Correllian Ministry

TEMPLES

 

The principle public expression of the Correllian Tradition is the Temple. A Temple is a formal body of the Tradition, created to facilitate public or semi-public worship, community activities, and the teaching and initiation of Correllian Clergy.

 

A Temple exists to serve its members and to represent the Tradition in an active and positive fashion. Among the principal functions of a Temple is the regular performance of worship ceremonies, especially in conjunction with the eight major holidays. A Temple may conduct formal ceremonies in the Tradition's name (such as initiations) as well the various holiday ceremonies and any other ceremonies it wishes.

 

A Temple may formally teach and initiate new Clergy of all Degrees, as well as register new Outer Court Members. The Temple is responsible for registering all such new members and advances in member's status with the Tradition.

 

A Correllian Temple may also speak on behalf of the Tradition in matters of established policy. However, in matters where no established policies have been adopted each Temple should remember to speak only for itself. Temples are encouraged to involve themselves in community activities, charitable activities, and ministerial outreach programs -especially in their local Pagan community. Moreover, Temples are encouraged to build a social infrastructure for their members to strengthen bonds between them as well as provide assistance in times of need.

 

The inner workings of a Correllian Temple are pretty much left up to its members and leadership. All Correllian Temples are part of the integrated whole of the Tradition in their outer functioning but are also largely independent in their inner functioning. The Tradition requires certain structural elements whose purpose is to facilitate smooth interactions between Temple and Tradition, as well as between Temples in general.

 

A Correllian Temple may only be created by charter of the Tradition, which may only be granted by the Tradition Heads through the Chancellor's Office. This is because a Correllian Temple serves as an official body of the Tradition, and because it shares in the Traditions tax status, necessitating close relations with the central leadership of the Tradition. A charter establishes a Temples name, initial leadership, and identity within the Tradition.

 

In addition, when a Temple is chartered its initial Temple Head is also chartered and empowered to set up and administer the Temple. Only one person may be seated as Temple Head, and this person is solely responsible for the maintenance of the temple and for representing it to the Tradition. It is the Temple Head who will represent the Temple in the Witan Council when the Council is convened. For more information on the role of Temple Head see our section on structure and also our suggested Temple bylaws.

 

Ordinarily a Temple may only be headed by a Third-Degree High Priest/ess. In certain situations, however the Tradition may charter a Cleric of lesser Degree who is studying for Third Degree to serve as Acting Temple Head under the direct imperium of a Third-Degree sponsor. In this case the Third-Degree Sponsor must oversee the actions of the Acting Temple Head until s/he has attained Third Degree status in her/his own right.

 

The Temple Head will set up the Temple’s initial Board of Directors. A Temple Head may also appoint a Co-Head of Temple who will aid in the daily running of the Temple. The Co-Head has equal dignity with the Head of Temple, but a slightly lesser imperium. A Co-Head of Temple may attend and address meetings of the Witan Council, but the Temple has only one vote in the Council, and it is the Temple Head who is responsible for casting it. This is because the Temple Head is chartered by the Tradition based upon the Tradition’s knowledge of and trust in her or him, while the appointed Co-Head of a Temple may not be well known by the Tradition.

 

Occasionally a Co-Head of Temple may -at the discretion of the Tradition leadership- be granted full standing in the Witan, but this is not to be expected. Commonly the Head and Co-Head of a Temple will be its Chief Priestess and Chief Priest, or vice versa, but this need not always be so.

 

A Temple must also have a Chief Director who is responsible to the Tradition for maintaining the Temple's records and paperwork. Initially this is often the same person as the Temple Head.

 

Correllian Temples are expected to conform to the basic tenets of Correllianism, but are given great leeway in the actual running of the Temple.

 

The imperium of a Temple includes;

 

• Registration of new Outer Court Members.

 

• The right to formally teach Clerical and other classes in the Tradition's name.

 

• Initiation of new Clergy.

 

• Conducting formal ceremonies in the Tradition's name.

 

• Representation by the Head of Temple in the Witan Council.

 

• The right to speak on behalf of the Tradition in matters of established policy.

 

The imperium of a Temple excludes;

 

• The right to speak on behalf of the Tradition in matters of unresolved policy.

 

• Making commitments of any sort on behalf of the Tradition unless specifically empowered to do so (in writing).

 

• Superseding or ignoring the rules of the Tradition as set out in our bylaws, and collateral writings.