Full Circle Family

We aim to create a thriving home for our members. A place where ones 'bliss’ and skills intersect with the world’s need; a multi-generational family in which each member ‘gives according to ability and receives according to need’. Our lives are our prayer. We are committed to a spiritual path and aspire to transcend individual egos by listening deeply and acting out of guidance from God, Spirit, the Higher Self. We live a simple life yet one rich in the treasures of peace and beauty, the joys of completing tasks with a sense of craftsmanship and service, and the pleasure of companionship based on seeing the Christ in each other.

We can be reached at: imaginalbuds@gmail.com

In the generosity of God’s creation, we are never taxed or billed for air, water, sun, soil and seeds. As children of God, why should we treat each other any differently? Step away from the world that would have us buy and sell our daily bread and join us in bringing Heaven here to Earth.

The Full Circle Family Church, is based on a quote from the Bible’s New Testament - Acts 4:32-35 - which describes the way Jesus encouraged his followers to live communally. It states:

Acts 4:32-35 (King James Version)

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Vision Statement

To form and maintain a community of people who share one or more common places of permanent residence, who share common income and expenses, and who are communally responsible for all the needs of its members, including food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, and other needs and amenities considered desirable and necessary, insofar as the community agrees to and is able to provide them.
To create a society which offers its members no less than they need, which asks of its members no more than they can give, and which promotes the greatest good for all people.
To create and publicize this lifestyle in order to serve as an example of a social organization applicable to the society at large and to promote the formation and growth of similar groups worldwide.
To perpetuate itself as a community in such a way that communal life will be available to succeeding generations.
To build a society responsible for maintaining natural resources for ourselves, for future generations, and for all people and all other life forms through ecologically sound production and consumption.
To strive for self sufficiency and interdependence whenever possible.
To create a society wherein positions of responsibility are not positions of exploitation and wherein we do not promote inequality through discrimination on the grounds of creed, age, sex or cultural background.
To promote the truth that all people are members of one race, and one family, regardless of skin color, cultural heritage or nationality.
To create a model society which is non-violent and non-competitive, wherein people mutually respect, tolerate and even encourage cultural differences, while focusing on their similarities.

Statement of Spiritual Beliefs

There is one God, the eternal, the only being; God is one with the universe; nothing else exists but God.
There is only one family and one race and each person is entitled to share equitably in the gifts of the creation.
There is one holy book, the sacred manuscript of nature/creation, the only scripture which can enlighten the reader, and it is written in our hearts and minds.
There is one religion, that which fulfills the life purpose of all souls while they live and serve in harmony with every other soul.
There is one law, the law of love, which is manifested through service to all other living beings.
There is one moral principle, the love which springs forth from self-discipline for the sake of others, and blooms in deeds of kindness.
There is one object of praise, the one creation which uplifts the heart of its worshipers.
There is one truth, the true knowledge of our oneness, within and without, which is the essence of all wisdom, and which always seeks to edify.

9. There is only one place of formal worship; wherever you are, and performing acts of service to other living beings, without thought of personal gain.

Our definition of "Church"

When people hear the word “church” they commonly think of a building, set aside for worship services at a particular time of the week. The Full Circle Family Church has a different definition of this term. Since all members of our community comprise the congregation, and the congregation lives, works and worships together, our church is not defined by a physical location but rather by our commitment to demonstrating the efficacy of sharing as outlined in the Bible, Acts 4:32-35. We seek to see the face of Christ in everyone, for we believe we are all children of God; one large human family, regardless of race, creed or religion. Though we draw heavily from the New Testament, and Jesus’ teachings, we also draw from many other faith paths. We believe that God is the Presence, the Life Force and Intelligence that vibrates through everything and everyone. We believe that each of us carries God within us and that life is a journey to become ever more present to this miraculous intelligence that created us. We believe that much of what we humans must do is to un-learn the negative conditioning we have inherited. Our church is meant to provide an environment that supports this kind of spiritual path. We live by the Golden Rule. We show, through our actions, an attitude of love and forgiveness, and celebration of the miracle of life, with gratitude for all of God’s gifts that are so freely given. Ours is a church of demonstration and service. There is no buying or selling amongst members of the church. Each gives “according to ability” and receives “according to need”. The daily actions of growing, storing and preparing food, creating and maintaining our grounds and shelters, keeping vehicles running smoothly, and all the other simple practices of daily living become the ways by which we demonstrate the highest spiritual teachings of love through service and mindful living.

