Bylaws of The Elderwood Circle

 

Section 1                                                   Establishment and Purpose

Article 1  The name of this congregation is to be The Elderwood Circle

Article 2                  The purpose of these bylaws is to provide a means by which the circle can be guided and governed through the years.

 

Section 2                                                   Structure of Circle and Degree System

Article 1                  The degree system of advancement in this circle is loosely based in the Chakra system found in the land of India. There is the dedicant, or preinitiate; and then seven degrees. All requirements and assignments are found in the curriculum, which is available upon request. No tasks beyond the capacity of the student shall be assigned. If this does happen, the council of elders will clear the matter up.

Article 2                  A dedicant is a novice who has sought admission into the circle and has dedicated themselves to the beliefs of the congregation but has yet to be initiated to the first degree.

A                              A dedicant must attend the selected classes and attend the full moon esbats before initiation

B                               A dedicant must complete all assigned tasks.

C                               Initiation will take place when all classes and tasks have been completed satisfactorily.

Article 3                  A root is a person who has achieved the first degree. They have been initiated and now wish to begin working towards the second degree. Now is the time when the roots of their practice will be laid.

A                              A root must attend selected classes through and attend the full moon esbats and sabbats

B.             .                A root must complete all assigned tasks.

C.                              A root has earned the right to maintain a grimiore.

D.                              A root has earned the right to keep ritual tools.

Article 4                  A sacral or second degree is a person who now has the foundations of Wicca and is ready to progress to more advanced studies. The sacral student will take their learning and confront themselves and their rigid concepts to make way for a more enlightened person. A sacral student may take on Maiden or Squire duties.

A                              A sacral must attend selected classes and attend the full moon esbats, new moon esbats, and sabbats.

B.                             A sacral must complete all assigned tasks.

C.                             A sacral will perform all assigned private rituals.

D.                             A sacral will complete 12 hours a month

of community service in a resident nursing facility.

E.                              A sacral has earned the right to be a guild officer.

F.                              A sacral has earned the right to lead the children in one of their rituals.

Article 5                  A Solar Plexus can say they are a third degree and are eligible to be a high priest or priestess. They have earned enough experience to lead a guild or a circle. There are many rights earned by reaching this position, but there are many responsibilities implied when one achieves this position in practice.

                 A                               A solar will teach classes to the lower degreed students.

                 B                               A solar will lead specified rituals when told to do so.

                 C                               A solar has a right to keep a copy of the circle’s grimiore

                 D                               A solar must attend ½ of all rituals.

                 E.                               A solar must complete 16 hours a month of community service

F                        A solar must take nine college credits worth of psychology classes.

                 G.                              A solar must complete three selections of the independent studies listed in the curriculum.

                 H                               A solar must complete a leadership training course.

Article 6                  A heart is now an advanced student of the craft. They have earned all the leadership skills they need to lead a group. They are the elders.

                 A.                              A heart must complete all lectures and labs they have yet to take from the D01 to S95.

                 B                               A heart must attend all meetings.

                 C                               A heart must attend ½ of all rituals.

                 D                               A heart must complete 16 hours a month of community service.

E                                A heart must complete five selections of independent studies listed in the curriculum.

F                                A heart must teach all lower classes at least part time.

G                               A heart can be the high priest, priestess, or bard.

                 H                               A heart can join the council of elders.

                 I                                 A heart can start a new hived circle

                 J                                 A heart can become a solitary with the permission of the Wider Council

Article 7                   A throat has moved into the most advanced stages of the priesthood.

                 A                               A throat must assist in circle administration.

                 B                               A throat must assist in teaching duties

                 C                               A throat must attend all meetings.

                 D.                              A throat must attend ½ of all rituals

                 E                                A throat must complete 16 hours of community service.

                 F                                A throat must complete five selections of independent studies listed in the curriculum.

                 G                               A throat must now obtain ministerial credentials.

                 H                               A throat may conduct public ceremonies.

                 I.                                A throat may altar the circle grimiore.

Article 8                   A brow is a person who has reached beyond the average studies.

A                               A brow must complete 16 hours a month of community service.

B                               A brow must learn healing.

C                               A brow must master Reiki

D                               A brow must attend all meetings.

E                                A brow must complete two selections of independent studies listed in the curriculum.

F                                A brow may lead the council of elders.

Article 9                  A crown has reached the pinnacle of studies in our circle. They had all rights and responsibilities available in the circle as specified in article 8.

 

Section 3                                                   Membership

Article 1                  Guests are those who come to the circle and are not members.

                 A                               They must observe circle etiquette.

                 B                               They must be respectful and not disrupt and proceedings.

Article 2                  Associate members are non initiated members or members who wish to participate yet are not able to join the circle fully at the time. Any nuclear family member is automatically an associate member of the group.

                 A                               They may attend meetings

                 B                               They may not vote in General Assembly.

