Something about 21st century life has us longing for a new, yet ancient way of sharing life together. We have been part of creating communities where people can live together whether in a single home or in a network of homes across a neighborhood, who share meals, seek a common rhythm or rule that helps guide how to live together, and develop a shared intention for their community. These communities are places where we try to live into God’s dream for humanity and seek to create the kingdom through acts of justice, mercy and service. We also try to live simply and deeply in the neighborhoods that we call home.
We believe in the transformative power of community, that our spirituality is best worked out with others, and that we are called to work for justice in neighborhoods of need. We long to move beyond our homogenized lives into relationship with those of different race, class, religion, and gender in order to more fully understand ourselves, and how to call out for justice. We have found that these relationships form best over shared lives in the neighborhood and around the table. These communities create the space for intentional connection and life lived to the full through shared meals, spiritual practices, and neighborhood involvement.
Confluence
Confluence is hosted by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Franklinton, Ohio in partnership with the Diocese of Southern Ohio. Confluence is an Episcopal Service Corps program for recent college graduates or young adults with comparable experience who commit to a year of spiritual formation, vocational discernment, social justice and intentional community. Starting in late August, corps members work 35 hours per week in direct-care or administrative positions at some of Columbus’ most innovative and caring social service agencies. The members live in intentional community, sharing the Hospitality House in Franklinton owned by St. John’s Episcopal Church. They will receive support and educational enrichment through Confluence staff, neighborhood partners, and the congregational community of this historic church in Franklinton.
Visit the Confluence website : Read reflections by Confluence volunteers
Brendan’s Crossing
Brendan’s Crossing is a Christ-focused community with an “Episcopal Ethos” that remains open to all young adults regardless of belief or religious affiliation. Brendan’s Crossing was started by the Diocese of Southern Ohio in 2012 to help young adults discover their call and to raise up new leaders for the church and the world. We have a strong commitment to “Forming Young Adults in Christ for the Sake of the World.” Our program is designed especially to help you discover what God is calling you to do with your life. Experience a year of service, formation and intentional community as you explore and discover your sense of calling and place in the world. We collaborate with churches, non-profit organizations, businesses, and schools in serving our community. Our service takes many forms including fellowships and volunteerism.
Visit the Brendan’s Crossing website : Read reflections by community members
Lydia’s House
Lydia’s House is a house of hospitality in the tradition of the catholic worker. It was founded in 2012 by Mary Ellen Mitchell and Meridith Owensby in partnership with the Diocese of Southern Ohio, Praxis Communities, and a variety of other ecumenical partners. The mission of Lydia’s House is to provide a supportive environment for homeless women and their children for 6-18 month stays. Each guest will be helped to move into long term housing at the end of her stay. It will be a place of hope and healing as well as a springboard from which guests can seek training, new skills, and work that will provide for their needs. Women will live in community, share life and meals with one another, and be encouraged in their personal spiritual journeys. Our vision is to be a demonstration of God’s Beloved Community.
Visit the Lydia’s House website : Read reflections by community members
Tikkun Farm
Tikkun Farm is an urban farm in the neighborhood of Mt. Healthy in Cincinnati. It hopes to be a place of healing, restoration and repair cultivated through meaningful work and spiritual practices for the restoration of the individual, the community, and creation.
Tikkun is a Hebrew word meaning “repair” or “restore”. The phrase Tikkun Olam captures the collective life purpose of the Jewish people to “repair the world”. This phrase has many layers of meaning from personal healing to global reconciliation, but at it’s core it means to join with God in repairing what has been broken: lives, buildings, the land, relationships, villages and nations, bodies, etc.
Mary Laymon and Greg York bought the 3.5 acre former dairy farm in 2013. They have been in the process of slowly repairing the buildings and inviting people to come and live in community on the Farm. Currently 7 people live on the farm. In partnership with Kelly Latimore and Evie Schoenherr, they have created a food pantry garden to give food away to those who are hungry. One of the barns is home to Deeper Roots coffee, a local artisanal coffee roaster. They also host retreats, workshops, community meals, and spiritual direction. They long for the farm to be a place for those in need of healing, community, and shared spiritual practices.
Visit the Tikkun Farm website!
Franklinton Intentional Community
The Franklinton Community lives in several houses on the west side of Columbus. They meet for community potlucks, organizing for justice, and crazy dance parties. They raise chickens, bees, goats and more recently children of their own. They created a bike co-op called Franklinton Cycleworks and an urban agriculture initiative Franklinton Gardens in their neighborhood. Find stories. laments and musings about their life together on their blog. The Franklinton Community shares in ministry to the neighborhood with St. John’s Episcopal Church, Confluence and other neighborhood partners.
Near East House
A new intentional community forming on the Near East side of Columbus in July 2015 in collaboration with the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio.
The Near East House is a home where residents commit themselves to living a life of spiritual formation and neighborhood focused justice in collaboration with others, with a pledge to investing time, energy, finances, and skills on the Near East side of Columbus. It is a place where residents do everything in their power to encourage human flourishing, advocate for justice, promote peace, expand community, and offer hospitality and love to their neighbors. The house has large shared community spaces including a studio, large attic, former corner store, garden, and yard available for residents and neighbors alike to work and play within. Many of these spaces are unfinished, lending the development of each space to the creative energies of the residents and community members. To find out more about the Near East House contact Jed Dearing at jeddearing@gmail.com.