Covenant Relationship
Three couples join in a non-sexual relationship to supplement each other physically,
emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and in every way except as should be limited to the
married couple. Vows of commitment are exchanged in a public ceremony to commence the
official union. The devotion and longevity is nearly as solid and enduring as marriage
between husband and wife, though the threshold for separation would be lower. The
triple-couple relationship during preliminary stages might begin with two couples working
together. If a fourth couple came along, the unit would be divided into two sets of two
couples united, each awaiting a third couple for completion. Single adults could fill the
role of one of the 'couples' of the three so long as there were not serious potential sexual
temptations.
Units of Society
The most basic unit of society is one person, individually responsible before God.
The second most basic unit is two people joined in marriage along with the children they
produce, as long as the children are dependants.
The third most basic unit is three couples (with their dependant families) joined as described
above, and emphasized on the index of this page.
The fourth most basic unit is four sets of three couples.
And so forth.
Lowerarchy (not Hierarchy)
Rather than being organized from the top down, this structure goes from the bottom up.
The individual willfully enters a marriage union. The married couple willfully join with two
other couples of their mutual choice to accomplish a common end. Four of these units join
mutually, and so forth. A spokesperson is selecting from among each unit level to represent
the unit to the next higher unit, and so forth. This responsibility is rotated among the
members of each unit so long as each person is capable and willing, in agreement with the other
members of the unit.
The rules of each unit are decided upon from the bottom up, though may be imposed from the top
down in some cases as agreed upon from the bottom up. Cases of serious non-compliance would
result in separation from the unit, whichever level it occurred. An individual seriously
violating a marriage covenant is removed from the marriage -- i.e. divorce. A couple in
serious violation of a triple-couple covenant is removed from the triple-couple
relationship. And so forth.
Referral of Problems
Most of the problems, disputes, difficulties that arise in life will be able to be taken care
of on the triple-couple level or below. Only the most difficult problems, and those issues
pertaining to the more general welfare of society, will be referred to higher units until the
problem can be resolved or the issue handled.
There are no triple couples according to the model presented above that we know of. Do
you know of one? Do you want to be among the pioneers?
There are many people who already function on a level close to the ideal. What if they
actually solidified their relationship with vows and a public ceremony to proclaim their
commitment to this next level of relationship.
Susan Carter and her husband have been
creating a triple couple relationship with two other couples, though they haven't gone so far yet
as to have a ceremony or a covenant. I've been intimately involved in watching this
develop. She has agreed to write a series talking about what brought her to try this and
what she is learning in the process.