C                              They may attend the full moon esbat and any festival.

D                              They may teach a guest lecture if they have the education of credentials to do so.

Article 3                   A full member is a true member of the circle.

                 A                               They have all the rights of associate members.

                 B                               They can attend all rituals their degree allows them too.

                 C                               They can be officers in the guilds

                 D                               They can vote in general assembly.

                 E                                They can be members of the wider council.

Article 4                   An advanced member has a few additional rights. This is for those of the heart degree or higher.

                 A                               They may be the high priest or priestess

                 B                               They can join the council of elders

                 C                               They can settle disputes within the circle.

                 D                               They can assist in the alteration or amending of the circle’s bylaws or constitution.

 

Section 4                                                   Governance

Article 1                   The general assembly is the entire congregation and is the main body of the circle.

                 A                               They can settle disputes referred to them by either of the two councils.

                 B                               They can approve the ratification of amendments

                 C                               They can approve membership and initiation when referred by either of the two councils.

                 D                               They give final approval of the high priest or priestess.

                 E                                They can decide any matter referred to them by either of the two councils.

Article 2                   The high priest and priestess have roles related to ritual and training.

                 A                               They will teach classes.

                 B                               They will monitor all community service work.

                 C                               They will perform all ministerial duties.

                 D                               They will observe all discipline in levels one through five.

                 E                                They will deliver all paperwork.

Article 3                   The Wider Council is a council consisting of the elders, all guildmasters, and assist and gild masters.

                 A                               They will decide all guild to guild issues.

                 B                               They can decide any issue referred to them by the council of elders.

                 C                               They can establish, amend, and terminate any guild bylaws.

                 D                               They can create, reorganize, or terminate any guild.

                 E                                Only the masters and assistance masters of the guilds who are not elders may join the wider council.

Article 4                  The council of elders is the main governing body of the council. Those on this council are the main players in the politics of the circle. They make the decisions.

                 A                               They can invest or divest a high priest or priestess as set forth in the constitution.

                 B                               They can decide on membership status.

                 C                               They can decide to confer a degree or withhold it.

                 D                               They can amend the bylaws of the constitution of this circle.

                 E                                They can settle all disputes.

                 F                                Authorize all publicity actions

                 G                               Monitor, maintain, and amend the curriculum.

Article 5                   The bard has an important if somewhat unsung role.

                 A                               Keep the minutes of all meetings.

                 B                               Keep membership and attendance records.

                 C                               Maintain the budget approved by the council of elders.

                 D                               Draw the budget up at the appropriate time of year.

                 E                                Maintain the circle library and its grimiore.

                 F                                Be of the sacral degree or higher.

                 G                               The bard must have reached complete majority in age.

Article 6                   The Maiden is to assist the high priestess.

                 A                               Organize ritual space.

                 B                               Cares for circle ritual tools.

                 C                               Teach seekers and novices.

                 D                               Organize post ritual gatherings.

                 E                                Operate open circles.

Article 7                   The Squire is an assistant to the high priest.

                 A                               Guard the circle.

                 B                               Maintain congregational security.

                 C                               Organize childcare options.

                 D                               Provide or organize transport as needed.

                 E                                Organize social events for the circle.

 

Section 5                                                   Attendance

Article 1                   Full moon esbat.

                 A                               All members must attend the specified number per year.

                 (1)                                              Dedicant and root must attend six full moon esbats a year.

                 (2)                                              Sacral and Solar Plexus must attend eight full moon esbats a year.

                 (3)                                              Heart and above must attend four full moon esbats per year.

                 B                               Some guests and seekers may attend with permission of the council of elders.

Article 2                   New Moon Esbat.

                 A                               No member who has not achieved the sacral degree may attend the new moon esbat.

                 (1)                                              Sacral and Solar Plexus must attend six per year.

                 (2)                                              Heart and above must attend four per year.

                 B                               Only guests with a 2^nd degree or higher may attend with the permission of the council of elders.

Article 3                   Sabbats.

A                              All may attend the festival, whether a member or not. Only root and above members of the circle may attend the ritual without gaining the permission of the council of elders.

(1)                                             Root and Sacral must attend all eight in a year.

(2)                                             Solar Plexus and above must attend six in a year.

B                              Only guests with a 1^st degree may attend after gaining the permission of the council of elders.

Article 4                   Classes

A                              A person must complete the entire course designed for them before advancing to the next degree. In order to complete a course, a person must be present for 90% of the lectures and 80% of the labs.

B                              Classes for those of the heart degree and higher will be sought elsewhere, but proof of attendance is required. A signature, a handout, ect. will be the proof.

Article 5                   Meeting

                 A                               All will attend the annual meeting.

                 B                               Full and advanced members will vote on decisions referred to the general assembly.

                 C                               Associate members can attend without voting.

