The Moravian Church

of Downey

OUR MISSION: "Sharing the love of Christ"   

in non-essentials, liberty;

in all things, love.

the GAPS community

What’s the premise?

   The North American Moravian Church no longer resembles the Moravian “glory days” of the 1950s, 1750s, & 1450s. The Moravian Church in North America (as an institution) has been in decline for decades. People who find God in the natural world, in silent meditation, in mystery, and in artistic expression seem to have been—for the most part—pushed to the periphery of the institutional church, if not pushed out entirely. Many Moravian and other mainline Protestant congregations now find themselves with a people-deficiency—there’s almost an entire age demographic missing from congregational involvement: 12-50 year-olds.

   Downey, CA also no longer resembles its "glory days" of the 1950s. The Downey area was once made up of citrus orchards and dairy farms, and had a predominantly Caucasian population, consisting primarily of families comprised of male breadwinners, stay-at-home moms, and 2.5 children. Over the past 50 years, development has taken over much of the natural land and brought in an influx of businesses, restaurants and concrete. While much of this development has been a boon to the area, it has rendered Downey residents with little green space and a lack of cultural, creative, and community-fostering hubs.

   If we take an honest look at the neighborhood in which the Moravian Church of Downey building rests, we will recognize that the congregation does not reflect the make-up of our most immediate neighbors, many of whom are: Mexican-American, Roman Catholic, families with young children, addicts, etc. How do these neighbors perceive the Moravian Church of Downey? Perhaps they perceive the church (in general) as unsafe, unwelcoming of diversity, and quick to label people as inacceptable.

    And how do our neighbors see our church building?

        Is it closed or open? (It is often locked throughout the week.)

        Is it inviting and safe or unattractive and unsafe? (It isn’t well lit at night. The paint is chipping off many areas of the building.)

        Is it a house which reflects the pride of the family living there (God's people) or something less?

   It's time to do what Moravians have done best throughout history: re-imagine ourselves and our sense of mission in the world, lest we become completely irrelevant to those around us.

   Let's allow ourselves to experiment with different approaches to being church in the world: to give ourselves permission to worship God in varied ways, to serve our neighbors creatively and resourcefully, and to intimately connect with diverse populations.

What’s the vision?

The mission of the GAPS community is love: of God, of others, of earth, and of ourselves, recognizing that all sin stems from a lack of love. The GAPS community seeks to live and breathe love, “in all things.”

What’s the inspiration?

•The model of the early Christ-ian church of the book of Acts 4: 32-35à

“…no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” [See Acts 2:42-47, too.]

•Jesus of Nazareth, who found community wherever he was, pointing to his disciples and saying: “Here are my mother and my brothers,” and who taught all to love their neighbors as themselves. Jesus modeled God’s dream of community for creation.

•other intentional communities, such as:

 -the intentional Moravian community of Kunvald, Bohemia (1450s-60s);

 -the intentional Moravian community of Herrnhut, Germany (1720s-30s);

 -the intentional Moravian community of Bethlehem, PA (1740s-50s);

 -The Potter Street Community of Philadelphia, PA (formerly, The Simple Way)

 -Church of the Sojourners in San Francisco, CA, and many others…

Who are the GAPS folks?

    Those who comprise the GAPS community are people of Christ-ian faith who seek to live simply (buy/waste as little as possible and rescue/conserve/handmake as much as possible in daily life). They're required to have a background check and submit an application/résumé for consideration by the Joint Board of the Moravian Church of Downey before becoming a resident. Residents pay $25/week for staple items (food/TP/etc.). They’re encouraged to have part-time work in the Downey area, as a source of income and a great way to connect with people.

    There are loosely shared domestic tasks for all house dwellers (vacuuming, cooking, dishes, shopping, laundry, etc.), with a rotating list for meal prep and chores—as a means of accountability. There’s a written covenant of house duties and relational and residential “shoulds” for folks to sign when they come to reside in the community. This covenant is revisited in extreme conflict situations, when low level conversation doesn’t suffice. This written covenant includes excerpts and adaptations from The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living.  

Are the GAPS folks all Moravian in background?

    Not necessarily—ecumenism is encouraged within the GAPS community, with the emphasis being on the fact that we all strive to be Christ-ians (Christ-ones). Diversity of Christian faith traditions is celebrated and is an important means for us as an intentional community and congregation to connect more intentionally with people and local congregations outside of the Moravian bubble.  We seek to unite with other congregations in furthering the Kin(g)dom of God and manifesting the love and service of Jesus. However, GAPS folks participate regularly in Moravian Church of Downey congregational life, including: worship, fellowship, and hardship.

