                        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  protec-
    tion 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 mem-
    bers 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 cove 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.

    *  These  ethics  shall  be understoond and interpreted in light of one
    another,  and especially in light of the traditional laws of our  reli-
    gion.

CONFIDENTIALITY

    All information give to the Covenant of the Goddess or any of its offi-
    cials  is considered strictly confidential,  unless you indicate other-
    wise.  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  co-
    veners  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 appre-
    ciated and are tax-deductible.

APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP

    Any Goddess-supporting coven or solitaire can be eligible  for  member-
    ship  in  the  Covenant of the Goddess if certain criteria and require-
    ments 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 God-
    dess and the Old Gods (or the Goddess alone).

    * Believe and follow a code of ethics compatible with that of the Cove-
    nant.

    * Have beem meeting monthly or oftener for at least six months.

    * Have three more 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  mem-
    ber;  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 soli-
    taires,  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  coun-
    cils  generally  meet  more often than the national organization.  They
    may initiate independent projects,  sponsor local festivals  and  work-
    shops,  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 indi-
    viduals  are  physically  present at the council and unanimous in their
    choice of vote.

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  Cove-
    nant.

    2.  Have  been  "confirmed" to taking on the full commitment to the re-
    quirements 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 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  arti-
    sans.  Registration information is available in the newsletter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    Write to: Covenant of the Goddess, P.O. Box 1226, Berkeley, CA 94704.
