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The following bylaws are established for the purpose of providing a secure foundation for the daily running of and perpetuation of Cottage Coven of the Wiccan religion.
The By-Laws Of Cottage Coven
ARTICLE I NAME
ARTICLE II STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
ARTICLE III STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION
ARTICLE IV MEMBERSHIP
4.1.1 Membership shall be offered to individuals upon recommendation of the High Priestess and High Priest, and consensus of all Initiates (full members) of the Coven. No person shall be denied access to membership on the basis of gender, race, ethnic background, sexual preference, physical handicap or age, providing they have attained their age of majority.
4.2 Degrees of Participation and Membership: Participants in the Cottage Coven may include the following
4.2.1 Guests: Interested parties who may attend all open activities. Guests may be invited to coven only activities in the company of an Initiate, with the consent of all other Initiates in attendance.
4.2.2 Congregants: Persons who consider themselves Wiccan or Pagan and who participate in and support the open activities of the congregation.
4.2.3. Dedicants: Persons who have dedicated themselves to study the path of Wicca and who, with the approval of all active Initiates, are following the prescribed course of study in this coven. After one year and a day of participation, a Dedicant may be asked to state his/her intention to qualify for initiation into the priesthood or to withdraw from the Coven and emain in the congregation.
4.2.4. Members of the Coven. Membership within the coven shall be limited to Initiates. Initiates of this Coven are those members who are recognized as clergy by the Coven Council.
4.2.5. Additional Titles of Recognition. The titles Mistress of Arts or Master of Arts may be granted by this coven in recognition of special achievement. Initiates who have attained proficiency in a specific field and who have been approved by a committee of all active Second and Third Degree Initiates may be designated MoAs. The Coven Council shall be empowered to create such other titles of recognition as it deems appropriate.
4.2.6.MembershipStatus:
4.2.6.1. Active Status. Dedicants and Initiates are expected to participate in 75% of all coven functions to retain active status. Exceptions to this policy may be made by consensus of the Coven Council on a case-by-case evaluation of the circumstances and dedication of the petitioner. Second and Third Degree Initiates are excused from the 75% rule in recognition of the work they are expected to perform for the congregation but are expected to attend Coven Council meetings at least quarterly, to assist with coven teaching duties , to attend Initiate Review meetings and to maintain a working relationship with all other Initiates to be considered on active status.
4.2.6.2. Inactive Status. Members who do not fulfill the above attendance and participation requirements shall be considered inactive.
4.2.6.3. Reinstatement from Active Status. Inactive members who wish to return to active status may do so upon consensus of the Coven Council
4.2.6.4. Suspension / Termination of Membership. Any persons membership or participation may be curtailed, suspended or terminated by decision of the Coven Council for reasonable cause. Members who are threatened with suspension or termination of membership have the right to a hearing before the full Coven Council.
ARTICLE V INITIATORY LEVELS
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5.1. The First rank within the Coven shall consist of Seekers, to be identified by the no color. Seekers can be identified as follows:
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5.2 The Second rank within the Coven shall consist of dedicant, to be identified by a green cord
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5.3 First Degree Initiatesto be identified by the color white
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5.3.1. Persons who have been active within this coven, for at least a year and a day, who have met all of the requirements for initiation as defined by the Coven Council and for membership as defined by these by-laws. A first-degree initiate has chosen a life of service.
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5.3.2. They help to organize their congregation, and facilitate its functions. They are a resource to the more senior clergy as assistants, and organizers of the membership. They are a resource to the membership as counselors and teachers.
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5.4 Second Degree Initiates to be identified by the color red. Second Degree Initiates shall be defined as follows:
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5.4.1. Persons who have been active in the Craft, and preferably within this coven, for at least two years and two days, who have met all of the requirements for Second Degree status as defined by the Coven Council and has have been recommended by the High Priestess and High Priest and approved by a consensus of initiates.
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5.4.2. A Second Degree Initiate continues the responsibilities acquired as a First Degree Initiate. In addition, they continue the education of the other First Degree Initiates. Their focus is on the larger functions, and coordination of the group. They conduct rituals, rites of passage and transition. They are involved in communication, and outreach to other congregations within the community.
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5.3. The Third Degree shall consist of High Priests and High Priestesses, to be identified by the color black.
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5.3.1. Persons who have attained Second Degree status, have demonstrated proficiency in ritual design and leadership, teaching, counseling, group process and administration and have been recommended by the High Priestess and High Priest and approved by a consensus of Initiates.
