BYLAWS

Article 1: Purpose

Covenant of the Seven Angels Church of Wicca (“The Church”) is organized exclusively for religious and educational purposes in association with Gala Witchcraft Tradition of Wicca (“Gala”), including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the International Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision(s) of any future United States Internal Revenue law).

Article 2: Offices

The principal office of The Church in the state of North Carolina shall be located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Church may have such other offices, either within or without the state of North Carolina, as the Board of Directors may designate or as the business of The Church may require from time to time.

Article 3: Members

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

3.1 Voting Members

Voting members are defined as Philosophus, Elders (“Elders”), 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.

3.2 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 4: Voting Procedures

4.1 Voting Methods

Votes can be cast in person at meetings, by proxy, by blackball, or through electronic means as determined appropriate by the Chairman of the Board (“Chairman”).

4.2 Voting Process

Notice of meetings where voting will occur must be given to all members at least 10 days in advance. The meeting agenda, including items to be voted on, will be provided to all voting members along with the notice of the meeting.

4.3 Quorum

A simple majority vote is required to pass most items unless otherwise specified in other organizational documents.

4.4 Tabulation & Reporting

Votes will be counted by a designated director or a neutral third party to ensure accuracy. Results of the vote will be announced to the voting body within thirty days after the meeting.

Article 5: 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, as defined in The Church’s Bylaws.

•          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.

In the event of Sede Vacante, the Chairman of the Board will maintain the running of The Church, while all of Gala’s Elder Councils vote a new Chief Elder into office. In the event that the Chairmain is also an Elder who must cast his vote, another non-Elder Director may be appointed the task of Interim Chairman. If all Directors on the Board are also Elders at the time in question, a non-Elder member of the Executive Committee may be chosen to fill in until the vote is finalized. To ensure that this Committee may be ready for this eventuality, at least one qualified Druid or High Priest of the Third Degree should always serve on the Executive Committee.

Article 6: 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.

The Board will conduct the business of The Church at a recurring quarterly meeting, scheduled among its members. Special meetings may be held as The Church’s business requires. All matters will be discussed and voted on as dictated by The Church’s governing documents.

The Board will have the responsibility of financial oversight, reporting, and resource management. All officers except for the Chief Elder are appointed for the next five years.

6.1 Officers

The officers of the Board of Directors comprise the Executive Committee, which is made up of the Chairman, the Secretary, and the Board Treasurer. The Executive Committee supports the Board of Directors, sets direction, manages priorities, tackles urgent issues, oversees projects, and establishes additional task forces when necessary.

6.1(a) Chairman

The head of the Board of Directors, responsible for overseeing Board meetings and ensuring the organization stays true to its mission.

6.1(b) Secretary

Maintains official records for The Church, takes minutes at the Board meetings, and ensures compliance with reporting requirements.

6.1(c) Board Treasurer

Manages the strategic planning regarding financial affairs of The Church, financial reporting, and overseeing financial regulations.

6.2 Committees

In order to provide continuity to The Church’s functionality and aid it in achieving its mission more effectively, these standing committees have been empowered to handle the organizational aspects of The Church’s routine and daily business.

6.2(a): The Steering Committee

The Steering Committee consists of Gala’s Scribe, Gala’s Treasurer, and Gala’s Summoner who oversee and guide specific projects, programs, or initiatives for both Gala’s Chief Elder and the Executive Committee, ensuring those projects, programs, or initiatives are aligned with organizational goals. They are appointed by Gala’s Chief Elder and selected from Gala’s various Covendoms.

6.2(b): The Ordination Committee

The Council of Clerics shall appoint a committee made up of its own members, known as the Ordination Committee. This committee is responsible for evaluating and recommending candidates for ordination. The process of ordination includes:

A.     Candidate applies for Clerical status.

B.     Committee conducts interviews regarding the candidates spiritual and personal qualifications. This may include written exams and background checks.

C.    Committee recommends qualified candidates to the Board of Directors.

D.    The Chairman of the Board submits the approved recommendations to Gala’s Chief Elder, who formally approves each candidate.

E.      Gala’s Chief Elder ordains the new Cleric.

F.      Committee members serve a term of five years.

6.3 Indemnification

Directors, officers, and other agents are eligible for indemnification if they act in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interest of The Church. Indemnification is not provided if the individual is found liable to The Church for willful misconduct, recklessness, or breach of fiduciary duty.

Article 7: Conflict of Interest Policy

7.1 Definitions

7.1(a) “Conflict of Interest”

A situation in which a person has a personal, professional, or financial interest that could potentially interfere with his objectivity, integrity, or loyalty to The Church.

7.1(b) “Interested Person”

Any person serving as a Director, officer, staff or volunteer who has a direct or indirect conflict of interest as defined above.

7.2 Procedure

All interested persons must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest to the Board of Directors. Disclosures must be made in writing and submitted to the Chairman or designated committee.

Upon disclosure of a conflict of interest, the Board of Directors will investigate and determine the appropriate course of action. The Board of Directors will decide whether the conflict of interest is significant enough to warrant recusal from the decision-making process. The minutes of the meeting should reflect the disclosure of the conflict and any and all recusals of the interested persons.

Article 8: Sexual Misconduct

The Church offers a counter voice to the sex negativity of Judeo-Christian culture. Therefore, The Church’s Sexual Misconduct Policy must, on the one hand, acknowledge the risk of sexual misconduct while on the other hand avoid the risk of the disembodiment of leaders who are called to model health and wholeness, including sexual wholeness.

Let it be affirmed that sex is a divine gift. The divine value of sex includes but is not limited to pleasure, procreation, intimate communications, grace, and love. This gift of sexuality is to be responsibly embraced by all people, whether partnered or single, lay or clergy. A complete and responsible sexual ethic embraces the beauty of relationships among people of many sexual orientations and gender identities.

A positive sexual ethic balances desire within the embodied framework of our emotional, physical, sexual and spiritual selves, while preserving and honoring mutuality and consent.

Following are some examples of certain behaviors that constitute sexual misconduct:do

A.     Sexual offenses against a minor; or

B.     Sexual abuse or sexual molestation of any person, including but not limited to any sexual involvement or sexual contact with a person who is legally incompetent or in any other way a vulnerable adult; or

C.    Using one’s position of privilege for sexual exploitation; or

D.    The attempt to develop a sexual relationship with a person with whom he has a pastoral or supervisory relationship.

A “pastoral relationship” is defined as a relationship between a Cleric, employee or volunteer and person receiving direct supervision, individual spiritual and/or pastoral counseling (including divination, spellwork, rituals, etc.), and providing confidential and/or privileged information to the Cleric.

At times, a Cleric may develop an appropriate sexual relationship with another consenting adult during the course of his service. If such consensual relationships are to be entered into, they should be addressed with extreme caution, openness and honesty, and a spirit of discernment.

Article 9: Amendment

If three-fifths of the Board of Directors agree, it may send amendments to these Bylaws to the General Assembly for approval. Amendments may be proposed at any meeting at which a quorum of two-thirds of the voting members 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 simple majority vote of the voting members in good standing 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 10: Branches

The Chief Elder has the sole authority to create new branches of The Church. Each chapter’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 chapter may consist of a central hearthstone serving various Covendoms and the covens, covensteads, and temples within those druidical districts.

Article 11: Fiscal Year

The Church’s fiscal year shall begin on the 1st day of July and end of the 30th day of June in each year.