The Community’s Rule describes ‘A Way for Living’ to which all Companions in the Northumbria Community make a commitment.

What follows here is the Summary of the Rule, and then a new Introduction to it written by Trevor Miller, one of the Community leaders. An expanded version of the Rule is now available in the ‘How then shall we live?’ series of booklets. By far the best way to ‘unpack’ the Rule is to come on one of the Community Weekends at the Nether Springs (the Community mother-house in beautiful Northumberland); click here for information about the Nether Springs programme.

Summary of the Rule
Introduction by Trevor Miller
Why do we need a Rule?
How do we use a Rule as a Way for Living?
United by our Rule
Conclusion

Summary of the Rule of the Northumbria Community - A Way for Living

This is the Rule we embrace. This is the Rule we will keep: we say YES to AVAILABILITY; we say YES to VULNERABILITY.

We are called to be AVAILABLE to God and to others:

Firstly to be available to God in the cell of our own heart when we can be turned towards Him, and seek His face;
then to be available to others in a call to exercise hospitality, recognising that in welcoming others we honour and welcome the Christ Himself;
then to be available to others through participation in His care and concern for them, by praying and interceding for their situations in the power of the Holy Spirit;
then to be available for participation in mission of various kinds according to the calling and initiatives of the Spirit.

We are called to intentional, deliberate VULNERABILITY:

We embrace the vulnerability of being teachable expressed in:
a discipline of prayer;
in exposure to Scripture;
a willingness to be accountable to others in ordering our ways and our heart in order to effect change.

We embrace the responsibility of taking the heretical imperative:
by speaking out when necessary or asking awkward questions that will often upset the status quo;
by making relationships the priority, and not reputation.

We embrace the challenge to live as church without walls, living openly amongst unbelievers and other believers in a way that the life of God in ours can be seen, challenged or questioned. This will involve us building friendships outside our Christian ghettos or club-mentality, not with ulterior evangelistic motives, but because we genuinely care.

In the developing history of monasticism each community or monastic order has had its own particular areas of strength, calling and emphasis. One may be contemplative; another may have at its heart a calling to serve the poor; another the carrying of the Gospel to people of different languages or culture-groups; another may have its strengths in spiritual direction, education or discipleship. Their Rule will reflect this emphasis and provide a basic ground in the common calling of everyone identified as part of the community. When it became time to formulate our Community Rule we tried to discern what the vows should be which would reflect the character and spirituality of the Community as it had already developed. It was as a result of this reflection that Availability and Vulnerability were to be embraced as the distinctive charisms of our Community.
Andy Raine

The history of the Northumbria Community is one of responding to a call we believe to be from God: a call to risky living, exploring ‘a new monasticism’ and our Rule developed out of this life already being lived. In effect it was a written response to the many people who were asking what was central to our hopes and dreams, and what were the values and emphases that reflected the character and ethos of our way for living. By a process of trial and error we found we were learning to live the questions as well as ask them: How then shall we live? Who is it that you seek? How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? Living these questions, rather than providing pat answers that effectively ended the quest, actually became lifeblood for the Community. We discovered the reality of Rowan Williams’ statement that ‘Christ indeed answers our questions; but he also questions our answers.’

This is really important to understand: our Rule is our response to these questions . It is not an answer, only a response: an exploration of a way for living rooted in liberty rather than legalism or licence.

For us, the life came before the Rule. We were living, hoping and dreaming these things before they were ever written down. So, we must focus not on the Rule, but on the things God has put on our heart. The Rule serves to remind us of these things, serves as a check, and calls us back to see if our dreams are still there. ‘It has more to do with a spiritual vision of community life, with roots continually to be rediscovered, than with a legislation document’ as The Taizé Story says in discussing their own community Rule.
Andy Raine

A Rule then is a means whereby, under God, we take responsibility for the pattern of our spiritual lives. It is a ‘measure’ rather than a ‘law’. The word ‘rule’ has bad connotations for many, implying restrictions, limitations and legalistic attitudes. But a Rule is essentially about freedom. It helps us to stay centred, bringing perspective and clarity to the way of life to which God has called us. The word derives from the Latin ‘regula’ which means ‘rhythm, regularity of pattern, a recognisable standard’ for the conduct of life. Esther De Waal has pointed out that ‘ regula’ ‘is a feminine noun which carried gentle connotations’ rather than the harsh negatives that we often associate with the phrase ‘rules and regulations’ today. We do not want to be legalistic. A Rule is an orderly way of existence but we embrace it as a way of life not as keeping a list of rules. It is a means to an end – and the end is that we might seek God with authenticity and live more effectively for Him.

Being bound to a Rule of life could be very restricting, but it is a voluntary and purposeful restriction. It excludes other possibilities in order to be focused on what is chosen. There are new and demanding priorities, but there is also much joy.
Andy Raine

The word for Rule has a double root-meaning; one is that of a ‘signpost’ which has a purpose of pointing away from itself so as to inform the traveller that they are going in the right direction on their journey. It would be foolish to claim we have arrived if we are only at the signpost! We don’t stop at the Rule and venerate it. The other root-meaning is that of ‘a banister railing’ which is something that gives support as you move forward, climbing or descending on your journey.

Why do we need a Rule?
How do we use a Rule as a Way for Living?
United by our Rule
Conclusion