The Family International has an administrative structure both on a worldwide and a regional level, which is dedicated to providing direction and services to our membership worldwide.
World Services, the administrative body of the Family International, is overseen by Karen Zerby and Steve Kelly (known in the Family as Maria David and Peter Amsterdam), who are the co-spiritual leaders and administrative overseers of the Family International.
On a global scale, World Services acts as both the administrative and publications arm of the Family International. It provides a number of services to Family missionaries, such as the publication of general direction and counsel to members worldwide; disbursement of Family tithes to subsidize services overseen by World Services and aid to mission centers operating in developing countries or under emergency conditions; the production of motivational materials for the public; and the sponsorship of a wide variety of programs to assist communities in their outreach, home life, and the care of their children.
Regional Structure
The spheres of the Family International's activities and community affairs are divided among six boards, which are representative of the Family's missionary service and the education and care of our children. Boards operate at the national, regional (representing a group of countries and/or a continent), and international levels. This structure provides a broad base of management and oversight of key aspects of the Family, within the areas of focus of the six boards:
- Children and Parenting
- Education
- Youth
- Church Growth and Outreach
- Communication and Community Relations
- Coaching and Shepherding
The chairpersons of each of the six regional boards form a regional council, whose mandate is to coordinate and evaluate the direction and progress of the work of the Family International in their region. Each regional council is in turn overseen by regional shepherds (themselves members of the regional council), who are ultimately responsible for the oversight and administrative affairs of their region.
Governance of Family communities
In 1995 the Family adopted a governing charter, which codified the beliefs, rights, and responsibilities of full-time Family member communities, known as "Homes." Along with our Statement of Faith, the Family's Charter outlines the most important principles, goals and beliefs of our movement, and codifies our methods of government.
The Charter provides a democratic framework for the governance of Family communities. The Home council, consisting of all members 16 and over, is the governing body of each Home. The Home council elects a steering council, whose responsibility is to carry out the collective decisions of the Home council, and to provide day-to-day management and pastoring.
Communities operate according to their collective decisions, within the general parameters of the Charter. Each community establishes their mission and goals, within the framework of the Family International's purpose, as expressed in our Mission Statement.