CO7A

Articles of Incorporation

AMENDED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

 

The undersigned, all of whom are citizens of the United States, desire to form a Nonprofit corporation in the State of North Carolina, United States of America.

 

Article 1: Name

The name of the organization is COVENANT OF THE SEVEN ANGELS CHURCH OF WICCA (“The Church”).

Article 2: Duration

The period of duration of The Church is perpetual.

Article 3: Purpose

The Church is organized exclusively for religious and educational purposes in association with Gala Witchcraft Tradition of Wicca (“Gala”). As a part of our mission to heal and empower Gay men through witchcraft, Gala teaches and affirms that sexuality is a sacrament. As part of the Wiccan Faith, we affirm that sexuality––when used between two consenting adults of sound mind and body to understand interconnectedness, to harness power, and to impart Divine Grace––is sacred. Ancillary to the stated purpose, The Church may also make distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision(s) of any future United States Internal Revenue law).

Article 4: Formation

4.1 Incorporator

The incorporator of The Church is:

Casey Giovinco

4.2 Initial Directors

The initial directors of The Church shall be Casey Giovinco.

4.3 Principal Offices

The Church’s principal offices are located in Greensboro, NC.

4.4 Registered Agent

The registered agent is:

Shawn M. Shadow

 

Article 5: Church Governance

The Church’s balance of powers must always be maintained. To that end, there must always be the Office of Gala’s Chief Elder, a Board of Directors, and The General Assembly within The Church.

 

5.1 Office of Gala’s Chief Elder

Gala’s Chief Elder shall serve as an ex officio honorary member of the Board for the term of his life or until he chooses to abdicate his office.

Gala’s Chief Elder has the right to:

  •   Create new branches of The Church.

  •   Confirm newly elected or appointed Board Members to their office.

  • Legitimize new Clerical Ordinations.

  • Perform regular and recurring assessments with the Board

  • Make recommendations to The Board to petition issues for a vote to the General Assembly.

  •   Convene the Grand Council for the purpose of:

  • Revocation of Church Membership.

  • Removal of Directors from The Board.

 

5.2 Gala’s Grand Council

The Grand Council does not meet on a fixed schedule. It is only convened when it is needed to decide on matters of importance to The Church. All Elders, having achieved the Grade of Philosophus, are eligible to sit on Gala’s Grand Council.

 

5.3 Board of Directors

The Board of Directors serves at the pleasure of Gala’s Chief Elder. Any member in good standing is eligible to sit on the Board. The Board is composed of up to seven directors. Each director is allocated one vote in any meeting. The number of directors may be increased or decreased from time to time by a majority vote of the General Assembly.

 

5.4 The General Assembly

The voice of the people is the voice of God. The General Assembly is made up of all voting members of The Church. The General Assembly votes on major issues that impact every Branch of The Church.

 

Article 6: Branches

Gala’s Chief Elder has the sole authority to create new branches of The Church. Each branch’s organizational documents must harmonize with The Church’s organizational documents, meet local jurisdictional requirements, and have a statement acknowledging their allegiance to The Church. Each branch may consist of a central hearthstone serving various covendoms and the covens, covensteads, and temples within those druidical districts.

Article 7: Membership

Any properly initiated witch within Gala, who is in good standing as defined below, is also a member of The Church.

7.1 Voting Members

Voting members are defined as Philosophus Elders (“Elders”) of Gala, Druids, and High Priests of Gala who have reached the Third Degree. The rights of voting members are:

  •         Voting Rights: voting members have the right to vote at general elections for the Board of Directors of The Church, approve the annual budget, and vote on any significant change to The Church’s mission, Bylaws, or Articles of Incorporation.

  •        Eligibility for Office: voting members have the right to run for and hold office or apply for clerical status.

  •         Information Rights: voting members have the right to be informed about significant changes to The Church’s mission, Bylaws, or Articles of Incorporation as well as meeting minutes and financial statements.

  •         Voluntary Dissolution: voting members have the right to approve a voluntary dissolution of The Church.

7.2 Non-Voting Members

Non-voting members are defined as those initiated witches of Gala who have reached the Grade of Practicus (Second Degree) and Covener (First Degree). The rights of non-voting members are:

  •         Participation in Meetings: non-voting members have the right to attend and participate in all meetings of The Church’s General Assembly.

  •        Information Rights: non-voting members have the right to be informed about significant changes to The Church’s mission, Bylaws, or Articles of Incorporation.

  •         Eligibility for Office: non-voting members have the right to run for and hold office within The Church.

Article 8: Amendments

If three-quarters of the Board of Directors agree, it may send amendments to these Articles to the General Assembly for approval. Amendments may be proposed at any meeting at which a quorum of three-quarters of voting members in good standing is declared present, provided appropriate notice of the amendment is sent to all members at least ten days before said meeting. The General Assembly must approve the amendments by a supermajority vote of three-quarters of the voting members present in order to send the amendments on to Gala’s Chief Elder for ratification. Gala’s Chief Elder then either ratifies or rejects the amendments in writing.

Article 9: Prohibited Distributions

No part of the net earnings of The Church shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purpose set forth in Article 3 hereof. No substantial part of the activities of The Church shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation; and The Church shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, The Church shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of The Church.

Article 10: Dissolution

Voluntary dissolution may only be enacted at a special meeting called for that purpose, at which seventy-five percent of the voting members are present. Appropriate notice must be provided by the Board of Directors to all voting members at least ten days before the special meeting.

If the Board of Directors agrees, it may recommend dissolution of The Church to the General Assembly. The General Assembly must approve dissolution by a supermajority vote of three-quarters of the voting members present in order to send the dissolution approval to Gala’s Chief Elder. Gala’s Chief Elder then either ratifies or rejects the dissolution request in writing.

Upon dissolution of The Church, the board of directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of The Church, dispose of all the assets of The Church exclusively for the purposes of The Church in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for religious and educational purposes, as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by any appropriate court in the jurisdiction where the principal office of the corporation is then located.