To past and present members of the Church of All Worlds Inc;
To Those who have informally associated with CAW Inc and its Culture,
Beliefs and Tradition(s) without being Church members;
and all Interested Parties,
Greetings:
I offer all of you, Water.
When, The "Church of All Worlds Inc"'s (CAW Inc.) Ohio Board of Directors (BoD) tried to discorporate CAW Inc. in favor of iCAW Inc, a separate organization, I believed that something needed to be done to preserve the CAW Tradition as it has evolved to up until now. Since then, Oberon Zell Ravenheart reincorporated the Church in California.
I set up the CAWTN as a stop gap measure, but CAW is operational again, so maybe CAWTN will become an CAW Sub-Organization outreach to the "unchurched" or something. I had to do something now fill the vacuum with something, so I chose something the Ravenheart clan advocated. So, in a very real sense CAWTN is Oberon's project. It's also time to re-light the Unicorn Party as a possible sub-Trad within CAWTN.
Therefore, We Declare, Document, and Establish the desire of many Peoples, both present and past members, and including all those who chose to affiliate themselves with CAW and its culture without becoming formal members, to retain and improve upon The Church of All Worlds Tradition (CAWT) both within iCAW Inc, CAW III, and most certainly outside of them. The relationships which have been created over the years because of the CAWT still continue, whether or not a formal corporate Church contains them, and its social and religious world view within the general Neo-Pagan Tradition(s). FAQ: "What kind of Organization are you proposing ?" It's a new Network and Association -- it's a Disorganization...
I hope we'll all remain Water Brothers: those who have revived CAW Inc. (of which I am a part), those who have choosen to join iCAW, and those who have chosen, or will choose to go, Their Own Sweet Way. So, choose and honor the CAWT, and its CAW Precepts for Robert Heinlein and his heirs didn't give any exclusive rights to CAW Inc or any other *CAW to manifest his ideas in the first place. The formation of the CAWT within CAW as well as outside it is inevitable, regardless of its ultimate form. I'm trying to evolve an alternative that will work during Cusps like the one CAW just passed through. Most of the original CAW Bylaws numbering has been kept intact for easy comparison. Basically, if it's deleted then it's not relevant, and strikeouts are there for effect. The current Document is now the Bylaws of an active organization, as of March 1, 2005. Version 3.6 has some minor changes...
![[DoubleTree]](./images/netree.gif) |
The BYLAWS
of the
Church of All Worlds Tradition Network. |
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| The Church of All Worlds Tradition Network (CAWTN) is an associative Network, whose name outside the Internet shall be "The Church of All Worlds Tradition Association (Network)". |
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Whereas, the Church of All Worlds Inc. is reforming under Oberon Zell Ravenheart, the CAWTN will continue and its p-nest program because it's alot more liberal than what CAW Proto-nest needed to do to qualify as an offical CAW P-nest. Another change is that CAWTN Priest/ess, Scion, Minister designations are more honorary than they were before.
- Dedication-We recognize the need to affirm Life in a world that is being strangled by the worship of death. So We, the Church of All World's present and former Clergy, Scions and Members do re-establish and re-ordain on Gaea, a vital Pagan Tradition, the Church of All Worlds Tradition, dedicated to Life's celebration, The actualization of maximum Human potential, and realization of our ultimate individual freedom in personal responsibility for a harmonious eco-psychic relationship(s) with our Holy Mother Earth's Biosphere.
- Mission Statement-The mission of the Church of All Worlds Tradition Network (CAWTN), is to aid in CAW's ground breaking efforts to form a Network of information, Mythology and Experience, in order to awake the Divine within ourselves, and to provide an Association for the re-awakening of Gaea, reuniting Her children through our tribal community dedicated to responsible stewardship, and the evolution of consciousness. To these ends we do respectively propose the following Articles:
- 1.1: The name of the Association shall be the Church of All Worlds Tradition Network (CAWTN), aka "The CAWT Association Network(CAWTAN)", which is envisioned become a non-profit 501(c)(3) religious organization, incorporated in the State of California in the United States if and when it becomes appropriate, and at this time it isn't.
