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                                   THE COVENANT OF THE GODDESS 
 
           PURPOSE
 
               The Covenant of the Goddess was founded in 1975 to increase
           cooperation among Witches,  and to secure for Witches and covens
           the legal  protection enjoyed by members of other religions.
 
           FUNCTIONS
 
               The Covenant publishes a newsletter;  issues ministerial
           credentials on request to qualified persons; sponsors a national
           festival each summer; and encourages networking nationally,  as
           well  as  regionally  through local councils.
 
           STRUCTURE
 
               The  Covenant is incorporated as a non-profit religious
           organization in California, though it has grown to be a
           nationwide organization.  It is a confederation of covens and
           solitaires  of  various  traditions,  who share in the worship of
           the Goddess and the Old Gods and subscribe to a common  code of
           ethics.  The Covenant holds a Grand Council annually to elect
           national officers, set a budget, and decide matters which require
           deliberation by the full membership.  Decisions are usually made
           by consensus.
 
           CODE OF ETHICS
 
               * An ye harm none, do as ye will.
 
               * Since our religion and arts and practices peculiar to it
           are the gift of  the Goddess,  membership and training in a local
           coven or tradition are bestowed free,  as gifts,  and only on
           those persons who are deemed worthy to receive them.  However, a
           coven may expect each of its members to bear a fair share of its
           ordinary operating expenses.
 
               * All persons have the right to charge reasonable fees for
           the services by which they earn a living,  so long as our
           religion  is  not thereby exploited.
 
               * Every person associated with this Covenant shall respect
           the autonomy and sovereignty of each coven, as well as the right
           of each coven to oversee the spiritual,  mental,  emotional and
           physical development of its members and students in its own way,
           and shall exercise reasonable caution against infringing upon
           that right in any way.
 
               * Members of this Covenant shall respect the traditional
           secrecy of our religion.
 
               * Members of this Covenant should ever  keep  in  mind  the
           underlying unity of our religion as well as the diversity of its
           manifestations.
 
 
 
 
                          Last amended June 11, 1989  --  Page NEXTRECORD 
 
 
                                                                              305
 
               *  These ethics shall be understood and interpreted in light
           of one another, and especially in light of the traditional laws
           of our  religion.
 
           CONFIDENTIALITY
 
               All information give to the Covenant of the Goddess or any of
           its officials  is considered strictly confidential,  unless you
           indicate otherwise.  No information about members is published or
           given  out  without explicit  written  permission.  Direct access
           to the Covenant's mailing list is limited to the Board of
           Directors.  Maximum privacy is assured.
 
           NEWSLETTER
 
               At every Sabbat the Covenant publishes a newsletter of Craft
           and  Pagan news,  original  articles,  poetry,  humor,  rituals
           and announcements.  Member covens receive  the  newsletter
           automatically.  Individual  coveners  and  non-members who donate
           a suitable tax-deductible gift will also be placed on the mailing
           list, to receive the newsletter and other mailings.  Circulation
           is  limited  to members and friends of the Covenant.
 
           FINANCES
 
               An  annual  membership  tithe is set every year by the Grand
           Council to cover bare expenses,  based on the previous  year's
           expenses  and  any projected  cost increases.  The annual
           financial statement is published in the newsletter.  Other
           activities  are  supported  by  fund-raising.
               All contributions to the Covenant of the Goddess are greatly
           appreciated and are tax-deductible.
 
           APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP
 
               Any Goddess-supporting coven or solitaire can be eligible
           for  membership  in  the  Covenant of the Goddess if certain
           criteria and requirements are met.  All inquiries into membership
           should  be  sent  to the National Credentials Officer.  If the
           coven or solitaire is in an area near a local council,  the
           National Officer will forward the inquiry to the local
           Credentials Officer, who will respond.  A member can apply in
           person at a council meeting, or by filling out the appropriate
           form and sending it in with the initial membership tithe.
 
           GENERAL CRITERIA FOR COVEN MEMBERSHIP
 
               * Generally focus thealogy and ritual, etc., around worship
           of the Goddess and the Old Gods (or the Goddess alone).
 
