OFFICIAL BYLAWS
THE CHURCH OF ......., INC.
P.O. BOX 1234567
ANYWHERE, GEORGIA 30067
Approved by the International Church of .......
BYLAWS
OF THE
CHURCH OF ......., INC.
ARTICLE I
NAME
1.1 This religious organization shall be known as Church of
......., Inc. (hereinafter "Church"). The Church of ......., Inc. reserves the
name .......... for it's own use and no other church may use that name unless authorized
by charter from the Church of ......., Inc.
ARTICLE II
LOCATION
2.1 The Church shall maintain its principal office in the City of
.........., State of .........., or such other location as may be determined by the
President or the Council of Elders.
ARTICLE III
HISTORY
3.1 The Founder of the Church's United States Charter, received
a charter from the Order of Dynion Mwyn, a Welsh religious tradition, in Betws-y-Codd in
Wales, U.K. on January 5, 1966. The Founder established the Church in Washington D.C. on
November 1, 1966. It was incorporated in the State of Georgia on February 2, 1977.
ARTICLE IV
PURPOSE
4.1 The purpose of the Church shall be to support, proselytize,
publish, research and teach religious and esoteric arts, sciences and concepts; establish
and maintain places of worship in accordance with the traditions, rites and practices of Y
Tylwyth Teg religion; establish churches of the Y Tylwyth Teg religion in other counties
of the State of Georgia, in other states of the United States of America and in other
countries of the World; establish, maintain and conduct a school of natural healing,
religion and esoteric instruction for children and adults, known as Bangor Institute,
which will give academic degrees and provide courses of religious and esoteric
instruction, natural healing and psychic development; prepare individuals and qualify them
to be ordained into the priesthood; ordain priests and priestesses; create and administer
an organization known as The Association of Cymmry Wicca, whereby churches which are
separated from contact with other nature-oriented churches may exchange ideas and be
trained to teach and initiate; provide a means whereby nature religions may have an
official, moral and legal standing among other religions and in society-at-large; provide
a council where disputes between member churches, members, priests, priestesses and
elders, can be resolved with justice and impartiality; provide a means by which
like-minded people may unite with the idea of true freedom of religion; establish a
community of like-minded people who will have similar religious beliefs; establish the
community to be known as Camelot-of-the-Wood; and exercise any, all and every power to
which an establishment of religion is entitled.
ARTICLE V
CHURCH GOVERNMENT
5.1 The government of the Church shall be vested in a Board of
Directors (hereinafter "Council of Elders") composed of five (5) active members,
or such lesser number as is equal to the number of members of the Church, elected by the
membership. All Elders must be avowed members of Y Tylwyth Teg religion. If an Elder is
removed from office for any reason, the President may appoint a successor.
5.2 At the annual meeting of members of the Church, the successors to
the Elders shall be elected to office for a term which expires at the next annual meeting
of members. Elders shall hold office until their successors are qualified and chosen. Any
elder appointed by the President shall serve for one year and one day, and shall have and
exercise all rights and privileges given or granted to them by the bylaws.
5.3 The Elders elected by the membership shall serve for a term of two
years and shall have and exercise all rights and privileges given or granted to them by
the bylaws. Elders shall be elected at the annual meeting of members or at a special
meeting of members called for that purpose. If there are less than five members qualified
to serve on the Council, the President can, at his or her discretion, authorize a smaller
Council.
5.4 Resignation, Removal of Elders, and Filling Vacancies. The office
of an Elder becomes vacant if the Elder dies or resigns. Any Elder may resign at any time
by oral statement made at a meeting of the Council of Elders or in writing delivered to
the Secretary, which resignation shall take effect after a meeting of the Council of
Elders held to accept the resignation, and immediately after a letter has been sent to the
resigning Elder, confirming said resignation or at such other time as the Elder may
specify.
5.5 The Council of Elders may remove any Elder and thereby create a
vacancy in the Council: (a) if by order of a court they have been found to be of unsound
mind; (b) if within sixty days from the date of their election they do not qualify by
accepting in writing their election to such office, or by acting at a meeting of Elders.
5.6 All of the Elders, or individual Elder, may be removed from office,
without assigning cause, by the vote of the President, and after his death by The Council
of Elders. In case of such removal, a new Elder may be elected at the same meeting for the
unexpired term of each Elder removed. Failure to elect an Elder to fill the unexpired term
of any Elder removed shall be deemed to create a vacancy in the Council.
5.7 The remaining Elders, though less than a majority of the whole
Council, may by the vote of a majority of their number, fill any vacancy in the Council
for the unexpired term. Within the meaning of this section, a vacancy exists in case the
members fail at any time to elect the whole authorized number of Elders.
5.8 The Council of Elders is the final authority on matters of religion
or dispute within the Church. The Council, as a body, shall have all power and authority
in matters of religion within the Church.
5.9 Quorum; Adjournment. A quorum of the Council of Elders shall
consist of a majority of the whole authorized number of Elders; provided that a majority
of the Elders present at a meeting duly held, whether or not a quorum is present, may
adjourn such meeting from time to time. If any meeting is adjourned, notice of such
adjournment need not be given if the time and place to which such meeting is adjourned are
fixed and announced at such meeting. At each meeting of the Council of Elders at which a
quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by a majority vote of
those present except as in these ByLaws otherwise expressly provided.