ARTICLE II
Our Purpose
- 2.1: The purposes of the CAW Tradition Network (Association) are as follows:
- 2.1.1: We shall attempt to increase Total Consciousness, individually, collectively, and synergically, within all the states of our Being, in emergent Evolution's unfolding courses,
- 2.1.2: We shall aid both individuals and groups to realize the maximum actualization of their Human potential, leading to a consequential realization of ultimate individual freedom and personal responsibility, and to help others become all that they can be;
- 2.1.3:
We will work towards Life-affirming alternatives to hatred, prejudice, intolerance, war, violence, greed, as well as those actions and policies, both societal and individual, that paralyze humankind with fear, ignorance, alienation and guilt.(/DD>
- 2.1.4: We will continue to provide mutual encouragement and help in the Universal search for Meaning through an association with similarly oriented persons in love and acceptance;
- 2.1.5: We want to continue to assist interested persons in searching for alternatives to the established religions and their institutions, to assist individuals in integrating life-affirming values and practices into their present religious or spiritual paths, to assist them in keeping and enriching those past affiliations, and rejecting that which is negative or are no longer individually revelant to them ;
- 2.1.6: We want the emergance of independant institutions called Churches, Nests, Centers, Groves,or Temples) through which Seekers, etc, may locate and communicate with each other to continue;
- 2.1.7: We want to encourage reading, study and growth on the part of those within the CAWT Tradition, and to make literature in various relevant fields more readily available;
- 2.1.8: We will continue to publish e-zines, blogs, newsletters, papers, (e-)magazines, pamphlets, books, directories and other materials deemed appropriate to our purposes ;
- 2.1.9: We will continue to establish and maintain religious orders, communities,
schools, colleges, libraries, research facilities, wilderness sanctuaries, retreats, camps, festivals, and rites and rituals in accordance with our purposes, needs and desires;
- 2.1.10:
We will continue to provide Rituals for all possible means of recycling of the bodies of our deceased Waterbrothers consistent with eco-psychic awareness and personal desire;
- 2.1.11: We will continue to establish and ordain various Sacraments and Rituals for the CAWT.
;
- 2.1.12:
To receive money, property, and values of every kind heretofore donated, contributed, collected, and held, and to receive, and hold money, property and values of every kind that might be donated, contributed, collected and held, for the benefit of this religious organization;
- 2.1.13: We choose to work, associate, and affiliate with other individuals, churches, agencies and groups promoting peace, love, joy, freedom, mutual respect and cooperation among peoples, tribal communities, planetary stewardships, personal awareness and development, for the celebration of life and the eco-psychic recovery of the Natural Wilderness, and to aid and support such people in such efforts consistant with the purposes and principles of the CAWT;
- 2.1.14: And, to engage in and promote any functions, services and activities deemed appropriate, necessary or expedient for the purposes of the CAWTN.
- 3.l: The CAWTN has no formal membership. Affilitates of the CAWTN may choose to display the Green Gaiarinth or Double Tree. We continue to accept the previous circle and ring progressions of CAW Inc's membership structure for honorary purposes, but some necessary alterations have been made, because Ministers and Scions will to be given new responsibilities, and the Priesthood are Independent Practitioners who work as Spiritual Advisors, Providers and Initiators. Those that have had formal Waterbrotherhood ties within CAW or iCAW are associates, as *CAW Waterbrotherhood is a Permanent Relationship Bond.
- 3.l.1: Dues. There are no Dues or Tithes. Donations, are gratefully welcome of course, but they're not really expected.
- 3.l.2: Cash, Work Trades and Scholarships may be offered in trade and commerce with the recognized Clergy and among each other. (All former *CAW Priest/esses and former *CAW Scions, regardless of CAW or iCAW Present or Exit Status are recognised as honorary CAWTN Priest/esses or Ministers respectively. Preist/esses may charge for individual services such as instruction and certification, etc. (CAWTN associates can continue to sell stuff).
- 3.2: Rings and Circles. Association shall be organized in degrees of introgression inwards on the Gaia/Dearrinth (or another Pattern if we are denied use of them) are as follows...
- 3.2.1: Three Rings of three Circles each, Each Ring to be known (from outer to inner) respectively as Seekers, Scions, (plus Ministers) and Priests/Priestesses (Priesthood).
- 3.2.2: Associates may be referred to by designation of a Circle, one through and nine inclusive, divided into three Rings. "Circles" are inherited from SISL CAW.
- 4.1: The First Ring shall be the Seekers, who are identified by the color Green, to be used in e-Zines, newsletters and ceremonial vestments. They shall be grouped in the following three Circles, by qualifications to be determined and amended by each independant Nest:
- 4.1.1: First Circle (identified with the planet Pluto and its symbols.)