                 D                               Selected members of the council of elders will oversee the meeting.

                 E                                All issues before the general assembly should be decided at the annual meeting.

                 F                                There will be a notice of meeting issues set out 60 days before the meeting.

                 G                               The meeting minutes will be available within ten days.

                 H                               A special meeting can be called with 60 days notice as needed.

Section 6                                                   Financial Management

Article 1                   While paying to learn the craft or to practice the craft is wrong, we must pay dues  to keep the circle bills paid.

                 A                               A ritual due of two dollars a month.

                 B                               A festival fee of 5 dollars a sabbat is due.

                 C                               A main church dues of 50 dollars a year is due to maintain church services.

D                              A special transport fee applies to pay for the gas to pick a person up and that will be based on travel distance and time                .

                 E                                The council can levy and additional fee as needed

Article 2                   If someone can not afford to pay the dues levied, that can work off the money in labor.

                 A                               The value of the labor is four dollars an hour.

                 B                               No labor beyond the capacity of the laboror may be allowed

                 C                               No more than three hours of labor at a time allowed.

Article 3                   The council of elders reserves the right to maintain an emergency fund as needed.

Article 4                   The congregation may maintain a charity or provide funds to another charity if:

                 A                               The funds are available.

                 B                               The philosophy of the charity is not in conflict with our ways.

                 C                               The charity does not have a mission of religious conversion.

Article 5                   The council of elders can levy a tax if needed until non-profit status can be attained.

 

Section 7                                                   Grievances

Article 1                   There is a seven stage process by which interpersonal conflict can be resolved.

                 A                               A one on one conversation will be held with a neutral mediator to decide the issue

B                              A three person neutral panel will listen to each side separately and then attempt to render a solution suitable and acceptable to both sides.

C                              A debate with the high priestess or priest as the controller will be held. The council of elders will listen and decided on the issue at hand.

D                              A three person neutral panel of non-circle members will try the case and the entire circle will make a decision.

                 E                                A suspension of both parties for one lunar month after which the process shall restart at stage two.

                 F                                A three lunar month suspension followed by a repeat starting from stage two.

G                              The circle will vote on expulsion of one or both of the parties in conflict because they will not bend and compromise. May the Lord and the Lady forbid we ever reach this pass.

Article 2                   Guild to guild grievances will be settled in the wider council by their laws.

Article 3                  Group to person and person to group grievances will be handled in the same fashion as the bylaws set forth for individuals in section 7 article 1.

 

Section 8                                                   Discipline procedures.

Article 1                  Guild discipline will be handled within the guild or in the wider council. This will be as set forth in the bylaws that are established by the guilds.

Article 2                  All group discipline will be handled as individual discipline unless this group has been causing problems for a long time.

Article 3                  Individual discipline will be handled in ten levels. The council of elders or the high priestess will assign the level when it is below level six and the general assembly will handle it when it is level six or above. The level can be reviewed by the council of elders if it is questionable.

A                              A verbal apology including the offence and the reasons for it to the person wronged and the high priest or priestess.

B                              A written apology, including the offence and the reasons for it given to the person and a copy going to the high priest or priestess.

C                              A verbal apology including the offence and the reasons for it before all circle members present at the next full moon esbat.

D                              Two hours labor in a circle member’s home. Supervised by a council of elders member.

E                               Eight hours labor in a circle member’s home. Supervised by a council of elders member.

F                               A one week suspension.

G                              A one lunar month suspension

@             H                               A three lunar month suspension.

@             I                                 A six lunar month suspension

                 J                                 Expulsion

@             Requires students to restart the current degree level studies to the beginning of the degree they are seeking. (a Sacral would have to start the sacral training all over again.)

 

Section 9                                                   Making Changes

Article 1                  The council of elders can make changes in the bylaws with the approval of changes being voted upon by the general assembly at the annual meeting.

Article 2                  The wider council can make a report on the possible changes and their impact on the circle when there is a planned amending of the constitution or the bylaws.

Article 3  The guilds are allowed to adopt, alter, and terminate guild bylaws at will.

Article 4  The general assembly will have the final say on all amendments to the by laws and the constitution.

 

Section 10                                                Location

Article 1  The home base of the circle is located in the city of ________, the county of __________, in the state of _________.

Article 2  This location is the central office and is where all monetary operations will be handled.

Article 3  Other affiliated churches may be built in other locations as the need or desire arises.

 

Section 11                                                Acceptance and Implementation

 

                 We, the undersigned initiates of the Elderwod Circle of the Eclectic Tradition of Wicca, acting for, and on the behalf of the entire membership of the circle do hereby declare that the foregoing bylaws of the Elderwood Circle are fit and suited to our purpose, and by the setting of our signatures do we declare them effective.

                

On this the ___________________ day of __________________ in the year of __________________________

                 of the common era.