Full Circle Family Church is unlike other churches. We have reduced the emphasis on private ownership of material things that most of us take for granted, and instead hold all things common (with the exception of small, personal items that can be kept in ones room), to be used for the sole purpose of demonstrating the ecologically, financially and spiritually sound principle of ‘sharing’.

Life in our community...

Currently, we are a 'community of two'. We are developing cottage industries and writing manuals and becoming better each day at walking our talk. We welcome donations of land or materials in support of this vision and invite those who feel resonant with this path to join us by moving here and ‘walking the talk’ along with us. What follows is our vision of the community once we have the land-base and other people to come together and share with us in bringing Heaven to Earth:

Imagine yourself arising each morning with the enthusiasm of a child, eyes popping awake, eager to begin your day. You are living in a village of people: adults, elders and children. Each person has a place: a way to contribute that calls forth their gifts and skills. We also share equally in the other tasks that will keep the community thriving: things that may not feel like your “calling” but that keep you grounded in the simple mind-set of “chop wood/carry water” (and take out the garbage!)

Our community is set up around many simple ecologically-sound cottage industries. We make things with our hands, grow things in the garden, offer classes to the surrounding community at-large and create publications and documentaries of our life together so that others may learn and apply our experience towards creating their own communities.

We live in a spirit of joyful service. Each gives ‘according to ability and receives according to need.’ We are always looking for ways to give because we are grounded in the knowledge that whatever we give is given to ourselves. We are set up with “schools of experience.” Each of these areas (cottage industries, gardening, mechanic shop, cooking and grounds maintenance etc) has a person who is the facilitator/point person. We make sure that we have all the materials needed for our “schools” to run efficiently. Those with the skills take leadership roles in mentoring others who have an interest but lack experience. In order to develop a well-rounded understanding of how the puzzle pieces fit together to create the full picture, we are encouraged to circulate amongst the different schools as apprentices. We share in the mindset that all we do is an expression of our creativity and is done in a spirit of service whether it is cleaning, cooking, auto-mechanics or whatever.

Our physical environment is kept safe and orderly and clutter-free. We use environmentally conscious practices to build and maintain our buildings and grounds. An attitude of artistic expression and mindfulness is brought to the creation and maintenance of all structures and the land we steward.

Aside from the core beliefs outlined in Acts 4:32-35 and elsewhere in this document, we do not dictate what members should believe or how to practice their spiritual path. We believe there are many paths to God; many expressions of worship and service. We aim to integrate the four important areas of human needs into a shared lifestyle. These are: family, education, meaningful occupations and spiritual practice.

We share all things in common. This means that each of us has put a full commitment into participating in the community-on a financial, emotional and material level. Ideally, we close all back doors so we have the best chance of working through our petty differences and re-integrating at a higher level, much like in a marriage. Each new member goes through a trial period to determine whether or not they are a good fit with the Full Circle Family Church. Upon becoming a full member, you will be asked to contribute all of your assets to the community. You have the option of “freezing” some of your assets in your own name but during your time as a member you will agree not to access these resources for personal benefit, i.e. vacations, clothing, toys, equipment or anything that would raise your status or standard of living above that of other community members. We, as a community, in turn, take care of all of our basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, health and simple entertainment. We wholeheartedly step into the practice of living according to the Golden Rule and believe that through seeking first the Kingdom of God that “all things shall be added unto us”. We embody the spirit of “all for one and one for all.”

Our lifestyle, dress and way of being are all conducted in a way to reach the broadest possible audience. It is our intention to be an easily duplicated model so that others can emulate our example and live a life of companionship, meaning and service. We aim to address our most basic physical needs while at the same time addressing those less tangible, but just as necessary spiritual/emotional needs. We offer an alternative to ‘business as usual’ but in a way that doesn’t create a dynamic of opposition, competition or ‘counter culture.’