- 4.1.2: Second Circle, (identified with the planet Neptune and its symbols.)
- 4.1.3: Third Circle (identified with the planet Uranus and its symbols.), which is equivalent to the First Degree of Wicca
5.1: The Second Ring shall consist of Scions, to be identified by the color Red, to be used in e-Zines, newsletters, and in ceremonial vestments. They shall be grouped into two circles by qualifications determined and amended by each Nest Coordinator, and a third circle (6th Circle Ministers and Postulants) which shall be initially defined herein and later determined and amended by individual Priest/esses:
5.1.1: Fourth Circle (identified with the planet Saturn and its symbols.), and is equivalent to a Deacon.
5.1.2: Fifth Circle (identified with the planet Jupiter and its symbols.), and is equivalent to an Assistant Minister.
5.1.3: Sixth Circle (identified with the planet Mars and its symbols.), which are Ministers or Postulants.
5.2: Duties of Scions may include management of Nest programs, and any other such duties as may be determined by their Nest Council, or leadership arrangement. They may form a Scion Council.
5.3: Tracks. Scions may follow one or more alternate tracks through the Second Ring including but not limited to: Support Services; "Forever Forests" Earth Stewardship. *CAW Magical Guilds are now both independant Guilds and Guilds within a Nest structure.
5.4: Ministers. In special cases an individual Priest/ess or Minister may approve a Scion to the 6th Circle as a Minister and may issue Ministerial Credentials as they see fit. A 6th Circle Scion is a Minister without Credentials. The only requirement for 6th Circle is the successful performance of a Master Ritual written and performed by a Fifth Circle Scion before a Priest/ess or Minister. CAWT Ministers shall function as minor clergy. All Present and Past Scions as of 2-28-2005 shall be be exempt from this requirement, because they are moved inwards (Grandparented) to the 6th Circle Minister to reflect the changes in emphasis for Future Scions. A 6th Circle Scion may be both a Minister and a Postulant. Present Postulants are responsible for their own progression to the Priesthood, through a Priest/ess. However, "Your mileage may vary." within CAW or another instances of the CAWT ;->
5.4.1: Ministers and Prior/esses shall be regarded as Clergy, but not as part of the Priesthood, which is a designation reserved for Those accepted into the Third Ring by a Priest/ess.
5.4.2: Priest/esses and Ministers may form his/her Ministry as a Nest of one or more persons inclusive.
5.5: Priories. A Minister may choose to be a spiritual steward for Sacred Land involving a Temple or a community of votaries (A Nest with a Forever Forests Guild). Such person may be nominated by their community and shall be installed as a Prior or Prioress whose duties shall be determined by a Priory Nest, include administrative and ministerial functions.
- 6.1: The Third Ring shall consist of all past and present Priests and Priestesses of CAW and iCAW, and possibly. The CAW List of Active, Retired, Resigned, Quit, etc (Fell off the Planet, Got the Hel out of Dodge... ) Priest/esses for the purposes of CAWTN, are VOID. All past Priest/esses are considered to be active unless they notify the CAWTN that they want nothing to do with the CAWT!. Priest/esses are identified by the color Blue or Purple, as used in e-Zines, newsletters, and ceremonial vestments. They shall be grouped into the following three Circles, by qualifications to be determined and amended by the Council of the Third Ring (aka, the Priesthood Council), which is a cultural group existing independantly of any formal Church or other organization.
- 6.1.1: Seventh Circle (identified with the planet Earth and its symbols.)
- 6.1.2: Eighth Circle (identified with the planet Venus and its symbols.)
- 6.1.3: Ninth Circle (identified with the planet Mercury and its symbols.)
- 6.2: The Priesthood may provide spiritual guidance and counsel to CAWTN associates and Nests, hosting and officiating various ceremonies and services, Administering the Sacraments, writing and preparing rituals, participate Clergy and Priesthood Councils, sponsor and aid 6th Circle Postulants to the Priesthood, facilitate communications among Nests, etc. They need NOT associate themselves with a Nest.
- 6.3: Ordination into the Priesthood may be bestowed upon Scions who have completed all the currently stated qualifications of the Sixth Circle and may be approved and ordained by the sponsoring Priest/ess.
