Canons: Jurisdictions

Christ Enthroned; Book of Kells. Christ is present and embodied in the Jurisdictions of the Church, which are the members of His Body.

Six ecclesial jurisdictions give expression to our charism:

• The Alliance
• Communities
• Fellowships
• Abbeys
• Societies
• Chapters

These jurisdictions relate to one another as follows:

• The Alliance is composed of Communities and Societies.
• A Community is composed of Fellowships united around an Abbey.
• Societies are composed of Chapters membered to Fellowships.

The Alliance

• The Alliance is the global expression of Basileia and a member of Communio Christiana.
• The Alliance is comprised of member Basileia Communities and Vocational Societies.
• The Alliance was founded on December 29, 2004 upon the episcopal authority of Bishops of the Church.

Communities

• A Community is an Ecclesial City expression of Basileia and a member of the Alliance.
• A Community is comprised of member Fellowships united around an Abbey.
• An Abbey founds a Community.

Fellowships

• A Fellowship is a familial expression of Basileia and a member of a Community.
• A Fellowship is comprised of Communicant Members, Governing Members and Chapters.
• A Presbyter founds a Fellowship after approval from his respective Community Presbyter Council. 

Abbeys

• An Abbey is a mustard seed expression of Basileia and the founding apostolic team of a Community.
• An Abbey, like any Fellowship, is comprised of Communicant Members, Governing Members and member Chapters.
• An Abbey is a unique Fellowship in that it is also the seat of a Community’s Abbot and the host of the Community’s Presbyter Council, Deacon Council and Missional Council.
• An Abbot founds an Abbey after approval from the Alliance Presbyter Council. 

Societies

• A Society is a vocational expression of Basileia and a member of the Alliance.
• A Society is comprised of member Chapters.
• An Abbot founds a Society after approval from the Alliance Presbyter Council.  

Chapters

• A Chapter is a vocational expression of Basileia and a member of both an Abbey or Fellowship and its respective Society.
• A Chapter is comprised of Communicant Members and Governing Members.
• A Presbyter founds a Chapter after approval from his respective Abbey Presbyter Council or Fellowship Presbyter Council and then in turn registers the new Chapter with the respective Society Presbyter Council.