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5.3.2. Third Degree Initiates are senior member of the clergy. They are a resource not only to their own congregation, but also to the larger community. They are focused on the strengthening and enrichment of the pagan community as a whole. They are involved in outreach to the larger pagan, and non-pagan communities.
ARTICLE VI ADMINISTRATON AND OPERATION
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6.1 Coven Council: This body shall handle the ordinary business of the coven.
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6.1.1. Membership: The Coven Council shall consist of all Initiates (full members) of the coven. Dedicants who have completed 6 months of dedicant classes within the coven shall be invited to attend and participate in general business meetings as part of their training, but shall hold non-voting status. Meetings concerning membership and dedication will be closed to initiates and the initiate candidate only.
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6.1.2. Scope: The Council shall decide all business and spiritual matters
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6.1.3. Facilitation: The High Priestess shall ordinarily chair meetings of the Council. Where She is absent, or chooses to delegate this responsibility, the High Priest shall chair the meeting.
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6.1.4. Method of Operation: The Coven Council shall make decisions by consensus. When consensus cannot be reached the Council may refer the decision to the High Priestess, who shall consider all that has been discussed and make a decision.
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6.1.5. Meetings: Members of the Coven Council are expected to make every effort possible to attend Council meetings.. If attendance is not possible, the absent Initiate is encouraged to send a letter of statement containing any opinions or sentiments that they would like to have expressed in the meeting or to empower another Initiate with his/her written proxy.
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6.1.5.1.Regular Business Meetings: The Council shall meet at least once quarterly to discuss and decide matters of a business nature. The Council may also discuss Spiritual matters at the quarterly business meetings as appropriate.
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6.1.5.2.Initiation Review Meetings. The Council shall meet at least twice during training of each class to discuss the progress of the candidates. Once a request for initiation has been made the Council shall meet within a month of the request to determine acceptance or denial of the candidate as an Initiate.
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6.1.5.3. Special Meetings: Any Initiate of the coven may call a special meeting of the Council if the need arises. Unless the purpose of the meeting is to discuss matters of initiation, special meetings shall be handled as normal business meetings.
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6.2. Offices and Duties: The following offices shall be filled by the Coven Council whenever a vacancy occurs. If there is no Initiate to fill a specific office, the Coven Council may elect by consensus to fill the office with a Dedicant, who may hold the office Pro Tem until such time as an Initiate is available.
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6.2.1.High Priestess: Chairs the Coven Council; coordinates the teaching program; provides counseling as necessary; leads the rituals or provides resources to those doing so; supervises the work of other Officers; directs the initiation of candidates to the Priesthood; supervises the work of candidates for second and third degree status; represents the Coven to the Craft and to the Public; enhances the inner strength and harmony of the Coven; provides overall guidance to the work of the coven; and exercises final authority regarding ritual, initiation, ordination and other religious matters.
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6.2.2 High Priest: Chairs the Coven Council in the absence or at the request of the High Priestess; teaches; provides counseling as necessary; helps to lead the rituals or provide resources to those doing so; assists in supervising the work of the other officers; shares the responsibility for initiating candidates to the Priesthood; assists in the preparation of candidates for second and third degree status; represents the Coven to the Craft and the public; and supports and encourages the High Priestess in the performance of her duties.
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6.2.3. Maiden: Assists the High Priestess with rituals and her other responsibilities and assumes the duties of the High Priestess in her absence.
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6.2.4. Summoner: Assists the High Priest with rituals and his other responsibilities; notifies members of the Grove of meetings and other important information; and assumes the duties of the High Priest in his absence.
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6.2.5. Bard: Collects songs and chants; teaches and leads the Grove in music; collects lore and legends; preserves and passes on the old lore, coven history and traditions.
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6.2.6. Scribe: Keeps minutes of Council meetings, handles correspondence as requested; keeps records of grove projects, rituals and activities.
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6.2.7. Pursewarden: Collects money, keeps accounts, makes purchases or reimburses others for authorized purchases, coordinates fundraising projects and keeps files of records related to the Covens legal status.
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6.2.8. Watcher: Handles safety and security at Coven events; indoors, checks locks and closes curtains, etc.; outdoors, finds safe places for ritual work, posts sentries and sets wards; leads in the defense of the Coven where worldly dangers threaten it; knows laws regarding freedom of religion and assembly, etc.; serves as liaison with law enforcement officers; may teach self defense.