- 6.4: High Priest and High Priestess. The titles "High Priest" and High Priestess" are honorific. These are religious titles granted in recognition of such individuals as the foremost Clergy representatives of the CAWTN, and are meant primarily to denote such status in interactions outside of the CAWTN, such as interfaith conferences and forums, public interviews, media presentations, etc. where it is appropriate to have authorized representatives for the entire CAWTN designated by suitable titles of achievement and/or honor. The number and qualifications for HPs and HPSs shall be the business of each individual Priest/ess or the Priesthood Council.
- 6.4.1: Qualifications. for Future HP and HPS may be determined by each individual Priest/ess or by a Priesthood Council.
- 6.4.2: Terms of office. There are no terms of office. It shall be the duty of said persons to select and train their successors.
- 7.1: To honor Oberon G'Zell Ravenheart for his many years of service to the Church of All Worlds Inc, and to acknowledge him as co-founder of CAW Inc, and in recognition of his well-known abilities as an excellent representative of the larger primate family, he may choose to be known as The Primate, may hold this position for as long as he desires to, and may accept or decline the title as for as many times as chooses to.
- 7.2: Duties of the Primate shall include all appropriate duties of a general spokesperson, integration of the changing awareness of society into the vision of the CAWT, and coordination of relationships with other groups within the larger Pagan community. The Primate should keep himself well informed enough on all phases of both the Church of All Worlds Tradition Network and Neo-Paganism as a whole, but that is just a suggestion.
- 7.3: The Primate is considered to be of the Ninth Circle. As he is of the 9th circle, therefore all of his Waterbrothers who are Present Scions and inwards are of the Ninth circle within rituals. The working definition of the Ninth circle is the Sacred Space of Waterbrotherhood at the center of the Gaia/Dearinth (or Sacred Circle) where the Numinous Dwells.;
10.1: Administration of CAWTN is on a volunteer basis.
ARTICLE XI
SUBORDINATE ORGANIZATIONS
11: CAW Inc. Subsidiaries and Subordinate Organizations may evolve independantly.
- 12.1: Nests. The basic congregational unit of the CAWTN is the Nest. A Basic Nest is a small intimate group, usually about three people (a minimum of three people who are CAW members is not required). Their purpose is to learn about, discuss, and creatively practice the Purposes of the CAWT. A Nest may meet in several places under different leaderships, may have multiple instances, and may form sub-groups within a Nest, and may form for almost any purpose relating to the CAWT. CAW Branchs, Sub-Organizations, and Nests that have discorporated are still considered to be Nests by the CAWTN.
- 12.1.1: Nests shall be independant units which have agreed to adopt and practice the values and purposes of the CAWTN, which were the values and the purposes of CAW. To this end they may form Guilds within their Nests. For example, the "Forever Forests" Guild is to honor Gwydion Pendderwen. It can be an independent Guild and also a Nest Guild.
- 12.1.1.1: Nests need not have open meetings and may determine their own internal structure, HP and HPSs, and methods of participation, etc. No reports are required, but they're encouraged. Post them in CAWT_Network Yahoo! Group
- 12.2.3: Cyber-Nests. On-line lists, and other online activities (such as chat rooms, IRC, Blogs, Data Swapping, etc.), which serve their members in an online Nest-like capacity, may, if they so choose consider themselves as Proto-Nests. Cyber-Nests affiliated with CAWTN shall be regarded as non-local (P-Nest) congregations of the CAWTN.
- 12.5: Nest Coordinator. Each Nest may designate an individual to take on the major responsibilities of administration, contact and organization of the Nest. Such person shall be be a Scion, and may take on the title of Nest Coordinator, and the NC should be at least 18 years of age. There are no doctrinal constraints upon Nests, except advocating the forced extinction or massive Depopulation of Humanity for the Greater Good of Gaea, or for any other reason.
ARTICLE XIV
COUNCILS
- 14.1: Seekers of the Second through Third Circles shall be the general laity, whose members may participate fully in the spiritual life of the CAWTN, serve on any future committees, partake in open meetings, and have any other privileges and responsibilities as may be designated by the Scion, Clergy and Priesthood Councils.
- 14.3: Clergy Council. Ministers, Prior/esses, and Priest/esses combined may constitute the Clergy Council.
- 14.4: Priesthood Council. Members of the Third Ring may constitute a Priesthood Council. This Council shall advance the Vision and spiritual direction of the CAWT.
- 14.6.1: Duties of the Nest Council. The Nest Council (if a Nest chooses to have one) membership may include Nest members of any circle, and may deal with all those matters which are the exclusive concern of the particular individual Nests, rather than of concern to the CAWTN as a whole.
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