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Local Circles
Description
Starting a Local Circle
Active Circles
Certificate of Authority
A
Circle of the Order is a more involved structure than an Academy. We
encourage those who may be interested in starting a local Circle begin
by starting an Academy. When the number of students or level of
involvement in the Academy becomes too much of a burden for a single
teacher, or the Academy wishes to do more intense study and work,
then the group should consider expanding into a Circle.
An
active Circle should include several teachers each of whom teach
different groups of students or who alternate teaching
responsibilities. Circles can also include regular meetings and worship
activities for Pagan ceremonies. Circles also include an
organizational structure including a Council of Elders and Officers.
More information about this can be viewed on the Structures page.
It
is possible to create both an Academy and a Circle at the same time
provided there is at least one teacher who has earned the first degree
in the Order which can be done through personal or online studies from
an existing Circle or Minister.
To
create a Circle of the Order in your area, you need to take the
following steps:
- Create
an active Academy
of the Order (which must include at least one teacher of first degree
or higher);
- Gather
together several of the teachers and students who have become active in
the Academy and determine if there is interest in starting a Circle;
- Create
a Council of Elders (or Elders Pro Tem) and elect temporary officers;
- Create
an informative web page about your Circle;
- Create
and adopt a constitution. It should not conflict with the Order's Constitution.
Put a link to the constitution on your web site then print and sign
your Circle's copy;
- Create
a set of By-Laws
that describe how your Circle will operate including the following, add
these to your website, print and sign your Circle's copy;
The
by-laws should include the following:
- the name of the Circle (the ___ Circle of the Sacred Order of
Living Paganism);
- the location of the Circle (city and state);
- the history of the founding of the Circle;
- a section announcing affiliation with the Order and its
Principles and Precepts;
- the purpose of the Circle;
- the location, time, and dates of Academy classes;
- the location and approximate dates of Elder meetings (i.e.
every first Sunday at 7:00);
- a statement concerning financial power and operations;
- a process for making amendments to the By-Laws;
- degree and ordination requirements (including the Order's
Learning Requirements);
- a statement about the effect of the possible dissolution of
the Circle; and
- signatures from the officers.
- Contact
another active and incorporated Circle or Minister
of the Order and ask to be instated by that Circle. That Circle or
Minister will review the materials listed here to insure that they are
in line with the overall concepts of the Order.
Once
reviewed and accepted, the sponsoring Circle or Minister will journey
to the applying Circle's location and enact a Ceremony of Instatement
officially recognizing the new Circle. The applying Circle should be
responsible for funding ther costs of the sponsoring official.
Click
here to get download a checklist for
starting a Circle.
To see a list
of all active Circles and Academies go to the Groups page.
last updated August 11, 2007
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