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http://www.mustardseedorder.com/cm/story/?category=2
FAQs
 WHAT IS THE ORDER OF THE MUSTARD SEED?
The original Order was an international, interdenominational society founded in the 18th  century by Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (right), aristocratic leader of the Moravian renewal movement. This dynamic community prayed continually for a hundred years, championed Christian unity and sent missionaries to the ends of the earth at great personal cost. John Wesley was just one of their converts. Zinzendorf's Mustard Seed Order began when he was at Wittenburg University and went on to include kings, bishops, an archbishop and even an Indian chief. Members of the Order solemnly pledged to live according to three biblical values:
*** to be true to Christ,
*** to be kind to all people
*** to send the gospel to the world.
Members of the Order wore a ring inscribed in Greek with the motto “None live for themselves”. In the book The Vision and The Vow, author Pete Greig encourages contemporary Christians to re-discover the power of Zinzendorf’s vow as a means of expressing their commitment to Christ. This website, Mustardseedorder.com, exists to provide encouragement, resources, and a community of fellowship for those who are interested in taking Zinzendorf’s vow as a “rule of life” to assist them in living out their faith.
ARE WE AIMING TO RE-ESTABLISH ZINZENDORF'S ORIGINAL ORDER?
Much of Zinzendorf’s legacy lives on in the modern day Moravian church denomination but, as far as we can determine, the original Order of the Mustard Seed did not last much beyond Zinzendorf’s death in 1760. In practical terms, we encourage people to use the same basic “rule of life”, expressed in the context of contemporary culture. We also use some of the same symbols (cf. the ring of the original Mustard Seed Order), because of their continuing relevance and to acknowledge our historical inspiration. Spiritually, we believe that we are responding to the same call to radical discipleship that Zinzendorf and his friends received in their own time.
WHY WOULD I WANT TO TAKE THE 'MUSTARD SEED' VOW?
Throughout history, men and women from St Francis of Assisi to Mother Teresa have  discovered the power of a “rule of life” in helping them to live out their Christian faith. A “rule” is a solemn, practical, personal commitment to live in a way which is faithful to your decision to love and serve Jesus Christ. It is a means of engaging with the classic biblical paradox: that actions without faith are useless, but faith without action is dead.
In itself, the Mustard Seed vow does not add anything to the decision to serve Christ that is at the heart of all living Christian faith. Its value comes in providing a framework to live and express that commitment in the context of everyday life. If, after prayerful reflection, you sense that the Spirit of God is challenging you to go deeper in your walk of discipleship, then the Mustard Seed vow might be an appropriate response to that challenge.
HOW DO I JOIN THE ORDER OF THE MUSTARD SEED (OMS)?
It is not possible to “join” the Order, but you can establish an expression! of it with your friends. This website offers a meeting place for such communities, but there is nothing to join! We aim to remain a loose-knit movement of mini-movements; an organic community of groups gathered around the story of Zinzendorf and the values of his Mustard Seed Order.
If you are seriously considering or have actively adopted a “rule of life” based on the three elements of Zinzendorf’s vow, then we would welcome you as a part of the “Order of the Mustard Seed” community. Your commitment may be directly to these principles, or you may recognise it in the context of a more detailed “rule” that you have adopted with others.
DO I NEED TO TAKE THE VOW WITH OTHERS OR CAN IT BE A PRIVATE THING?
Ultimately, a commitment like this is made between the individual and God. However, people are not designed to live out their faith on their own. Encouragement and accountability are an important part of what it means to live the Mustard-Seed vow in practise. For this reason, we would encourage you to take the vow in community with others.
WHAT IS MEANT BY THE TERM 'CYMBROGI'?
We have adopted the ancient Celtic word cymbrogi meaning ‘companions of the heart’ to  describe the communities that are emerging, gathered around the Zinzendorf story and the vows of the Mustard Seed Order. Such communities are not always constrained by geographical or denominational restrictions. However, it is desirable that an appropriate level of depth and genuineness in relationships should be present. Cymbrogi are more than acquaintances ? they are covenant companions, life-friends, brothers and sisters in arms.
Note: the celtic designs on this site are courtesy of www.aon-celtic.com. The image on the "community" page is a claddagh, which symbolises the values of love, loyalty, and friendship.