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6.2.9. Ritual Leaders, Project Leaders, Trip Leaders: Coordinate design, logistics and implementation of coven events. These positions are vacated at the conclusion of each event. A team may share responsibility for any given event.
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6.2.10. Additional temporary offices may be created and filled as the Coven Council deems necessary.
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6.3. Guidelines for Conduct: All Dedicants and Members shall be guided in their conduct by the Wiccan Rede, the Law of Return, the Passwords and by the God/dess within each person.
ARTICLE VII MEETING SCHEDULE
ARTICLE VIII ATTENDANCE
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8.1. Esbats shall be open only to Dedicants, Initiates and approved guests.Until at such time the coven can handle two seperate rituals for esbats. One being for covenors only the other for the entie congregation
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8.2. Sabbats shall normally be open to all who are friendly to the Craft. Where desired the Coven Council may schedule a coven only Sabbat or may schedule a second, coven-only celebration on or near selected Sabbats.
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8.3. Classes shall be designated open only to Dedicants and Initiates of this coven or open to all within the community by the Coven Council.
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8.4. Dedicants and Initiates are expected to fulfill attendance requirements as detailed in Article 4.2.6.1 to maintain an active membership status. If any member drops below the required attendance level of Esbats, Sabbats and classes, their status shall be subject to review by the Coven Council.
ARTICLE IX FINANCES
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9.1. Coven income shall include donations, profits from fundraising projects and interest from banking accounts, if any, established by the Council.
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9.2. The budget shall be established and disbursements approved by the Council.
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9.3. The Pursewarden shall make a full quarterly report of income expenses to the Council.
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9.4. All required forms and reports shall be filed with the state and federal government to maintain the Coven's legal status.
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9.5. The finances of the Coven and the finances of the Congregation shall be separate..
ARTICLE X PRIVACY OF MEMBERS
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10.1 The names, addresses, telephone numbers and other information relating to individual members shall be considered confidential and may not be disclosed to non-members without the permission of the individual involved.
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10.2. Disclosure of confidential information may, at the discretion of the council, be considered a violation of the Rede and grounds for expulsion from membership.
ARTICLE XI CONFLICT RESOLUTION
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11.1. The Cottage Coven does not take the position that conflict is always a bad thing. Conflict, properly managed, is an opportunity for deeper understanding and personal growth. Initiates of the Coven make a commitment to use conflict as a positive personal growth tool.
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11.2. Initiates of the Coven make a commitment to accept that their brothers and sisters, as well as they themselves, are imperfect creatures striving for personal spiritual growth. As such they make a commitment to strive for a tolerant attitude towards the imperfections of their brothers and sisters without denying that those imperfections exist. In addition they make a commitment to face their own imperfections and to either choose to accept those imperfections and any undesirable behaviors or to take responsibility to try and change them.
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11.3. Initiates of the Coven also make a commitment to assist in the growth of their brothers and sisters. As such they accept that this sometimes requires pointing out the imperfections of their brothers and sisters as they perceive them, in a loving and constructive manner. In addition they make a commitment to try and assist in the change of those imperfections and any undesirable behaviors when requested to do so.
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11.4. Initiates of the Cottage Coven make a commitment to deal with each other in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust so far as their human nature will permit. As such, the first step in conflict resolution should always be handled between the individuals involved in sacred space. When necessary to provide this sacred space any of the individuals involved may call upon any other Initiate as a mediator in the conflict resolution process.
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11.5. Initiates of the Coven recognize that growth takes time and allow each other time for growth and change.
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11.6. Initiates of the Coven recognize that to agree respectfully to disagree is an acceptable resolution to conflict.
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11.7. Failure to attempt to resolve issues in a timely manner with a brother or sister within the Coven or to actively participate in the resolution process when requested shall be considered a serious breach of conduct and shall be addressed by the Coven Council.
ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION
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12.1. The Cottage Coven exists only as long as the Coven is in a relative state of harmony. Members who find that they are no longer in harmony with the path of the coven are honor bound to seek their own path. Members of the coven commit to part paths in love and trust should this happen.
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12.2. The Coven can only be dissolved by consensus of the Coven Council.
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12.3. Should there be a significant split along philosophical lines the members who have been Initiates of the Coven for the longest amount of time shall be considered the Keepers of the Tradition and shall continue the Coven. The members who are no longer in harmony with the elder members shall be encouraged and assisted to follow their own path. The members who remain shall form the new Coven Council.
ARTICLE XIII REVISING THE BY-LAWS
So Mote It Be!
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