounded team. You will not be penalized if your Home only has the minimum. However, if your Home is repeatedly falling below the minimum and then receiving new members just in time to retain its discipleship Home status, it is unlikely that you will be able to have a solid team and will thus fail the yearly Home review.
If you want to have a winning team, you must have enough members in your Home to allow for fluctuation in personnel and still remain above the minimum. At the Home review, the average size of the Home over the entire year will be taken into account and the Home will be evaluated accordingly.

C. Home size requirements in sensitive countries
Home size in sensitive countries will be the same as other Family discipleship Homes, unless exceptions are requested by the COs in the region and are granted by WS. Exceptions on Home size in sensitive countries can only be requested on an individual Home basis, not countrywide.

D. Why senior teens don't count toward minimum Home size
The focus in building your Home is on building winning teams. While many 16- and 17-year-olds are vital members of the Home and an important part of a winning team, they are not required to make a solid commitment to discipleship until they are 18 years old, as explained in "The Shakeup 2000" (ML #3257). Senior teens do participate in and carry responsibility in the ministries of the Home, but most senior teens are also still studying and need to be given sufficient time for their scholastics and vocational training in order to meet the requirements for obtaining a high school diploma. They also need to be free to participate in JT board activities, camps and fellowships, participate in training/exchange programs, etc. It's important that senior teens learn to grow into discipleship without having to carry the same weight as those members who are 18 years of age and above and have signed the Family Disciple Contract (formerly the Charter Member Contract), or being pressured to remain in a Home that can't fulfill their needs just so that Home can reach or maintain its minimum size.
For these reasons, we feel that it would be best for the Home to build its team on members who have signed the Family Disciple Contract. This does not mean that senior teens are not able nor expected to be sold-out, dedicated, and participate in the Home as a part of the winning team, but only that they will be an addition to a solid core of members 18 and above--sold-out, dedicated senior teens being a bonus to the Home.

E. Can new disciples/returnees be counted toward the minimum Home size?
New disciples and returning members are not full-fledged Family disciples until they have gone through their trial period and the Home has voted to accept them as full voting members. Since we are striving toward Homes being built by a solid core of members who are experienced and able to sustain a well-rounded missionary work, we feel it's important that only members 18 years of age and above who have signed the Family Disciple Contract be counted toward the minimum Home membership. And while those going through disciplinary procedures still count in the Home minimum, new disciples and returnees cannot be counted toward the minimum Home size until they have fulfilled the Charter requirements for membership, been accepted by the Home, and have signed the Family Disciple Contract.

F. Home residency (physical presence of members in the Home)
If a Home is going to be a winning team and reach its goals, its members have to stick together to build a Home by spending the majority of their time living together in one place. Being alone and away from the Home for extended periods of time is not good for the individual, nor does it lend itself to a spirit of communal living and building a local work.
The Charter currently allows the Home to decide how long members may be away from their Home. At times there are legitimate reasons for members to be away from Home, such as board seminars, CP, JT, YP or Family Camps, CTPs, witnessing trips, etc., and these can be a positive promotion of the Home's goals and the goals of the Family. There are also times when a Home member needs to be away from the Home for personal or Home business, visits to relatives, medical reasons, etc.
However, it has also become clear, since the implementation of the Charter, that having Home members away for extended periods of time, even for witnessing or other positive reasons, can weaken the Home and the individual's spiritual life and make it difficult to truly live Acts 2:44,45 and build a local work. If your Home regularly allows its members to be away for long periods of time, the Home most likely will not be able to fulfill its responsibilities to be a winning team and may not be able to remain as a Family discipleship Home. Thus we feel for a Home to be a winning team it needs to spend the majority of its time together working on building a work.
We will be amending the Charter so that the Home, with a majority vote, can only allow their members to be away from the Home for a maximum of one month at a time.
We realize, however, that there will be times when an exception to this rule is needed. In this case the Home will be able, with a two-thirds majority vote, to allow members to be away from the Home for a longer period of time, provided they confirm this with the Lord and notify their rules and clearance council (RCC) in writing of the exception, where the individuals are going, the reasons for their time away from the Home, how long the exception is granted for, the prophecies received, and any other pertinent details regarding the matter.
This information, as well as the total time in a calendar year that each individual is away from the Home, will be taken into account at the Home review and the Home will be evaluated accordingly.

