Correllian Ministry

SHRINES

 

-In Correllian parlance a Shrine is a place of worship similar to, but less formal than a Temple. Whereas a Temple must be headed by a Third-Degree Cleric, or under the direct imperium of a Third-Degree Cleric, a Shrine may be headed by a person of any Degree.

 

A Shrine may host study groups, retreats, and informal rituals. It may not however initiate new Clergy, or conduct formal rites such as handfastings, funerals, etc.. unless the Shrine Keeper is a Cleric trained to do so.

 

TYPES OF CORRELLIAN SHRINES

 

The Correllian Tradition recognizes several different levels of Shrines, in keeping with the varying needs of our membership.

 

Within the Correllian Tradition there are Shrines (also termed Personal Shrines), Formal Shrines, and Witan Shrines. Each of these is a little more formal than the one before, allowing for flexibility of organization. The simplest level of Shrine is very informal and highly personal in nature.

 

A Shrine does not have to stay at the level at which it is founded. A Shrine can begin as an informal Personal Shrine, and progress to a Witan Shrine and thence to a Temple, if that is what it wishes. Or it may remain a Personal or Formal Shrine and focus on a narrower range of activities than a Witan Shrine or Temple would.

 

Shrines may be founded as independent entities, solely under the administration of their founding Shrine Keeper. Or they may be founded as part of a larger entity such as a Temple, Order, or House of Contemplation, for the purpose of overseeing a specific aspect of the activities of the parent body and run as a branch of it.

 

In any event, to formally be a part of the Correllian Tradition a Shrine must be either recognized (Personal Shrine) or chartered (Formal or Witan Shrine). This gives the Shrine its official existence within the Tradition.

 

PERSONAL SHRINES

 

A Personal Shrine is an informal, private worship center maintained by an individual Correllian who acts as Shrine Keeper. The Shrine is essentially the personal property of its Keeper, who is free to direct the Shrine pretty much as s/he chooses within the guidelines set forth below. Sometimes a Shrine is formed as a less formal alternative to a Temple. Other times a Shrine may be formed to fulfil a specific function -as an annual ritual, social event, ministerial or charitable activity.

 

To be an official Correllian Personal Shrine, a Shrine must be recognized by the Tradition. A Shrine is given official existence through recognition rather than Chartering. Recognition may be obtained through application to the Council of Elders through the office of the Witan Hearld. Though a Shrine may be recognized by the Tradition, it is not an official body of the Tradition, but rather the private project of a Tradition member.

 

Any Correllian may act as a Shrine Keeper, because of the informal nature of a Shrine vs a Temple. A Keeper may be a Cleric of any Degree, or even an Outer Court Member, since a Personal Shrine performs no official ceremonies. However, for the same reason a Personal Shrine -no matter what the Degree of the Keeper- has no representation on the Witan Council.

 

A Personal Shrine can maintain a formal membership and may accept members of any Degree. A Shrine may also register new Outer Court Members under its own imperium. The Shrine is responsible for registering all such new Outer Court Members with the Correllian Tradition Master of Records.

 

A Shrine may not conduct official ceremonies representing the Tradition (such as initiation). However, a Shrine may conduct all manner of informal ceremonies and projects under its own imperium.

 

Similarly, a Shrine may study, but cannot formally teach Clerical Lessons. Nor may a Shrine initiate Clergy. 

 

A Shrine should keep good records of its membership, especially any new Outer Court Members whom it registers. However, because of its informal nature a Shrine need not keep financial records -but neither may it make any financial claims through the Tradition in regard to tax emption or other privileges.

 

The imperium of a Personal Shrine includes;

 

• Registration of Outer Court Members.

 

• The performance of all manner of informal rituals and activities.

 

• The study of Clerical lessons and other Correllian materials, or materials of interest to members.

 

 

The imperium of a Personal Shrine excludes;

 

• Formal rituals conducted in the name of the Tradition.

 

• Formal teaching of Clerical classes or initiation.

 

• Claims to legal or financial status through the Tradition.

 

• Representation on the Witan Council.