SHARING NEIGHBORS TO PLOW CREEK FELLOWSHIP
                       Renewed Sept. 2006
                               
Dear Friends,

In 1980, the Fellowship adopted Sharing Neighbor as a step in the
process of people becoming members of the Fellowship. It followed after a
number of months of being Intentional Neighbors: a time of getting settled into the
area, finding work, building relationships with the folks already here. Intentional
Neighbors met regularly with a few mentors, but did not attend Fellowship
meetings.

Sharing Neighbor was offered to people who were seriously interested in
becoming Fellowship members, and was to be a six to 12-month span of time.
During this time, folks began attending Fellowship meetings regularly, along with
sharing groups, which were then a feature of Fellowship life only. Sharing
neighbors worked to bring their food and personal spending in line with the
Fellowship allowance system, using this time to test how that worked for them.
Medical, transportation and housing expenses were not included in this. The
Sharing Neighbor period was again a time of building further trust. It was seen as
a time of active discernment and seeking the Lord if membership in the Fellowship
was His way for them.

There have been no Sharing Neighbors here since Grahams and Michele were
sharing neighbors in 1998-1999.  This “path” into Fellowship membership has
become so overgrown that folks haven’t known how to find it. So we are clearing
the path. The framework for Sharing Neighbor would be the same as before in
terms of personal finances and attendance at Fellowship meetings. Participation in
decision making as we build agenda and discuss issues is encouraged by all.
Formal affirmation of an item by the high five method is reserved for committed
members.

  Summary of Sharing neighbor status:
     1.    For people who sense a call to be a PCF member and want a final period of
     testing
     2.    Attend PCF members’ meetings for 6 to 12 months (length of time may be
     negotiated)
     3.    Finances continue to be separate but sharing neighbors live on same food
     and personal allowances as members
     4.    Participate in PCF members meeting decision making according to the
     Power to the People guidelines.

Originally, Fellowship membership was seen as a life time commitment. We
learned long ago that is not realistic and was damaging to relationships with folks
who felt the need to leave here. But while we do not see this as a life time
commitment, it is a serious commitment and needs good discernment. It is not easy
to grow and maintain trust in a common purse setting. It is not easy to keep
relationships clear so that consensus decision making can work in a good way. It is
also a wonderful way for the Lord to work in our lives and keep us growing in
Him and with each other.