Gardener’s role:

•Take charge of all plot and raised-bed gardening and composting, and share gardening with others experience through hands-on presentation/publications

•Have a general green thumb (know how to make food/trees/plants grow well around the GAPS house, church grounds and neighborhood)

•Research use of the church auxiliary parking lot as a raised-bed gardening site, collaborating with other gardeners for ideas/tools/seeds/labor

•Draft a City land-use proposal for the lot in the alley between the parsonage & our neighbor Phil’s house for a community organic garden/composting site

•Coordinate delivery of surplus produce to local agencies in need of fresh, organic food (La Casita, Rio Hondo Temporary Home, neighbors...)

•Coordinate the preparation of meals for local hungry individuals/families with produce from our garden(s)

•Envision the eventual implementation of an after school program in which congregational and local gardeners teach children

Artist’s role:

•Take charge of all GAPS community and some congregational creative advertising (signs/posters/letters/sculptures)

•Reuse/reclaim discarded “junk” to create functional and/or decorative art for the congregation and local community

•Sponsor art classes/experiences for people of all ages from the congregation and local community

•Collaborate with the worship leaders about incorporating artistic endeavors into the worship experiences/space

•Seek out and lead local art expeditions (to galleries/theatres/etc.) for the congregation and local community

•Create unique cards for members and friends of the congregation and neighbors who are sick, homebound, or celebrating

• Live daily as the community artist, seeing the world a bit differently than others, and inspiring others to do the same

• Envision the eventual implementation of an after school program in which congregational and local artists teach children

Psalmist’s role:

•Take charge of putting together and hosting monthly open mic nights in Hove Hall

•Actively collaborate with the paid church musicians and choir on worship music opportunities

•Prepare and lead song/liturgy/poetry writing and hymn re-imagination workshops

•Bring together congregational and local musicians for song collaboration and song recording projects

•Share uplifting/therapeutic songs with people who are homebound or in nursing care facilities

•Seek out and invite musicians/poets to share their gifts at gatherings of the congregation and local community

•Live daily as the community poet/musician

• Envision the eventual implementation of an after school program in which congregational and local musicians/poets teach children

Shopkeeper’s role:

•Take charge of collecting/sorting/displaying gently used attire for the clothing ministry section of the community shop

•Connect with congregational & local artisans who are willing to sell their wares in the shop (artisans keep 60%, shop gets 40% commission)

•Alert customers of prices (for example: all clothing is free or for donation, artisans’ wares = always for sale as marked)

•Submit a monthly financial report to the Board of Trustees of all GAPS community income and expenses

•Manage the sales/bookkeeping/merchandise on a regular basis during shop hours [Jan., April, July, Sept. for 10 TBD consecutive days]

•Draft quarterly City Planning proposals for the shop permit as needed (must be submitted 30 days before the shop opens each quarter)

•Promote part-time job creation in the congregation and local community (clothing sorters/washers/menders/etc.)

•Take charge of the annual “Really Free Jubilee Market” (all items are entirely freeà a way to purge/restock the shop)

Do homeless people sleep in the parsonage?

  No. The parsonage does NOT function as a homeless shelter for folks who are temporarily or chronically homeless. Neither does it function as a rehab center for folks who are temporarily or chronically addicted to mind-altering, body-harming substances. There are times when friends visit the house who happen to be without a home, or happen to be recovering addicts. BUT, if it’s okay with all the residents in the house, then it’s the house members’ prerogative (and ministry) to visit/dine with such friends. [The Pharisees and scribes often grumbled and said of Jesus: “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”]

What are the roles of Pastor Christie and her spouse David Melby-Gibbons?

   Pastor Christie and David do not serve in any of the GAPS roles. While they possess interests in all 4 realms (gardening, art, psalmnody, and shopkeeping) they aren’t “in residence” in those areas. Rather, they function as “house parents,” sharing household duties, coordinating rotating household chores lists, initiating house meetings and devotions, serving as liaisons between the congregation and the GAPS community as needed, and mediating house conflict as appropriate. Christie still functions as the full-time pastor of the Moravian Church of Downey and all that entails: worship preparation, pastoral care, office hours, clergy gatherings, preaching in ways that horrify the comfortable and comfort those who are horrified, etc.

The beginnings of the house covenant:

Part of the covenant is for each resident to cultivate the following habits:

•When it’s yellow (just urine and TP), let it (the toilet water) mellow, when it’s brown (or anything else), flush it down.

•Catch as much “grey” water as possible below faucets (when cleaning hands/dishes/teeth & showering), to use for flushing & watering plants.

•Turn off lights/stereos/computers, and unplug small appliances when not in use.

•Take full showers/baths less frequently (not daily) and, when showering, wet down, turn water off, soap up, rinse off.

•Rewear clothing a few times before washing.

•Hang clothes to dry instead of putting everything in the drier.

•Use AC/fan/heat only briefly (if at all) during daytime hours.

How is the GAPS community income handled?

