Following the pattern of the earliest Christians, full-time Family members have successfully maintained a cooperative lifestyle since the founding of the Family in 1968, sharing material possessions, resources, and responsibilities. This economical and communal way of life enhances our efforts and plays an important part in the furtherance of our work.

Family communities are self-governing, self-supporting, and financially independent. Members are responsible to secure the financial support necessary for their community as well as their particular mission and social welfare projects.

Each Family community functions independently; democratically elects its leadership; and determines its goals, direction, and activities by the vote of its members, as well as how to invest their resources and personnel to best accomplish their chosen objectives.

In 1995 the Family adopted a governing charter, which codified the beliefs, rights, and responsibilities of full-time Family members. Family members are responsible to decide what they believe is God's will for them personally within the parameters of the Charter. Members may form new communities or reside in the community and country of their choice, providing the receiving community agrees to accept them.