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ARTICLE
I
Membership
Section 1.
Admission into membership.
a) Application for
membership.
A written
application for membership shall be placed with the Chancellor or
the Secretary of the Council. Applications need only state the name
by which the member wishes to be known and acceptance of the
constitution, by-laws, and Rede of the church.
b) Transfer of
membership.
Applicants from
other Wiccan churches shall submit letters of transfer when
available, to the Chancellor and/or the secretary of council, who
shall act upon the application according to the requirements of
paragraph a) of this section.
c) Reception of
new members.
New members of the
church shall be welcomed at the next service of the church and shall
make public confession of their acceptance of the Wiccan Rede as a
guide to live by.
d) Classes of
membership.
Officers and
members of council of this church or any congregation of this church
will be known as Elders. Elders of the church are charged with the
overall business management of the church under the leadership of
the Chancellor. The spiritual and educational needs of the
membership are attending by the Clergy known as Priest or Priestess
who are ordained in accord with the provisions of these by-laws.
From among the Clergy, the council will appoint one Priest and one
Priestess to serve the congregation at the leisure of the council in
the position of High Priest and High Priestess. Together the High
Priestess and High Priest are known as the senior clergy, each
equally responsible for the spiritual and educational needs of the
church and community. All other members, accepted by the council for
membership and in good standing will be known as initiates.
Initiates may ascend to any office of the church in accord with the
provisions of these by-laws.
Section 2.
Children of members.
Children of the
members of the church and its constituency shall be nurtured under
its spiritual care when so desired by the child's parents. At the
time they choose to do so, children may make application for
membership as specified in Article I1,a) above
Section 2.1
Associate membership.
Any person desiring
an association with the church yet not wishing to be a member, may
make application in the manner of Article I1a above for associate
membership. Associate members are granted all rights and privileges
of members with the sole exception that they may not ascend to the
clergy and may not hold office in the Church.
Section 3.
Responsibility of membership.
All members accept
responsibility for their own actions as they reflect upon the name
of the church. Members are responsible for living life in a manner
that inspires respect for the church. Members respect the faith of
all people and the right of all to choose a path which is correct
for them.
Section 4.
Discipline.
a) Negligent
members.
Members who
willfully neglect their duties as outlined in Section 3 above shall
be admonished by the council. If this admonition is not heeded, they
shall be dealt with as erring members.
b) Erring members.
Any member known
to err in conduct which brings discredit on the church shall be
counseled. If he or she does not heed this counsel, the matter shall
be brought to the attention of the council. If he or she fails to
heed the counsel of the council, the error shall be brought before a
congregational business meeting. Discipline shall then be
administered with due regard for the welfare of the individual as
well as the church.
c) Dismissal of
members.
Dismissal of a
member under paragraphs a) and b) of this section must be acted on
by the church, which alone has the authority. A two-thirds vote of
those present and voting at a congregational business meeting is
necessary for such action.
d) Forfeiture of
rights.
A member who has
been properly dismissed from the church, or has withdrawn
membership, has forfeited all rights and privileges of membership in
the church.
e) Non-active
members.
The church council
shall have the responsibility of contacting non-active members prior
to each annual meeting to determine their intention with regard to
membership. Further action may be taken at the annual meeting. All
members of the church are required to have contact with the church
at least once each year.
Section 5.
Transfer of members.
Members who move
to another community should soon thereafter identify themselves with
the local Wiccan church. If there is no Wiccan church, they should
identify themselves with some other similar church. Application for
transfer of membership shall be made in writing to the chancellor ,
who shall issue the transfer to the church with which a member is
joining. Withdrawal of such membership shall be reported through the
council to the next congregational business meeting, where it shall
be made a matter of record.
Section 6.
Removal of membership.
Request for
withdrawal from membership in the church shall be made in writing to
the chancellor or the council. All requests for removal from
membership of any member will be verified with the member and will
be so honored.
Section 7.
Nonmember friends.
The church as a
part of its total constituency shall enroll nonmember friends. The
church and its clergy shall serve them in all their spiritual needs,
and they shall be encouraged to consider this as their church home.
They shall be kept informed of the activities of the church.
ARTICLE II
Clergy
Section 1.
Qualifications.
The clergy of the
church shall include those members that have studied within the
church for a period of one year and one day and have accepted a
calling to the clergy. On request of any member of the church that
meets that requirement, the Chancellor or the council may give an
examination. Such examination may be written or oral and may include
any such material as the council may from time to time establish as
requisite knowledge of the clergy of this church. Any member
requesting admission to the clergy that does not meet the
requirements of the examination will be guided and aided by the
Chancellor until they are accepted. They shall by virtue of their
call be members of the church and will be known as Priest or
Priestess.
Section 2.
Duties.
