What Are Intentional Communities?
Intentional communities are groups of people who come together to share a way of life based on common values, beliefs, or practices. Like the original American colonies, intentional communities are formed by like-minded people seeking to live according to their shared principles.
These communities maintain boundaries that preserve their distinct identity while contributing to the American mosaic. Whether religious, cultural, or based on other shared values, intentional communities demonstrate that distinct communities can coexist peacefully while maintaining their boundaries.
Legal Structures for Intentional Communities
Nonprofit Organizations
Many intentional communities structure themselves as nonprofit organizations, which can provide tax benefits and legal protections while maintaining the community's mission and boundaries.
Religious Organizations
Religious intentional communities can structure themselves as religious organizations, which provides additional legal protections and exemptions while maintaining religious autonomy.
Cooperatives
Cooperatives provide legal structures for shared ownership and collective decision-making. They can maintain economic boundaries while operating within legal frameworks.
Trusts and Shared Ownership
Legal trusts and shared ownership arrangements can enable communities to hold property collectively while maintaining clear legal structures that protect the community's boundaries and autonomy.
Key Considerations
Defining Your Mission
Clearly articulate your community's shared values, beliefs, and way of life. This mission statement helps guide decisions, define boundaries, and explain your community's purpose to members and outsiders.
Membership Criteria
Define who can join your community and what membership requires. Clear membership criteria help maintain boundaries and preserve your community's distinct identity while respecting legal protections for freedom of association.
Governance Structures
Establish governance structures that reflect your community's values. Whether consensus-based, hierarchical, or another model, governance should preserve your community's way of life while ensuring effective decision-making.
Property and Resources
Decide how property and resources will be held—individually, collectively, or in trust. This decision affects legal structures, tax implications, and how boundaries are maintained.
Steps to Form an Intentional Community
If you're forming an intentional community, consider these steps:
- Clarify your shared values: Define what brings your group together. What values, beliefs, or practices do you share? This foundation guides all other decisions.
- Develop your mission statement: Create a clear mission statement that articulates your community's purpose, values, and way of life. This helps maintain boundaries and guide decisions.
- Define membership criteria: Establish who can join and what membership requires. Consider how to maintain boundaries while respecting legal protections for freedom of association.
- Create governance structures: Develop decision-making processes that reflect your values. Consider how to make decisions while preserving your community's distinct identity.
- Choose legal structure: Select a legal structure that supports your community's needs—nonprofit, religious organization, cooperative, or trust. Consult with attorneys experienced in intentional communities.
- Plan for property: Decide how property will be held and managed. Consider legal structures, tax implications, and how to maintain boundaries around shared resources.
- Address zoning and land use: Research zoning laws and land use requirements. You may need to seek variances, special use permits, or RLUIPA protections to establish your community.
- Create membership agreements: Develop clear agreements about membership rights, responsibilities, and exit procedures. These help maintain boundaries while protecting members.
- Establish boundaries: Clearly define what practices, technologies, or associations your community excludes. Boundaries are legitimate and essential to maintaining distinct identity.
- Plan for sustainability: Consider how your community will sustain itself economically, maintain membership, and preserve its way of life over time.
Maintaining Boundaries
Intentional communities must actively maintain boundaries to preserve their distinct identity:
- Define excluded practices: Clearly articulate what practices, technologies, or associations your community excludes. This helps maintain boundaries while allowing for peaceful coexistence.
- Establish membership standards: Create standards for membership that preserve your community's values. These standards help maintain boundaries while respecting legal protections.
- Create exit procedures: Define how members can leave and what happens to their property or contributions. Clear exit procedures help maintain boundaries while protecting members.
- Maintain distinct practices: Actively preserve the practices, traditions, and way of life that define your community. Boundaries require ongoing maintenance to remain effective.
- Respect others' boundaries: Just as you maintain your boundaries, respect other communities' boundaries. This demonstrates that boundaries are legitimate and enables peaceful coexistence.
Legal Challenges and Protections
Intentional communities may face legal challenges:
Zoning Restrictions
Zoning laws may restrict group living, shared property, or community facilities. Understanding RLUIPA, Fair Housing Act, and local zoning processes is essential for establishing intentional communities.
Tax Considerations
Shared property and collective arrangements have tax implications. Working with tax professionals experienced in intentional communities helps navigate these complexities while maintaining economic boundaries.
Membership Boundaries
Communities have the right to define membership criteria, but must balance this with legal protections against discrimination. Understanding First Amendment protections for freedom of association is essential.
Regulatory Compliance
Communities must comply with various regulations while maintaining their boundaries. Seeking exemptions for requirements that conflict with values is often necessary and legally protected.
Governance Models
Different governance models suit different communities:
- Consensus-based: Decisions require agreement from all members. This preserves community values but can be slow and challenging for larger communities.
- Democratic: Majority rule with protections for minority views. This enables efficient decision-making while maintaining community participation.
- Hierarchical: Leadership structures with defined authority. This can preserve community values and enable clear decision-making, particularly for religious communities.
- Hybrid models: Combining elements of different models to suit your community's needs. Many communities develop unique governance structures that reflect their values.
The best governance model is one that preserves your community's values, enables effective decision-making, and maintains boundaries while respecting members' rights.
Real-World Examples
Amish Communities
Amish communities are intentional communities based on shared religious beliefs and way of life. They maintain strict boundaries around technology, education, and social interaction while contributing to broader society through agriculture and craftsmanship.
Hutterite Colonies
Hutterite colonies practice complete community of goods and maintain strict boundaries around membership and practices. They've successfully maintained their way of life for generations while operating successful businesses.
Bruderhof Communities
Bruderhof communities maintain strict boundaries around membership and social interaction while practicing complete community of goods. They've preserved their way of life while contributing to broader society.