Organizational Structure of a Hutterian Community

Hierarchy
In every Hutterite colony, the minister (predigor) or spiritual leader is also the chief executive and he, along with an advisory board, makes the day to day decisions.

The ministers duties include conducting church sermons, marriages, baptisms, funerals, and disciplining members of the church.

The advisory board consists of the minister, the colony manager, the farm manager and two or three witness brothers (deacons) who are elected for life. The advisory board acts as the board of trustees or the directors of the church corporation. They make decisions regarding changes related to the day-to-day operation of the colony, economics, job positions and colony discipline. The actions of the council are in turn directed by the whole congregation, and the councilors themselves are subject to the Church.

The colony manager (hausholtor or wiet) receives and pays all bills, does the banking and is in reality the manager of the colony.

The farm manager (weinzedle), also known as the work distributor, supervises all field work. Under his jurisdiction are all workers over fifteen years, who have not been appointed to specific jobs by the colony.

The witness brothers (zulbriedor), besides acting as advisory board members are generally employed, like all other members, managing one of the colonies numerous activities.

All the other members of the community take part in the making of major decisions. 

Decision Making
Major decisions like appointing new members to the advisory board are made by all the male baptized members in the community.  Every brother votes and the person with the majority of the votes is expected to take on the elected position.

Election of Ministers
The election of a ministers is indeed a very important and solemn affair, overseen by the Elder and the Church and affecting everyone on the colony.  This ceremony is modeled after the selection of a replacement Apostle as described in Acts.

First off,  every member of the afore-mentioned advisory board nominates two members that they think are suitable for the job. Anyone with two votes is nominated.  The nomination process usually occurs the Sunday before the actual ceremony. 

The minister election ceremony (predigor stimmung) is attended by many visitors, and usually by the Elder of the Hutterites.  A special sermon is delivered and a special prayer is prayed to ask for God's help and guidance in the matter. Then all male members of the community (and visitors) votes for one of the nominated brothers by telling the senior ministers leading the service their choice. Anyone with five or more votes is deemed "nominated".  All the nominees' names are placed in a hat and lots are drawn by the Elder or some other senior minister.  The person on whom the lot falls becomes the new assistant minister of that colony. 

Community of Goods
Hutterites live in community, that is they share all of their possessions; ; The idea of Community of Goods stems from many examples found in the bible, including the following:

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily, with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.  (Acts 2:44-47)

And the multitude of them that were believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of land or houses sold them, and brought the piece of the things that were sold, And laid them at the apostles feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had needed. (Acts 4:32-35)

However, many other examples exist.  For example, throughout history, God has always "separated" His people from the world as evidenced by the Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses.   Jesus himself lived "in community" with his apostles.  All of these examples point to God desiring His people to live separate from the world, to help & support each other, usually in some form of community.

People often ask to what extent Hutterites share their possessions.  No, Hutterites, don't share their toothbrushes and the like.  All Hutterites keep some personal possessions which include personal effects.  In addition, homes are private and household items within them are considered personal, although the colony may have provided them to begin with. But the homes, garages, barns, fields, vehicles and machinery, successes and failures are all jointly owned and considered "ours".