IS THE OMS AN ALTERNATIVE TO LOCAL CHURCH?
No, in fact quite the reverse! Throughout history such groups, cells and orders have been agents of renewal to the established church.
DO I HAVE TO WEAR A RING?
You don't have to do anything! However, we do believe that symbols are a valid and helpful means of making and recalling a solemn life-commitment such as the Mustard Seed vow. In Western cultures, a ring remains the most widely used covenant symbol (for example, the use of a wedding ring as part of marriage ceremonies and to symbolise marriage).
We would encourage those who are adopting the Mustard-Seed vow as their “rule of life” to consider using a personally and culturally relevant symbol to express this. The initiators of the community intend to wear a ring bearing Zinzendorf’s original Greek inscription as a symbol which expresses our values and acknowledges our historical inspiration. You are under no obligation to come to the same decision yourself.
You can find our more about rings here. The design and inscription are in the public domain, free for anyone to use. Our humble request is that you do not produce or wear this design merely as costume jewellery. Please respect the deep meaning that it carries for those who wear it ? there are plenty of other brilliant designs around which you can use a fashion accessory or a symbol of your faith!
ARE MEMBERS OF THE ORDER EXPECTED TO HAVE A TATTOO?
No, not unless your conscience permits. However some cymbrogi have indeed considered designing their own tattoo as a mark of the lifelong nature of their vows. In an age of broken promises and disposable products, these groups have found the reality of a tattoo a sobering reminder of the permanence of their pledge. They also see the tattoo as an ‘inward’ symbol of the heart commitment, contrasting the outward reminder of the ring.
DOES THE VOW HAVE TO BE LIFE-LONG?
Yes.
COULDN'T THE IDEA OF A LIFELONG VOW BE USED TO CONTROL PEOPLE?
At an international level there is no way of controlling members of the Order, beause we have set this up in such a way as to subvert systems of control and to avert organisational  structures. At a local level it is very important that men and women carefully count the cost of entering into this (or any other) covenant relationship and having done so, continually return to a place of freedom and grace marked by the three elements of the vow:
*** loyalty to Christ (and thus, ultimately, not to any man or woman)
*** kindness to one another (the antithesis of controling one another)
*** a shared commitment to focus outwards on the needs of the poor and the lost (a healthy counterbalance to the type of introversion and self-absorption on which control tends to feed).
“It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows.” (Prov. 20:25)
ISN'T IT WRONG TO 'ADD' SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH?
The Mustard-Seed vow does not add anything new to the gospel or the commands of Jesus. In fact it's three elements simply reflect Jesus’ most fundamental instructions to his followers:
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The Great Commandment: to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as  we love ourselves (Matt.22:27);
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The Great Commission: To go and make disciples of all nations (Matt.28:18-20).
For most, the Mustard-Seed vow will not be a “new” commitment. It will be a consecration of their existing heart-decision to follow Jesus. If it also serves the purpose of causing some to recognise that they have never made a meaningful personal commitment to Christ, then we thank God for this revelation!
WHAT IS THE BASIS OF FAITH?
The original Order of the Mustard Seed included members from many different traditions and denominations, all of whom held to and valued their own confessions and declarations of faith. We aim to follow this example in establishing a contemporary community based around the Mustard-Seed vow.
The Mustard-Seed vow itself embodies an acceptance of the Lordship and saving work of Jesus Christ in the life of the individual. This acknowledgement is at the heart of all declarations of Christian faith. In every Christian denomination and tradition there are those who have responded to Christ’s life, death and resurrection by accepting his free gift of salvation and who have thus pledged themselves for life to his Lordship, his people and his mission to all the earth.
WHO'S BEHIND THE OMS?
 The contemporary Order of the Mustard Seed is being catalysed and nurtured by 24-7 Prayer, an international, interdenominational community of prayer, mission and justice inspired in part by the Moravian renewal of the 18th century. Specifically, the call to consider Zinzendorf’s Mustard Seed vow as a “rule of life” for the 21st century is made in The Vision and The Vow, a book written by Pete Greig (left) and researched by a team of six. This website and the resources relating to the OMS are managed by Phil Anderson (right - flying his 4-seater 'plane!). Phil also wrote The Lord of the Ring, a contemporary biography of Zinzendorf which examines the history of the original mustard-seed order in more detail.
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