The clergy shall
be devoted to the service of the church, teaching what they know,
administering ceremony, and faithfully giving themselves to the
needs of the church. They shall provide the church with an accurate
record of their ministerial acts and present a written report to the
congregational annual business meeting. They shall practice good
administrative procedures and cooperate with the church council.
They shall be ex-officio members of the council and all committees
of the church. All clergy of the church are expected to perform
those rites and services normally expected of ministers whenever
asked to do so.
Section 3.
Co-operation.
The clergy shall,
both in word and precept, work in harmony with the Chancellor, the
council, and the membership of the church.
Section 4.
Ordination.
The clergy shall
be ordained at a regular or special church business meeting, the
purpose of which shall be announced two weeks in advance. The clergy
shall be nominated and accepted by council.
Section 5.
Charges against a Priest or
Priestess.
Charges against a
clergyman shall be submitted in writing to the church council,
charging a clergyman with indiscretion, immorality, doctrinal error,
unethical behavior, or disloyalty to the church. If in the judgment
of the church council there is substance to the charges, the council
will offer a hearing where the accused and accuser may state their
points. Once the case is stated by each the accused and the accuser
and any available witnesses are seen or testimony is heard, the
Council will make a decision regarding what action to take. The
decision of the council will be final.
ARTICLE III
Officers
Section 1.
Qualifications.
Officers of the
church shall be members in good standing who are active in the
support of the total works of the church, financially and otherwise.
They shall serve both as corporate officers of the church and of the
church council.
Section 2.
Duties.
a) Chancellor.
The chancellor
shall preside at all business meetings of the church and of the
council. The chancellor shall take care to confer with the senior
clergy in preparing the agenda for such meetings, and to utilize the
counsel that the clergy may give by virtue of training, experience,
and calling. The chancellor shall be responsible for leadership of
the church services.
b) Vice-chancellor
The
vice-chancellor shall assume the duties of the chancellor in his or
her absence, assist in his or her duties, and undertake other tasks
as assigned by the chair, the council, or the clergy.
c) Secretary.
The secretary
shall keep and preserve the minutes of all congregational business
meetings of the church and meetings of the council, and shall
conduct and preserve all official correspondence as shall be
delegated. The secretary shall also be responsible for the official
seal and documents of the church as well as the records of
membership.
d) Treasurer.
The treasurer
shall be responsible for all funds committed to him or her and shall
make disbursements as authorized by the church or the council. The
treasurer shall also present a written report of the receipts and
expenditures to each regular meeting of the council and to each
congregational business meeting.
Section 3.
Election and tenure.
The chancellor,
vice-chancellor, secretary, and treasurer shall be elected at an
annual congregational business meeting for terms of six years. They
shall not be elected to serve more than two consecutive full terms
in the same office.
Section 4.
Vacancies.
Such vacancies as
occur among the church officers may be filled by appointment of the
chancellor, with the concurrence of the council. The appointee will
serve until the next annual congregational business meeting; if an
un-expired term continues beyond the date of that meeting, the
position will be filled by election as under Section 3 above. Such
appointive service will not disqualify a person from serving two
full terms under the terms of Section 3.
Section 5.
Discipline.
Should an officer
neglect his or her duties or become a hindrance to the works of the
church, that officer shall be admonished by the council and/or the
chancellor in a manner consistent with Article I, Section 4 of these
bylaws. Should such admonition not be heeded, a vote of two-thirds
of the council, with the concurrence of the senior clergy, will be
sufficient to remove that person from office, the vacancy to be
filled as under Section 4 above.
ARTICLE IV
Church Council
Section 1.
Qualifications
Members of the
council shall be members in good standing who are active in the
total works of the church, financially and otherwise.
Section 2.
Size, composition, election, and
tenure.
(a) The council
shall consist of up to thirteen (13) members, not including the
clergy, who are ex-officio members.
(b) Those members
shall include the church officers, elected in accordance with
Article III, Section 3 of these bylaws, and other members, elected
as the chairs of administrative committees as defined elsewhere in
these bylaws. Members shall serve for terms of six years in such a
manner that the terms of approximately one-sixth of the members
shall expire each year. They shall not be elected to more than two
consecutive full terms.
Section 3.
Duties.
The council in its
administrative responsibility in co-operation with the clergy shall
fulfill the functions defined by the constitution and bylaws,
including the following:
a) Supervise
church membership, in conjunction with the senior clergy.
b) Assist the
clergy in nurturing the spiritual life of the church, in cooperation
with the chair of the council.
c) Establish
administrative and program policies in conformity with the spirit of
the church constitution.
d) Evaluate the
total church program on a continuing basis.
e) Recommend the
annual budget, as proposed by the executive committee, and review
stewardship opportunities for the church.
f) Review and
approve the schedule of the church activities and personnel.
g) Appoint
administrative committees and church workers as defined by the
bylaws and as the council may deem appropriate.
Section 4.
Administrative committees.
