FORMAL SHRINE
A Formal Shrine is basically the same
as a Personal Shrine, described above: a private worship center maintained by an
individual Correllian Tradition member of either Inner or Outer Court.
The difference is that a Personal Shrine and a Formal Shrine, the formal has a higher degree of recognition by the Tradition. has a higher set of requirements than an ordinary Shrine. Notably a Formal Shrine must keep detailed financial records and must file a yearly report with the Witan Herald every April 1st.
A Formal shrine is created by Charter rather than recognition. To be granted a charter as a Formal Shrine a Shrine must meet these criteria;
A) The Shrine must have been in existence as a recognized Shrine of the Correllian Tradition for a minimum of one year prior to applying for a charter as a Formal Shrine (three years is preferred).
B) To be chartered as a Formal Shrine a Shrine must be associated with a charitable activity or ministerial outreach project of some sort, beyond the celebration of worship.
Despite this a Formal Shrine, like an ordinary Shrine, has no representation on the Witan Council as it remains essentially a venture of its Shrine Keeper rather than of the Tradition as such. The imperium of a Formal Shrine differs from that of an ordinary Shrine in the following ways;
The imperium of a Formal Shrine includes;
• A requirement for charitable or ministerial outreach activity.
WITAN SHRINE (PROTO-TEMPLE)
A Witan Shrine is a Shrine founded in expectation of its later becoming a Temple. At this time all new Correllian Shrines must spend at least one year as a Witan Shrine, and one year as a Proto-Temple prior to being officially chartered as Temples of the Tradition.
A Witan Shrine and/or Proto Temple
functions in the same manner as a Personal Shrine, described above, with the
difference of its being considered a formal body of the Tradition rather than a
private function of the Shrine Keeper, and it’s focused toward developing the
functions of a Temple. Because it is in effect a proto-Temple, a Witan Shrine
must maintain good records of its membership and finances. A Witan Shrine may
register Outer Court Members like a Personal Shrine but may also teach and
initiate Clerical students under the terms described below.
A Witan Shrine/Proto-Temple is expected to hold ritual gatherings, and to fulfill the other functions normally expected of a Temple. A Witan Shrine/Proto-Temple may hold informal rituals like a Personal Shrine, but it also may hold formal rituals in the name of the Tradition (within the scope of the Shrine/Proto Keepers imperium) and it may also formally teach initiatory and other classes.
The Keeper of a Witan Shrine/Proto-Temple
must be a member of the Third-Degree High Priesthood, or a person studying
toward Third Degree and under the imperium of a Third-Degree sponsor approved
by the Council of Elders. A Witan Shrine/Proto-Temple may initiate students,
providing that Keeper holds Third Degree status. If the Keeper does not yet
have Third Degree status, initiations must either be via self-initiation or
must be conducted by the Shrine Keeper’s Third-Degree sponsor or by another Third-Degree
High Priest/ess acting as the representative of the sponsor.
Unlike Personal and Formal Shrines, a Witan Shrine/Proto-Temple is considered a formal body of the Tradition. A Keeper is not regarded as having a seat on the Witan Council, and hence has no vote in the Council, but may attend and participate in the Council on the same basis as Acting Heads of Temples.
When a Witan Shrine has completed its time as a Witan Shrine and Proto-Temple it receives its charter as a Temple, the Keeper becomes recognized as the seated Head of Temple.
If, however the Keeper is below Third Degree when the Temple is chartered and they act under the imperium of a Third-Degree sponsor, the Head shall be recognized as Acting Head of Temple under their sponsors imperium until they have themselves attained the Third Degree, at which time they shall be fully seated on the Witan.
The imperium of a Witan Shrine/Proto-Temple includes;
• Registration of Outer Court Members
• Formal and informal worship services.
• Community-oriented and charitable activities.
• Registration of Outer Court Members.
• Formal teaching and initiation of Clergy subject to the terms discussed above.
• Teaching of other classes or materials as may be desired.
• Status as a formal body of the Tradition.
The imperium of a Witan Shrine/Proto-Temple excludes;
• Representation on the Witan Council.