General Structure

The Council of Elders

Officers

Annual Meetings

Discipline

Each Circle of the Order consists of Mentors, Teachers, Students and a Council of Elders who help to maintain continuity.  The Council of Elders is a group of four to nine Elders (or Elders pro tem) elected by an annual meeting of all active Elders of the Order. The Council of Elders of is responsible for:

• maintaining the academic integrity of the requirements of the Order;
• maintaining a list of members, Mentors, teachers, and students;
• maintaining a record of degree earning status;
• taking action to discipline members, if required;
• running annual meetings;
• accepting new members;
• promoting connections and support for students and Mentors;
• conferring degree awards including awards of distinction upon deserving students;
• registering Academies and new Chapters;
• acting as examples of caring spiritual administrators;
• and resolving any other issues or conflicts which may arise within the Chapter.

top

The Council of Elders is elected from an annual meeting of the Chapter. After that election, the Council then meets to choose its own officers. There are four offices within the Council: Summoner, Hierophant, Scribe, and Almoner. All decisions are made by majority vote. The term of office for the Council is one year.

top

The Summoner

The Summoner calls and runs all meetings of the Council and the annual meeting and can vote only in case of a tie. The Summoner is responsible for the overall operation of the Order but is not seen as Chairperson that directs these activities. His or her role is only to oversee the support and maintenance of the programs of the Order.

The Heirophant

The Hierophant assists the Grand Elder and other officers. The Hierophant is also in charge of the League of Youth Program and is considered the head teacher.

The Scribe

The Scribe is responsible for taking all notes in meetings and events, acts as Historian for the Order, and is in charge of maintaining all written and web documents of active members, Mentors, Academies and degrees, and coordinates all publicity and dissemination of information.

The Almoner

The Almoner takes care of all financial transactions for the Order including records and disbursements.

top

Once a year, preferably before the end of the year at Samhain, all members of each Circle of the Order shall have an annual meeting. At that meeting, at least the following should take place:

• a report of the Circle's financial activities is given by the Almoner;
• a report of the Circle's history of events and the state of membership and activities is given by the Scribe;
• a report on the League of Youth program and outreach projects is given by the Hierophant;
• a report on the overall state of the Circle and its future vision is given by the Summoner.
• the Council of Elders (or Elders pro tem) is nominated and elected;
• revisions to the By-Laws of the Circle are voted upon;
• recommendations to changes to the Order's Constitution and General Learning Requirements are voted upon;
• the Circle's budget for the coming year is proposed and voted upon;
• Other business important to the the future of the Circle and its vision is discussed.

top

The Sacred Order of Living Paganism is meant to be a religious order that honors and supports the study and practice of its members. In so doing, it is expected that its members live up to the code of honor expressed in the Five Precepts. It is relatively easy to join the Order, but remaining in the Order and receiving degrees in the Order carries the responsibility that its members act as examples of people of honor who live the affirming and caring life of dedicated Pagans. The Council of Elders of each Circle has the responsibility to respond to those who do not maintain these ideals.

Members of the Order may be removed from the Circle's list of active members by the Council of Elders if at least three signed written complaints have been delivered to the Grand Elder stating reasons for consideration of exclusion. If the Grand Elder feels these complaints have sufficient merit, he or she may call a meeting of the Council to decide on a course of action. Members removed from the list of active members may reapply for membership after a year. Members asked to leave the Order more than once may not be reinstated.

The same process can take place in consideration of removing teaching status from a Mentor or Academy teacher within a Circle. If three or more written statements by students concerning a Mentor are received by the Summoner, he or she may call a meeting of the Council to decide on a course of action. The Council can decide to remove the member from the list of Mentors.

All concerns expressed to the Summoner and the Council should be seen as opportunities to provide pastoral care and counseling to those who may be in need of such activity and not just as a chance to exert power over other members. Discipline should only take place when all other options for help and care can be provided for all members involved in a dispute or difficult situation.

top

updated 10/17/06