Implementation of
policies and programs established by congregational or council
action may be accomplished through the following administrative
committees, each of whose chairs shall be a member of the council as
established under Section 2 above:
a) Sabbat
Committee.
b) Outreach
Committee.
c) Education
Committee.
d) Trustee
Committee.
e) Stewardship
Committee.
f) Fellowship
Committee.
g) Long-Range
Planning Committee.
The council member
who serves as chair of a committee assumes responsibility for
directing all congregational activities that fall within that
functional category, in cooperation with the clergy.
ARTICLE V
Committees
Section 1.
Executive committee.
The executive
committee, consisting of the church chancellor, the vice chancellor,
the secretary, and the treasurer, together with the senior clergy,
shall strive to promote effective working relations and
communication in the church. The committee shall have no legislative
power, but shall function in an advisory capacity to the council,
unless the council or the church shall have assigned specific
responsibilities to it.
Section 2.
Nominating committee.
The nominating
committee shall consist of not less than three (3) members,
including at least one member of the church council and one
non-member of the council. These members shall be elected at a
business meeting at least three (3) months prior to the annual
meeting. The senior clergy shall be ex-officio members of the
committee. After being convened by the church chancellor, committee
members shall elect their own chair and secretary. The
responsibility of the committee shall include the following:
a) Prepare a
ballot for the annual meeting of the congregation listing at least
one qualified candidate for each office to be filled.
b) Confirm the
willingness of each candidate to serve before listing his or her
name on the ballot.
c) Present a
complete ballot to the annual meeting of the congregation. This
shall constitute completion of the committee assignment, unless it
be given specific responsibilities at said annual meeting.
Section 3.
Sabbat committee.
The Sabbat
committee shall consist of the clergy members of the executive
committee and two members of the congregation selected by the
council. It shall meet at least semiannually in keeping with the
program and purpose of the church. The appointive members shall
serve terms of two years.
Section 4.
Special committees and task forces.
Special committees
or task forces for specific purposes may be appointed by any duly
constituted business meeting of the congregation or by the council
according to need, but shall be automatically terminated at the next
annual meeting unless specifically extended by said annual meeting.
Section 5.
Long-range planning committee.
The long-range
planning committee shall consist of not less than seven (7) members,
including at least one member of the council's executive committee
who is designated by the church chancellor. The committee chair
shall be a voting member of the council, and the senior clergy shall
be an ex-officio member of the planning committee. No member shall
remain on the committee for more than three years, and its
designated representative from the executive committee shall serve
no more than three years.
The
responsibilities of the committee shall include the following:
a) Annually
formulate, update, and/or revise a five-year plan for the church,
presenting a report and plan to the congregation for its review and
approval at the annual meeting or at a special meeting that has been
called for the purpose.
b) After such
approval has been obtained, annually prepare an implementation
strategy for the then-current five-year plan, delivering it to the
semi-annual meeting of the church for its review and concurrence.
c) Provide advice
and support to the council and to the other committees of the
church, which shall have the responsibility for implementation; and
incorporate into each subsequent review of the five-year plan such
changes as have been deemed necessary or undertaken by those other
committees.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
Section 1.
Public services.
Public services
shall be conducted regularly when deemed appropriate.
Section 2.
Celebrating the Sabbats
The congregation
of the church will come together as a whole on each of the Sabbats
for the purpose of celebrating the day. The Sabbat Committee is
charged with planning the location, activities and liturgy of the
celebration.
Section 3.
Congregational business meetings.
Congregational
business meetings shall be held regularly and not less than
semiannually, as specified in Article VIII of the constitution. The
chancellor of the church in consultation may call special business
meetings with the senior clergy or by the council.
Section 4.
Church council and administrative
meetings.
Regular meetings
of the council shall be held not less than monthly. Administrative
committees, special committees, and task forces shall meet not less
than at a frequency specified by the council. Their respective
chairs may call special meetings of the council, the executive
committee, the administrative committees, and the task forces.
Section 5.
Organizational meetings.
Meetings and
activities of the organizations of the church shall be planned and
conducted regularly under the direction and supervision of the
council.
ARTICLE VII
General Provisions
Section 1.
Quorum.
a) Fifteen percent
of the membership present and voting at a business meeting properly
called shall constitute a quorum.
b) The quorum for
the council, committee, and task force meetings shall be a majority
of their respective memberships.
Section 2.
Rules of Order.
All business
meetings of the church and of the boards, committees, and
organizations of the church shall be conducted according to
Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
Section 1. Amendments.
Amendments to
these bylaws not in conflict with the constitution may be adopted at
any regular congregational business meeting, or at a special
business meeting called for that purpose, by a two-thirds vote of
the members present and voting, providing that such amendments have
been presented in writing to the council and at a preceding regular
congregational business meeting.
Given under my
hand as approved this 1st day of May in the year of the
Common Era, 2002 |