…more about our vision…

It is our intention to co-create a rural village, Heliotrope, as self-sufficient as possible through cottage industries and farming, crafts and other goods and services - that provide for our needs as we serve the greater community. Heliotrope will be our first demonstration model of all of us working together and sharing our resources as in a large, extended family. Ultimately we envision creating more than one location: both rural and urban. Members of the village will express themselves in these various cottage industries or "schools of experience". Each family or individual will have a place to live and privacy for sleeping and will share meals and common spaces communally.

The Full Circle Family Church is founded on the principles outlined in Acts 4:32-35. (see above) We interpret this to mean that Jesus was an advocate of sharing. Sharing greatly reduces consumption of the world’s dwindling natural resources, re-establishes connections that have been lost between people, enhances spiritual well-being and promotes excellent health, both mentally and physically. We believe that competition and greed are the engines that drive over-consumption and lead to global warming, poverty, crime, war, and disease. We also believe that as humans adopt a sharing-based lifestyle that there will be enough for everyone to life peacefully and comfortably. We intend to demonstrate that sharing does not go against human nature and that competition has been programmed into our minds since we were children first starting school. We intend to show how sharing embodies the spiritual practice of Oneness. This Oneness cannot be fully experienced while each us competes for "our little piece of the pie."

Our current scene...July 2009

Currently we are a community of two: Chris Burns and Llyn Peabody. In May of 2009, we moved from a 2-bedroom house where we were paying $750/month rent to an 8’x 40’ trailer with 20-hours/month work-trade that covers our rent. With this drastic reduction in expenses, we are able to devote almost full-time of our efforts to our first communal demonstration project: the Alpine Community Garden – a food-sharing garden that is operated entirely out of donations and volunteered labor and grows food for the local food bank. (see our blog: http://www.alpineGarden.blogspot.com/ ) Our accommodations are too small to include other people but we are very interested in finding others who are resonant with our vision and finding a larger house where we can begin to live together.

We’ve invested all of our personal resources in this project and are ready now to receive a donation of a large piece of land with facilities suitable for our pilot model. We are moving forward with the strong faith that there are people who understand and are excited by what it is we endeavor to do, and wish to co-create a project that speaks to so many of the conflicts that our modern world faces.

We have decided not to apply for non-profit status as we have discovered that churches automatically have the protections and provisions allotted to other 501 (c) (3) corporations. As a church we are able to receive tax-deductible donations including land, housing and the materials we need to build the community. We'd like to find suitable property in this area as the farming is good here and there are many people who are open to alternative lifestyles so it's easier to fit in. We would also be open to moving to other suitable climates after June of 2010 (when Chris’ teenage son graduates from high school in Eugene).

Founder's Bios

A little about us: Chris Burns and Llyn Peabody. We are a married couple and between us have over 15 years of experience living in intentional community. Here is a short bio of what we bring to the table:

Chris lived as an active member in a commune – in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1968 - 1978. This was a pivotal experience for him that planted the seeds to form a commune again now. Through the structure set up by its founder, and the many businesses run by the commune, Chris learned natural foods cooking and baking, type-setting, airbrush painting and many other skills. After almost ten years, Chris left the commune and found work in the “real world” for a few years, had two daughters, bought a piece of land near Mt Shasta and turned it into a thriving organic farm and nursery. After about twenty years there, and the birth of a son, Chris began itching for community again and started working on documents to support the founding of a fully communal (sharing all things in common) group. His idea was to invite others to join the small farm there in Northern California. While in the midst of this process of creating By Laws etc, he discovered a group in California that had been in existence since the late 40’s and that seemed to embody many of the ideals and structures he wanted to create at “Chrysalis” (the name of his fledgling community). This group had 5,000 acres of ranch land and a full complex of private and common dwellings for its residents. Here he became the head farmer for the community and had two and a half acres of gardens, and 7,000 sq/ft of greenhouses under cultivation. He was able to provide 100% of the group’s needs for fresh produce and had a surplus valued at $5,000 annually that was donated to the local food bank. Both communities that Chris was a member of were legal Churches and had filed under ‘common purse’ status – 501(d). After approximately four years, it was time to move on and Chris came to the Eugene area and worked primarily as a handyman until recently. Chris also is an artist. He has been an air brush painter since the days of the Bay Area commune and supported himself painting t-shirts and signs. Recently he’s branched out into doing original paintings, fabric art designs.