2. Definition of a Family discipleship pioneer Home
A Family discipleship pioneer Home is defined in conjunction with the new Charter "Home Size Rules," which state that a team of four voting members 18 years of age or older can function as a pioneer Home for their first six months before they are required to reach the minimum Home size of six voting members 18 and above.
The COs in the region in which the new Home is opening may, under extenuating circumstances, grant certain exceptions to the original size requirements of the pioneer team, allowing two or three members 18 and over to open the Home. Regardless of initial size exceptions, after six months the pioneer team must have increased its population to six voting members 18 years of age or older, all of whom have signed the Family Disciple Contract, or the Home will be placed on probationary notice according to the Charter "Procedure for Placing a Home on Probationary Notice."
After receiving the potential pioneer Home's application for pioneer status, the COs in the region will make the final determination on whether it fulfills the necessary eligibility requirements for receiving pioneer status and receiving a FAF pioneer gift.
For a new team to qualify for pioneer status, they must fulfill at least one of the following criteria. A Home not fulfilling one of the following criteria will be considered a new Home and not a pioneer Home, according to the Charter "Home Size Rules," and will not be eligible for a FAF pioneer gift.
A Family discipleship pioneer Home must be:
1. Opening a new work in a country or metropolitan area with no Family discipleship Homes.
Or
2. Establishing a work, ministry or service in any city or metropolitan area that the COs in the region consider beneficial to the furtherance of the Gospel and the existing work, or which would fill a needed service to other Homes within that country or region. Homes wishing to qualify for this criterion must apply to the COs in their region, and must still follow the Charter guidelines in the "Procedures for Opening a Home in a City or Metropolitan Area with Family Discipleship Homes."
If the COs in the region grant pioneer status to the new team, the FAF pioneer gift (which at present amounts to $500 cash and $500 worth of distribution tools) will be sent to the pioneer Home soon after the reporting office receives the first TRF from their pioneer Home.

3. Definition of a Missionary member pioneer Home
Missionary members (no less than three people 18 years and over) intending to pioneer a new Home in a metropolitan area or country other than the one in which the majority of them reside, may apply for a FAF pioneer gift. The COs in the region in which the new Home is opening will consider the team's request for pioneer status according to the Home's proposed reasons for opening their Home, the city or country in which they are opening their Home, whether there are already any Homes in that metropolitan area, the amount of witnessing and tool distribution they presently do, their proposed means of support, and the extent and type of work they propose to establish in their new field. In most cases pioneer Missionary member Homes will be ones opening a Home in a metropolitan area that does not have any Family disciple or Missionary member Homes. Pioneer teams asking to open a Home in a city with other Family Homes must follow the Missionary Member Statutes' guidelines for opening a Home in a city or metropolitan area with other existing Homes.
If the COs of the region grant pioneer status to the new team, the FAF pioneer gift, which at present amounts to $500 cash and $500 worth of distribution tools, will be sent to the pioneer Home soon after the reporting office receives the first TRF from their new field.

4. FAF benefits to Missionary member Homes
Missionary member Homes will be required to tithe, as well as give their 1% to the FAF and 3% to the common pot of their local area.
Regarding the benefits for Missionary members:
MM Homes that were previously CM will continue to receive all the pubs that CM Homes receive today, and they will receive as much service from the boards as the boards and their members are able to give.
Missionary members can sit as board members if appointed by the continental council. However, the board chairperson as well as the majority of members on each board must be Family disciples. Missionary members may not sit on the VS boards, and continued membership on all other boards will remain at the discretion of each regional council.
MM Homes will receive the following FAF benefits: Home loans, baby bonuses, pass-on gifts, and tool funds. Pioneer gifts will also be available to Missionary member Homes if the COs in the region decide they are eligible, according to the Missionary member pioneer Home requirements. (Please see the Missionary Member Statutes for the details on MM pioneer Home requirements.) There will, however, be a variation concerning the HER for MM Homes as explained earlier in this GN.
MM Homes will qualify for emergency funds just as FD Homes do, but they will not retain them in their Homes in the form of the HER. To make sure the emergency funds are available to MM Homes quickly, WS will make arrangements to ensure that any qualifying MM Home that requests assistance gets its emergency funds within 48 hours. Remote MM Homes will be given $500 of emergency funds to use immediately in an emergency until more FAF funds can be gotten to them.

5. Procedure for moving a Family discipleship Home to Missionary membership
The following will now be the procedure that the COs and RCCs will use when it is necessary to reclassify a Family discipleship Home to a Missionary member Home.

A. A Family discipleship Home's status can only be withdrawn and the Home and all its members moved to Missionary member status by the rules and clearance council or regional continental officers if the Home violates, contravenes, or fails to fulfill the Responsibilities of a Family Discipleship Home , the "Fundamental Family Rules," or the principles or requirements in the "Conviction vs. Compromise" series of Letters.

B. A Family discipleship Home can be moved to Missionary membership either by a two-third's majority of their rules and clearance council or by the regional continental officers providing the following procedure is adhered to:

1. The rules and clearance council must write a letter to the Home, or visit the Home if they feel it is necessary, explaining the reasons for the change of status, and showing just cause for the change of status of the Home.

2. If the Home does not contest the decision of the rules and clearance council, the change to a Missionary member Home will become official.

3. If, upon receipt of the letter from the rules and clearance council, a majority of the Family discipleship Home's voting members are in disagreement with the rules and clearance council's decision, they may within seven days send a letter of rebuttal to their regional continental officers, with a copy to the rules and clearance council.

a. The regional continental officers, upon receiving the Home's rebuttal, must review the decision made by the rules and clearance council, taking into consideration both sides, and make a decision on the Home's status within 30 days.

b. While under review, unless the Home is notified otherwise by the regional continental officers, the Home will remain a Family discipleship Home.

c. Once the regional continental officers have made their decision, they will notify the Home and the rules and clearance council of their decision and the Home will either remain a Family discipleship Home or will become a Missionary member Home.

Copyright © 2004 by The Family

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