Our work is built on your support
The Community greatly appreciates and depends on the support, interest, prayers and encouragement it receives from so many people throughout the world - people who have stayed at one of the Centres or visited Iona as pilgrims, holiday-makers or for the day, people whose lives have been touched by the Community through contact with members, through the work of the Wild Goose Resource Group or youth team, people who have discovered our books and music. Our supporters find that the Community speaks to their hearts, their imaginations, their desire for a practical expression of the gospel in daily life, and they wish to be identified with this.
Within our movement, there are different levels of commitment; as a Member, as an Associate Member (including Youth Associates); as a Staff Member; as a Friend; as a Volunteer; as an Intercessor in the Iona Prayer Circle.
As a Member
Members are committed to following the fivefold Rule of the Iona Community. Before becoming a Member, a degree of existing commitment to the Community would be expected, as an Associate for two years or as a Staff Member, followed by two years on a New Members Programme. Those interested in full membership should get in touch with the Leader of the Community.
As an Associate Member
Because you are in agreement with the work and purposes of the Iona Community, you commit yourself to participate in the life of the Community in several ways:
- you undertake to keep the same prayer and Bible study discipline as members of the Community;
- you make an annual donation to the work of the Community and have the opportunity each year to renew your pledge on St. Columba's Day, June 9th;
- you have the option of keeping an economic discipline and contributing (based on giving 2% of disposable income) to a common fund to support agreed projects;
- you have the opportunity to meet regularly with other Associates through regional Associates groups, and in some cases (arranged through the Leader of the Community, and where a commitment can be given to attending at least 75% of the meetings) to take part in Members' Family Groups;
- you receive each year a copy of the Associates prayer list and the Community's prayer lectionary, as well as a copy of the Community's Annual Report, the Iona/Camas Programme, the Wild Goose Publications catalogue and, every two months, a copy of Coracle.
Associates are encouraged to visit Iona regularly; and their particular interests and concerns within the life of the Community are promoted through the Associates Advisory Group, comprising representatives from each area and reporting regularly to the Community's Council. If you would like more information, please contact Lynn Harper Baldwin, our Membership Secretary, or download the Enrolment Form.
As a Youth Associate
Some 40 Young people between 18 and 30 from the UK and Europe and who have all shared the 'Iona Experience' undertake to commit to the Iona Community on an annual basis.The Associates Common Ideals are:
- To challenge and contribute to the life of the Iona Community
- To support each other Share common values of Justice & Peace, Time, Spiritual growth and the exploration of faith
- To encourage other groups of people to join the Youth Associates
- To meet regularly as Youth Associates
- To act in our own areas with the support of other Youth Associates
For an annual fee there are numerous opportunities open to you. You will:
- Receive regular copies of the Iona Community magazine 'The Coracle'
- Receive the Youth Associates booklet.
- Contribute to and receive the annual Youth Associates magazine 'Juicy Bits'
- Have the opportunity to be involved in leading Youth Events in your area/country.
- Meet annually to share stories with other Associates, spend time together and discuss pertinent issues.
- Become involved in your local Members' Family Group.
- Become involved in the wider work of the Iona Community
- Have regular contact with other Youth Associates
If you would like more information, please contact Lynn Harper Baldwin, our Membership Secretary, or download the Enrolment Form.
As a Friend
Friends contribute to the work and concerns of the Community by making an annual donation without committing themselves to keeping any of the Community's Rules. They are kept in touch with the life of the Community by receiving the Community's Annual Report; the Iona/Camas Programme and Wild Goose Publications Catalogue, together with the bi-monthly magazine, Coracle.
As a Staff Member
Staff Members are people who come to join the Resident Groups on Iona or at Camas for 1-3 years. There are always a variety of posts available each winter, in the hospitality, administration or programme teams. As well as their own jobs, staff members share a common life, offering a welcome to guests and day visitors, maintaining the daily worship and leading social and community events. Find out more. >
As a Volunteer
Every year we welcome up to 130 voluntary staff of all ages and many different backgrounds. Their tasks are many and varied, including cooking, housekeeping, working with children, and driving the van. What the staff share is a willingness to join in the common life of hospitality, work, worship and recreation in our residential centres. Find out more about our Volunteer Programme. Find out more. >
As a Prayer Circle Intercessor
Another expression of the Community’s commitment to justice, healing and reconciliation is found in the work of the Iona Prayer Circle, a worldwide network which prays for people, places and situations in distress or crisis. A group of intercessors commit themselves to praying weekly for those for whom prayer has been sought, whose names and situations are group in a number of lists, regularly updated. The Prayer Circle is particularly linked to the service of prayers for healing held each Tuesday in the Abbey, and many intercessors use its 9pm time for their weekly prayer. The Prayer Circle is coordinated by Polly Burns, a member of the Community. If you are interested in becoming an Intercessor, please contact Polly.
Thank you
The members of the Community are most grateful for the continuing support and goodwill of so many people world-wide. It is through the mutual challenge and encouragement, which are part of our belonging together, that we are enabled to keep our vision and commitment alive and enhance our work and our understanding in sharing insights from a wide range of different perspectives, backgrounds and traditions.
Your Will be done
For the Iona Community, legacies are an enormous source of encouragement and help. Not only do they help finance the many aspects of the Community's work, they also help to provide the opportunity for others to share in the vision that the Community represents to so many. A legacy is a gift to the future, an investment allowing us to plan effectively and develop new areas of service. In conjunction with the WillSite we can offer an specialist on-line will making service which aims to answers all your legacy questions and prepare the necessary documentation. Or contact the Iona Community's office in Glasgow for further information.
The Iona Community New World Foundation - U.S.A.
The Iona Community New World Foundation was established in the United States about 25 years ago as a 501(C)3 foundation to be a conduit for funds for the Community. Gifts made to the Foundation are tax deductible and directed to our American office. Gifts sent directly to Scotland are not tax deductible and if they are sent in dollars, the Community must pay a fee to cash the check, and if they are sent in pounds the donor must pay a large fee.
If you are interested in becoming an Associate or Friend of the Iona Community, please click on the web-site link below to download an enrollment form for the category you wish. Alternatively, you can send an email to icnwf@mindspring.com stating your name and address and you will be sent, by snail mail, a brochure and enrolment form. On receipt of the completed form and check, the Treasurer will inform the Memebrship Secretary in Glasgow who will send you the Coracle, and, if you have enrolled as an Associate, you will also receive the Members and Associates Books which serve as your guide to daily prayer.
The President of the Board of Directors of the Foundation is the Rev. William G. Edwards of Asheville, N.C. The Treasurer is the Rev. Mason Wilson, and the Secretary is the Rev. Cecil Jividen. Other members of the Board are the Rev. Ronald Botsford, the Rev. John Dillon and Ellsworth Stanton III.
The address for the Foundation is:
The Iona Community New World Foundation
Care of the Rev. Mason Wilson
105 Stuyvesant Road
Asheville, NC 28803-3115
Telephone: 828/274-9665 FAX: 828/277-1947
Email: icnwf@mindspring.com Website: www.iona-nwf.org