Llyn's background is largely in the areas of small-group facilitation, organization/systems design, communication and creativity coaching. She is also highly skilled in conflict resolution and mediation. She is a writer, singer-song-writer and graphic artist. She has worked for many years with young people as a pre-school teacher and camp counselor. She created her own major at Evergreen State College that focused on psychology and theater and how these overlap in the realm of ceremony and rites of passage. She was the Program Manager for the Sustainable Lifestyle Campaign in Portland, OR, a city-wide program that coached people in measurable behavior-change towards living more eco-friendly lifestyles. Her employer, Global Action Plan then moved her to their headquarters in Woodstock, NY where she managed other campaigns around the country and wrote and developed materials geared to sustainable living. She is a co-founder of a group that helps people connect with their creativity and leadership skills called ARTrageous. The website is http://www.artrageouscamp.com She's been part of many alternative schools and other groups that have helped to develop her skills in group process and communication. She has made a living for many years as a personal organizer, helping people clear clutter and create space in their homes and offices which supports them to fulfill life-goals.

We welcome your questions, comments and constructive input. We can be reached at Chris and Llyn: imaginalbuds@gmail.com

We prefer not to live with:

•Weapons

•Alcohol – except for moderate, private use.

•Tobacco

•Domestic pets (Cats and Dogs) We have chosen to make human-relationships, and our impact on the environment the higher priority and are firm in the no-pet policy.

•Unresolved legal matters

•Unsolicited sexual advances

•Control freaks

•Religious or Political fanatics

•Red meat consumption – on the premises.

•Poor hygiene

•Loud and messy people

•Toxic chemicals

Communes: not just for hippies anymore…

Many people, when they hear the term "commune" think of people with poor personal hygiene, living in a state of poverty, in crowded, chaotic conditions. The Full Circle Family offers an alternative to this vision. We aim to create a well-run, aesthetically pleasing community with emotionally mature and healthy people. We will offer our services with honesty and integrity and develop a reputation for high quality. We wish to create a welcoming atmosphere that will encourage main-stream culture to patronize our stores and services, and to join us in this way of living that is lighter on the earth, making it easier for the individual members to achieve a high quality of life. We want people to feel welcome in our village.

Who we're looking for...

Initially we would like to find up to ten other adults, singles, couples and families with children; able-bodied and emotionally mature, to begin living with, or near each-other here in western Oregon. Ideally we will acquire a home large enough for all of us to live comfortably together as one family. The first steps are to begin to work together, to physically build the community, and to meet together to refine the policies, procedures and guidelines to make it smooth and easy to grow our village in size and numbers.

The following are welcome and sought after in our community. People who are:

•Peaceful

•Organized and orderly

•Clean and Sober

•On a committed spiritual path: The form is less important than the intention to see the world through a spiritual lens.

•Team-spirited

•Creative

•People of all ages

•Physically and mentally healthy

•Committed

•Pro-active

•Grounded

•Eco-conscious

•Self-responsible for emotions and responses to circumstances

•Familiar with consensus-decision making, or willing to learn

•Debt-free and in good legal-standing

We are looking for people with the following skills:

•Carpentry/construction

•Organic farming

•On-line marketing/accounting

•Computer graphics/web-design

•Non-profit law

•Documentary skills

•Public relations

•Auto/machine mechanics

•Natural food preparation: Baking, Cooking, Canning etc.

•Organic farming

And others…

If you are one of those people who realizes the depth of commitment we are seeking and the positive impact that this project can have in the world, and are excited by what we propose here, please get in touch. We welcome your questions, comments and constructive input. Chris and Llyn – Full Circle Family Church - imaginalbuds@gmail.com

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Chris' Interview with Susan B. Frank

Hello all,

Recently I was interviewed by Susan B. Frank, a student at Prescott College in Arizona regarding my views and experience with IC's. She's mentoring with Laird Shaub a long time member of the Federation for Egalitarian Communities (FEC) and a networker between communities around the country. The following transcription is based on the questions that she posed to me and my honest responses. Chris

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dc2j9963_17c924cbvk&hl=en

Monday, January 5, 2009

Why communal living makes sense...