               * Believe and follow a code of ethics compatible with that of
           the Covenant.
 
               * Have been meeting monthly or oftener for at least six
           months.
 
 
 
 
                          Last amended June 11, 1989  --  Page NEXTRECORD 
 
 
                                                                              306
 
               * Have three more members who have been formally
           accepted into the clergy.
 
               * Be a cohesive, self-perpetuating group.
 
           REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP
 
               Full Membership:  The applicant must be recommended without
           reservation by two active members of the Covenant.
 
               Provisional Membership:  The applicant may be recommended by
           one  member;  and  then  within a year and a day make a viable
           effort to get to know other members, in order to achieve Full
           Member status.
 
               The appropriate Credentials Officer (National or  local)
           shall  verify information regarding criteria and credentials.
 
           COVEN-AT-LARGE
 
               This is the term we use to represent the many Witches who are
           solitaires, i.e. practicing alone.  Each local council may devise
           its own standards for admission of coveners-at-large,  in harmony
           with national guidelines.
 
           LOCAL COUNCILS
 
               A local council is a smaller branch of the Covenant,
           consisting of  at least three member covens of at least two
           different traditions, in
           reasonably close geographic proximity to each other.  The  local
           councils generally meet more often than the national
           organization.  They may initiate independent projects,
           sponsor local festivals and  workshops, and generally work
           together for common goals close to home.  As the Covenant
           continues to grow, we encourage new member covens close to one
           another to form their own local councils.
 
           VOTING
 
               When a matter requiring a decision is presented before the
           Covenant in council, it is discussed by the members in attendance
           until a consensus is reached.  If a consensus cannot be reached,
           then a vote is taken.  A coven  holding a current Full Membership
           is entitled to one vote.  Each such coven also holds the power to
           veto,  though this is exercised only in extreme cases.  A coven
           with Provisional Membership is entitled to one vote, but does not
           hold veto power.
 
 
               A coven-at-large is entitled to one vote if, and only if,
           three individuals are physically present at the council and
           unanimous in their choice of vote.
 
 
 
 
 
 
                          Last amended June 11, 1989  --  Page NEXTRECORD 
 
 
                                                                              307
 
           MINISTERIAL CREDENTIALS
 
               In order to receive Ministerial Credentials as a Priestess or
           Priest, a person shall:
 
               1.  Be an active member of a coven which is a Full Member of
           the  Covenant.
 
               2.  Have  been  "confirmed" to taking on the full commitment
           to the requirements of that coven's Tradition of our religion.
 
               3.  Have undergone at least a full year  of  active  training
           for  the ministry of that Tradition.
 
               These credentials shall remain valid only so long as the
           person remains an  active  member  of  the coven which remains an
           active member of the Covenant.
 
               In order to be eligible to receive Ministerial Credentials as
           an Elder, a person shall:
 
               1.  Satisfy (2.) and (3.) above.
 
               2.  Have undergone an additional full year of active training
           for  the ministry.
 
               3.  Be fully able to form a coven, admit members, and train
           them in the tenets and practices of that Tradition.
 
               These  credentials shall remain valid for life, unless
           specifically revoked, so long as the person remains in contact
           with the Covenant.
 
           THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL
 
               The annual Grand Council or national business meeting is held
           as  part of a national festival,  which is open to the whole
           membership as well as Pagans and Witches who are not part of the
           Covenant.  The
           festival is usually held at a secluded campground or resort,  and
           moves to a different area of the country each  summer.  In
           addition to  the council  meeting,  the  program  includes
           workshops  on magick and the Craft, concerts, a potluck feast, a
           talent show, and the opportunity to purchase (or barter for) art,
           crafts and ritual tools by  Pagan  artisans.  Registration
           information is available in the newsletter.
 
           FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
               Write to: Covenant of the Goddess, P.O. Box 1226, Berkeley,
           CA 94704.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                          Last amended June 11, 1989  --  Page NEXTRECORD 
 
 
                                                                              308
 


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