Wellspring Monastery

Vision
Christian Universalist women will live out the “Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven” by living in community and in alignment with God’s natural laws. We will demonstrate how to do this and teach others to do the same. A Garden of Eden-like existence is possible.
Mission
To find women who align with the vision of the monastery, and develop a core group of people who can then design the village surrounding the monastery so all kind of people can participate on different levels.
I have wanted to live in a community or found a community ever since I first heard the word “intentional community” in 1976 and when my former husband (present friend and neighbor) Cliff, purchased the first Communities Directory.

Values
I am going to revise these values because I really like the values that are described in this video. I am happy to say that I am in fellowship with Gerry and others. I feel so much love and acceptance from this group!

Spirituality: We support each other in practicing spiritual disciplines which help us to be more like Jesus. We follow the principles of Christian Universalism as described here.
Patriotism: We know we could not exist without the framework of our government, and we do our best to contribute to help our elected officials to implement the original vision of the founding fathers.
Honesty and Trust
We act with openness and honesty because of the trust we have in each other. We have the courage and trust to speak up when we see contradictions or inconsistencies between our behavior and our stated values and goals.
Cooperation
Through generosity, sharing, and compassion, we live cooperatively with one another. We find ways to figure out the balance between what is best for the individual and best for the collective. Sometimes we make sacrifices for the greater good, yet we make sure that no one takes advantage of those people who have the gift of mercy.
Interconnectedness
We recognize our interdependence with all life. To all that came before us, we offer our respect and remembrance. To all with whom we share this world, we seek mutual understanding and respect. And to all who will come after us, we strive to leave for you a better world. We aspire to create the original Garden of Eden where all lived in harmony.
Commitment
Though we know that the path may be rough at times, we are committed to our vision for the long haul. Some of us choose to make a lifetime commitment at some point.
Participation
Knowing that our community is fueled by the energy we give it, we all actively participate in community life and work at Wellspring Monastery. We strive to make sure that everyone is using their talents to the best of their ability, and are finding joy in their work. Yet because some work might be less than joyful for everyone, we also share in this less-than-desirable work also. When people join, they know how many hours of work, how much group participation in spiritual practices, and other hours of community involvement so expectations are clear from the beginning.
Mutual Support
Our structures support the building of friendship and a feeling of family among our members so that all feel a sense of secure belonging. Even though some of us might find it easier to relate to certain people, we do our best to learn to love all as Christ has loved us. Each of us is willing to work on our own spiritual and emotional growth so that we can improve all of our relationships.
Respect
We work hard to see the good in each other and express appreciation as ways of showing respect. We aspire to use good manners and tones in our voices that express honor. We have communal times of sharing our appreciation for each other so that we can build each other up and encourage one another.Stewardship
We live gently on the Earth. We are thankful for nature’s resources being conscious to take good care of them and use them efficiently. We live simply, and continually strive to need less and less.
Safety
Although we are never totally safe, we will aim to make our community is a safe place — emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We will at some point have guns to protect us, and will not object if someone does want to protect us using lethal force if necessary. At the same time, we want to use spiritual warfare in order to create a shield around our monastery. We have accountability practices in place so that things such as sexual misconduct will not happen.Balance
We maintain balance in our community life: between group and individual; between building for tomorrow and enjoyment of today; solitude and shared experiences, have clear boundaries and structures yet which can be reviewed, revised, and improved. We have a clear schedules and structures, yet we are flexible to temporarity change the schedules and structures when it is clear that it is necessary to do so.Responsibility
Each of us takes responsibility for our actions. We do our best to live according to the rules and agreements we accepted, and accept the consequences when we fall short. Everyone has accountability partners, so that integrity is not compromised.
Education
We seek the exchange of knowledge, skills, and resources with each other and the larger community. We are always reflecting upon our practices and learning from our mistakes. We celebrate our accomplishments and revise our plans when we see ways to improve. We teach others what we know and are learning via workshops, internships, and various media (Youtube, Facebook, Zoom, Podcasts, etc)

Lead by the Spirit
Creating our monastic community is an ongoing process. We remain open to change as we are guided by Holy Spirit, and flexible to change. We are always trying to create a better community based on what we learn each day. We have stable basic values that will never change, yet the way we go about living out the values can be refined.

Free Enterprise: We value creating businesses that will help pay the expenses of people who live in the monastery and where people can utilize their talents to the maximum. Our business endeavors will always be in alignment with our values. The community owns the businesses and use the profits to provide all that is needed for people living in the community, including, eventually, healthcare. We will govern the business using methods that empower everyone so that we are all listening to God’s guidance and making the best decisions possible. People will have stewardship over certain areas so that there is an balance between autonomy and cooperation.

If you would like to know my personal values, and get to know me better, you can find that on the blog.

I have lived in, visited, and researched communities and their best practices for the past 44 years, At age 65, I believe I know myself and the values I want to share with fellow residents. I have been very fortunate in the last 3 years to have funding to build a common house which is close to being finished. The land is paid for and I want to put it into a legal structure so that the community owns the land.