Ask yourself, what are the symbols your community uses? If you have none, what elements should your community’s symbol include?

personal letter or telephone call that welcomes a new member can be powerful.

The diaconate are people who have more authority in the community than other members. The diaconate should also have more wisdom about the community, but that’s a best-case scenario. Their opinions are more valued than those of other members.

Community origin stories communicate who the community serves, why it serves, and often how it serves.

The principles we will explore in detail are: 1. Boundary: The line between members and outsiders. 2. Initiation: The activities that mark a new member. 3. Rituals: The things we do that have meaning. 4. Temple: A place set aside to find our community. 5. Stories: What we share that allows others and ourselves to know our values. 6. Symbols: The th

If it’s successful, then your communities will do at least four things better. First, it’ll help members grow in the ways they hope to. This growth can be technical, social, or internal. Second, it’ll cause members to feel more connected, welcome, proud, and excited to be a part of the group. Third, it’ll help members work together toward making th

This boundary should be more about making the inside space safe for insiders than about keeping outsiders out.

There’s a common phenomenon in many groups, particularly highly selective elite ones, where many members become convinced that they don’t belong. This can be true even when each member has been invited inside an exclusive community.

This may mean that gatekeepers may need to be more concerned about helping visitors feel welcome and find a way inside the community.