Participate with
Anabaptist Brotherhood
How To Participate:
To participate, a person must apply as an individual. The participant’s church must also apply. Applications are available upon request.
Steps:
1. Complete Member’s Application.
2. Wait for a response of acceptance into the program. A preexisting condition may delay an individual’s acceptance into the program due to being placed
on the waiting list.
3. Send mutual aid payment based on previous year’s income.
4. Verify annual savings based on 8% of previous year’s income.
Four Areas of Responsibility:
The mutual aid fund operates with four principles to guide discernment of how needs are met. Some churches and families have strong financial aid to support the disabled, widows, and those who face housing and healthcare needs.
The goal is to work together with a mutual aid mindset and avoid an entitlement mentality.
1st Individual savings – Each individual should bear their own burden to the extent that they are able.
2nd Family – The intermediate family should bear their burden as a family unit to the extent that they are able.
3rd Local church alms fund – The local church is responsible to bear each other’s burdens to the extent that they are able.
4th Mutual aid fund – The broad-based mutual aid fund carries the remaining financial burden.
Deacon's Involvement:
The deacon’s involvement is an essential function of the vision.
1. Deacons lead the process in discerning a church member’s financial need.
2. Deacons receive an annual report, verifying participation of church members.
3. Mutual aid fund payouts are routed through the church’s alms fund.
Process of Assessing Needs:
The organization serves as a facilitator to respond to needs. It facilitates conversations, counsel, and discernment about the need.
Steps:
1. Deacon or member reports the need to Anabaptist Brotherhood.
2. Anabaptist Brotherhood engages with deacon (church leaders) and member to discern the need and identify the available assets and resources from the family and local church.
3. Anabaptist Brotherhood, deacon, and member determine the amount of financial support needed and develop a financial plan.
Constituency Parameters:
Members must align with conservative Anabaptist principles and values and the intent of the IRS Form 4029 exemption. This includes those who hold the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith or similar older Anabaptist confessions.
*Notes:
1. Two-Kingdom definition: There is the kingdom of this world and a distinct peaceful kingdom of Christ.
2. The mutual aid fund managed by Anabaptist Brotherhood is not to be confused as a replacement for existing Anabaptist medical aid programs. It is not for general medical aid needs covered by other mutual aid healthcare organizations.
3. Members of recognized religious groups file IRS Form 4029 to apply for exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes.