In these challenging economic times, with record levels of home foreclosures, and job lay-offs, the communal lifestyle makes good economic sense! Slowly, slowly people in industrialized societies are waking up to the need to live more environmentally conscious lives. Some are doing it by choice and others are being forced due to external circumstances. The way most people live now, alone, or in a “nuclear family”, each household has at least one car, one kitchen (with all its separate appliances), a television, computer, power tools, lawnmower and other tools for home/yard maintenance. Each household is then responsible for its own set of monthly bills: rent or mortgage, phone bill, utility bills etc. Most of us buy our food in little cans, bottles or boxes instead of in bulk, creating huge amounts of waste. Even if it’s recycled, it must be handled and processed, which requires time and energy. And then there is all the time it takes for each household to maintain this lifestyle of separateness: time to shop, prepare and clean-up meals, time to maintain the house and yard and vehicles, time to maintain the tools to maintain these areas of ones life, and the biggest chunk of time of all goes to working a job to pay for all of these needs.

An informal study was once done comparing the financial cost of ten people living separately compared to ten people living under one roof. It was found that, on average, it required five times the money to maintain ten individuals as it did to maintain the ten people sharing communally. This did not even take into account the time each individual spent in separate household chores and “making a living”. Here the difference would likely be much greater.

A group of ten people (this is an arbitrary number—could be more or less), with the commitment to make it work, can create a stable and secure unit with increased opportunity for personal growth, and a richer social life with more leisure time to explore other interests—creative expression, spiritual growth, education in the areas of ones’ passion—the benefits are probably too numerous to mention and are limited only by the imaginations of the people involved.

So why are people so resistant to the idea of communal living? Here are some common reasons, and the answers we offer to these concerns:

1. “Communes are just for “hippies” or the “counter culture”, I wouldn’t feel comfortable living in one.” While it’s true that most of the communes of the 1960’s and 70’s were inhabited by those who were living outside the “establishment”, there are examples historically (many from the 1800’s) and in present times, of communes that had and have the highest standards of living. There is nothing inherent in the model of communal living that requires an impoverished or unhygienic lifestyle; quite the contrary. When a group of people pools their resources and shares a common vision of prosperous, healthy living, their combined talents and energies can provide a lifestyle far above that which each of them would be able to achieve alone. It is a matter of taste, and determined by the vision and commitments of those involved.
2. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing all my stuff.” Just as each commune makes decisions about its aesthetic style, each group also makes choices about how much of what they have is shared communally. At Full Circle Family we are committed to providing private living quarters for each person, couple or family according to their needs. For those of us who have grown up in western culture, a certain amount of privacy is necessary to feel centered and healthy. Also, each family or individual has home-decorations, mementos and personal things that they just don’t wish to share with the larger group. This is fine. Anything that is left in the common space is left with the understanding that it may be used by all. Instead of thinking of this as a loss of control over one’s personal “stuff’ think of it as providing expanded access by each individual to the resources of the whole group.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Developing Projects: Gardening with Children, Young People, and the Young at Heart.

For many years, when Chris had his own farm, “Chrysallis”, at the base of Mt. Shasta, in California, and later when he was the head farmer for “The Church of the Golden Rule”, a community near Willits, California, he established and maintained several projects that brought the mystery and satisfaction of organic gardening to the people who lived in his area. When Chris moved to “Golden Rule”, he and his former wife Sally, created a hands-on, 4-H gardening curriculum and program. Many local children participated in the full circle of planting seeds, harvesting food and saving seeds for the next years' cycle. The photos in this section come from that experience.

Currently, Chris and Llyn live in Alpine, OR and there is promising movement in the direction of turning a portion of the town’s city park into a thriving community garden project. It is our hope that this can provide meaningful activity for the rural town’s young people, an outlet for neighbors to donate unused garden supplies and their own services towards this project, and that the surplus produce can be shared with people who are having difficulty getting enough to eat in these challenging economic times. We envision that this project will reinvigorate our town’s sense of community and that this can be a pilot model for other small towns, schools and churches with vacant lots and unused lawn areas to become hubs for vibrant, meaningful community involvement.

This last photo shows one week's harvest of squash, loaded and ready to go to the local food bank in Willits, California. The corn in the background would be harvested in time for next week's delivery.