    The GAPS intentional community is a ministry of the Moravian Church of Downey, and not its own 501(c)3, so as to avoid more beaurocracy and regulations. The GAPS community is under the umbrella of the congregation and has an established congregational fund, as all other ministries of the congregation do. An account for the GAPS community has been set up by the Moravian Church of Downey treasurer, which holds all income (from gardening, artistic, musical, and shop income). 10% of all GAPS Community income is considered a tithe to the Moravian Church of Downey and goes directly into the congregation’s general operating fund. 45% of the GAPS Community income is accessible only to those living in the intentional community house, as a general well-being fund (for food, medical, and fun). The other 45% of all GAPS Community income is set aside into a special discretionary fund which can ONLY be spent on outwardly-focused endeavors (not the GAPS community or congregation). The Shopkeeper submits a monthly financial report to the Board of Trustees.

The skinny on...

Alcohol/Drugs: The house is alcohol-free out of respect for our friends who struggle with alcoholism. No illegal substances are allowed in the house under ANY circumstance.

Creativity: GAPS Community life centers on the creative and performing arts, which have great power to interrupt cycles of poverty and free people (ourselves included) who are impoverished emotionally and/or spiritually.

Flexibility: Residents must be willing to adapt and sacrifice when there are unusual needs requiring special meetings, discussions, or bonding.

House dinner meetings: Bi-weekly, scheduled dinners (for residents and their significant others only) to check-in with one another and to officially connect regarding planning, information sharing, dates, ideas, evaluation, struggles, etc. (House members are encouraged to share meals together outside of this scheduled time, too.)

Justice: We seek in our daily endeavors to be bringers of justice at individual, nationwide, and global levels, striving to undo the structures which exacerbate oppression and poverty. We’re guided by the motto: “In all things, love.”

Money: It’s generally our policy to NOT give out money to those who ask for it. Instead, we give food, our time, and our help.

Open Table: Weekly dinners (Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.) including residents, guests, and strangers—for the purpose of building relationship.

Pets: The ONLY pets allowed in the house are aquarium-contained aquatic pets, which the pet owner MUST tend to on his/her own. [Leave your dogs, cats, birds, horses, lions, and bears with relatives.]

Sabbath: Naturally, times of rest and/or reflection and/or playing will occur sporadically throughout the week as individuals, as a house, and with the congregation. One day is also set aside as a Sabbath—typically Friday—during which the community and routine activities rest.

Simplicity: Residents strive to live on a daily basis, doing their utmost to pare down physical possessions and activities to only “the essentials”. We strive to be “low-maintenance” in all that we do.

Sleeping arrangements: There are 4 private rooms for the GAPS folks to sleep in here in the parsonage, in addition to the master bedroom (where the Melby-Gibbons’ sleep). This gives each celibate single person or monogamous couple ample private space to call their own. The parsonage common spaces (living room, dining room, kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room) are also adequate for daily community activity/storage. There is a hide-a-bed in the living room for overnight guests.

Spirituality: The community residents share a common desire for spirituality, commonly manifested in prayer, worship, sacraments, work, and play. The Bible is a source of inspiration in faith and life for those who reside in the GAPS community. House prayer is strongly encouraged each morning before the day begins.

Stewardship: We try to exist with a mindset of “enough,” understanding that those with too much can meet the needs of those with too little. We believe that the Kin(g)dom of God exists without poverty and oppression, and we seek to make that kin(g)dom a reality. The GAPS model of intentional community invites individuals who participate (at any level) to identify their unique gifts and talents and then—as good stewards of those gifts—take responsibility to use those gifts and talents to better the local communities in which we find ourselves.

Television: There isn’t one in the house. This allows for more time for creativity, intimacy, and acknowledgment of our need for reconciliation within ourselves and between one another—without the intrusion of television personalities. [It also gives us an excuse to go to our neighbors’ houses to watch occasional shows and movies. J]

Visitors & Residents: House members do not allow themselves to be alone with visitors to the house. As relationships develop, community members' discernment is respected, but aloneness with a visitor inside the house is strongly discouraged. Being alone with visiting children should NEVER happen. If being alone with a visitor in the house is necessary, house members must check in and out with another community member. Daytime visitors to the house are welcome. Preferably, visitors will let us know they’re coming before they arrive. All overnight visits are decided as a community. House members’ overnight guests (friends/family) are welcome to stay as long as they sleep in the house members’ room or on an obliging couch. If individuals want to become house residents, this is to be discussed after their visit to the house. They must be willing to commit to the vision, commitments, and covenant of the GAPS community. All residents commit to balancing time with people inside the intentional community/congregation and building relationships outside of the house/congregation.

Weapons: No implements of death are allowed in the house under any circumstance. Non-violence is an absolute in the GAPS community.

intrigued? if you're interested in learning more, contact Christie at inallthingslove@downeymoravian.org.