Editing Jesus Army (section)

===Celibacy and marriage===
The Jesus Fellowship was the only new church stream that advocated and practised [[celibacy]],<ref>Hunt in ''Pneuma'', p.36</ref> claiming that it led to a full life for single people. Within the Jesus Fellowship there were both couples and male and female celibates. The Jesus Fellowship claimed both as high callings. The main justification used for advocating celibacy was that it freed a member for ministry, particularly in the unsocial hours that Jesus Army campaigning required.<ref>Newell in ''Charismatic Christianity'', p.130: "JF is the only new church stream that advocates and practices celibacy for those called to it, claiming it leads to a full life for single people. There are couples and celibates, male and female, and JF claims both as high callings. A main justification for celibacy, following St Paul, is that it frees a member for ministry, particularly in the unsocial hours that Jesus Army campaigning can require."</ref> Some critics maintained that the Jesus Fellowship taught celibacy as a better or higher way, and that single members felt pressured into making the vow.<ref>Newell in ''Charismatic Christianity'', p.130 "Critics have maintained that JF teaches celibacy as a better or higher way and that single brothers and sisters are pressurized into the vow, though I have not myself seen any evidence of this."</ref> Others denied this and insisted that both marriage and family life, and celibacy were held in high regard in the Jesus Fellowship.<ref>Nigel Scotland, ''Charismatics and the New Millennium'', (Eagle, 2000), p.113 "The Jesus Fellowship themselves attach value to both marriage and celibacy. Both are seen as callings from God. Families are needed to 'provide the essential base of homeliness and security'. Celibates on the other hand, are free to engage in pioneering and evangelistic work"</ref> Celibacy was, however, described by the Jesus Fellowship as "a precious gem".<ref name="Chr">Chryssides, p.158</ref> At most some 200 Fellowship members were committed to celibacy, plus a further 100 or so probationers.<ref name="Chr"/> There were instances where committed celibates subsequently entered into married life within the Jesus Fellowship, but this was not taken lightly. Such a step could involve sanctions such as having one's leadership responsibilities reduced.<ref name="Chr"/>

[[Noel Stanton]], the Jesus Fellowship's original leader, was himself a celibate, and the senior leadership of the church was made up of roughly 50 percent celibates and 50 percent who were married.<ref>Chryssides, p.159</ref> Despite this high view of celibacy, studies indicate that marriage and the family were afforded a high priority by the Jesus Fellowship. According to sociologist Stephen J. Hunt, marriage in the Jesus Fellowship was seen as "a ministering relationship in which human warmth and Christian fellowship can be offered to others, providing spiritual parenting for those who are emotionally damaged."<ref>Hunt in ''Pneuma'', p.33</ref> Hunt found that "where problems in child-rearing occur, support and advice for the parents is on hand from fellow members. Even those children brought up in the New Creation Christian Community are not totally separated from the outside world." The Jesus Fellowship's children attended state schools.<ref>Hunt in ''Pneuma'', p.34 "All children go to state school since there are not the resources to run an independent school, although this type of schooling would remain an ideal."</ref>