Organization
Overview
While Imago Christi is formally a ministry team within Church Resource Ministries (CRM), its foundational organization and functional nature is relational and organic rather than task driven. The lifestyle of the team is that of a covenant community, like an order whose life together is the force out of which ministry emerges. Core members of Imago Christi are staff members of CRM, located in various countries around the world. We minister together in various events, retreats, and seminars and we minister separately in our specific locations. In several of our locations, new affiliate spiritual formation communities have arisen.
Internal Structure
There are two convictions that guide the formation and structure of Imago Christi organization:
Spiritual formation occurs most powerfully in the midst of committed community relationships centered on God. We therefore need a "core covenant" dimension of the team and of its leadership.
For spiritual formation development to be of use to the Church in our global society, it is best approached cross-culturally and internationally. Therefore a "missional" dimension of involvement allows for a wider participation in the community. Our Core Community is connected through our common role in CRM staff in Imago Christi, and our Missional Members, spiritual formation professionals, meet and work with our community on a more informal basis.
Leadership Triad
Leadership of Imago Christi is provided through a "leadership triad" which includes the CRM Team Leader and two other members of the Imago Christi Core Community. This triad works together to provide organization and leadership for the Imago Christi ministry and facilitate the leadership process within the Core Community. The Team Leader maintains the accountability link within the CRM organization.
Core Covenant Members
This covenant community (made up of CRM Staff) participates based upon a specific covenant, similar to a rule, and functions much like an "order" in the historical sense, except that we are male and female, married and single, and live in various cities around the world. Leadership and direction for Imago Christi comes from within this group. The covenant includes the following foci: (See the Covenant of Imago Christi.) A Foundational Calling
A Lifestyle of Personal Spiritual Formation
Accountability within the Community
A Ministry of Spiritual Formation
Novitiate Members
As God calls people to become part of the Imago Christi Core Community, sharing in its Rule of Life and ministry, they enter a year of practice and discernment, called a Novitiate. During this time they participate fully in the Core Imago Christi Community, but only pledge themselves to a covenant relationship at the end of the Novitiate period.
Missional Members
This expanded group includes other CRM staff and other Christian leaders, whose passion and ministry direction coincide with Imago Christi's vision, values, and/or covenant, but who's calling and commitments do not allow full participation or involvement in the Core Covenant Community. Missional members may become core members as the Lord leads, and by establishing some affiliation with CRM. Missional members may also follow the Imago Christi Rule if they choose, but will not be held accountable within Imago Christi.