ARTICLE VI
MEMBERSHIP
6.1 Classes. There shall be three classes of membership:
associate, probationary, and active. All applicants must undergo at least a six-month
probationary period before entering a different membership.
6.1.1 Associate Membership. Any person or organization in any
way interested in the activities of the Church, who accepts "The Thirteen
Precepts" and the Statement of Belief, and who agrees to abide by these Bylaws, may
be granted an Associate Membership under such terms and with such privileges as the
Council of Elders shall determine, excluding the right to vote on Church business.
6.1.2. Probationary Membership. Probationary members shall have
the rights and privileges of membership designated by the Council of Elders and Bylaws,
except the right to vote on general church business. A Probationary Member may serve on
one or more auxiliary committees and may vote on any matters restricted to that committee.
If a Probationary Member is found unsuitable, such may be removed from membership by a
voice vote of a quorum of the council of Elders at a special meeting. Such individual may
continue as an Associate member, at the discretion of the Council of Elders. A
Probationary Member must be trained according to the traditions of Y Tylwyth Teg faith.
6.1.3. Active Membership. Active members shall have all rights
and privileges of membership including the right to vote in general church business. A
Active Member may be removed from membership by a voice vote of a quorum of the Council of
Elders at a special meeting. An Active Member must be a First Level Initiate or higher.
6.2 Requirements for Active Membership
6.2.1. Any individual who is fifteen years of age or more, who agrees
to abide by the Bylaws, and any other rules or requirements as established by the Council
of Elders or the President, may be admitted into training for membership by acceptance of
the membership application by the President (or in his absence, the Council of Elders).
Such individual will be entered as an Associate member in a beginning course of
instruction until he/she has: attained the age of majority, been emancipated, has obtained
parental consent, in writing, and has completed the course of instruction. If such an
individual is a minor, he or she must obtain parental consent to be involved.
6.2.2. If the Associate member completes the required course of
instruction as designated by the Council of Elders and undergoes training determined by
the books of ritual and religious custom of Y Tylwyth Teg faith, said Associate member
shall become a Probationary Member. At the satisfactory completion of a year and a day of
training as a Probationary Member, completion of a "Quest" and having been
"Named", said member may be accepted as an Active member.
6.2.3. If a Active member is charged by another Active member with
conduct detrimental to the Church, and communicates this charge to the Council of Elders,
the Council of Elders shall consider the matter and if it shall deem further action
appropriate, shall set a time for a hearing, and shall direct the secretary to notify the
member of the allegation by the most expeditious means. If the member cannot appear upon
reasonable notice, another member will be appointed to represent them. Thereafter the
Council of Elders shall take action as deemed proper.
ARTICLE VII
PRIESTHOOD AND ORDINATION
7.1. Priests and Priestesses: To be ordained, the
priests and priestesses of the Church of ....... must meet the following requirements:
7.1.1. Age of majority or emancipation under state law of residence;
and
7.1.2. Be an Active member of the Church; and
7.1.3. Completion of a course of instruction prescribed by the Council
of Elders according to the customs and traditions of Y Tylwyth Teg faith.
7.1.4 If ordained, a priest or priestess will be issued a ordination
certificate, which can be revoked by the Council of Elders at a meeting called for that
purpose.
ARTICLE VIII
BUSINESS MEETINGS
8.1. Meeting of the Council of Elders: The Council of
Elders shall meet during the first week of every month at a time and place so designated
by the President.
8.2. Special Meeting of the Council of Elders: A special meeting
of the Council of Elders may be called by any Elder of the Council of Elders.
8.3. Regular Membership Meeting: The regular membership meeting
shall be held annually on the first Sunday of January, if not a legal holiday, and if a
legal holiday, then on the next succeeding Sunday, or on such other day as shall be
designated by the Council of Elders, at such time and at such place within the State of
Georgia as may be designated by the Council of Elders or by the President and specified in
the notice of such meeting at a time and place designated by the Council of Elders. All
Active members may attend and vote on business of the Church which shall consist of: the
consideration of reports to be laid before such meeting, and the transaction of such other
business as may properly be brought before such meeting.
8.4. Special Membership Meetings: Special meetings of the
members of The Church may be held on any day, when called by the President, any two Elders
of the Council of Elders at a meeting, or two-thirds majority vote of the Active
Membership at a meeting. Upon request in writing delivered either in person or by
registered mail to the President, or the Secretary by any persons entitled to call a
meeting of members, such officer shall forthwith cause to be given to the members entitled
thereto notice of a meeting to be held on a date not less than twenty nor more than thirty
days after the receipt of such request, as such officer may fix. Such notice must state
the purpose of the meeting and no other business may be acted upon. If such notice is not
given within thirty days after the delivery or mailing of such request, the persons
calling the meeting may fix the time of the meeting and give notice thereof in the manner
provided by law or as provided in these By-Laws, or cause such notice to be given by any
designated representative. Each special meeting shall be called to convene between 9:30
o'clock a.m. and 3:30 o'clock p.m. and shall be held at the principal office of The
Church, unless the same is called by the, acting with or without a meeting, in which case
such meeting may be held at any place within the State of Georgia designated by the
Council of Elders and specified in the notice of such meeting. The special meeting will be
presided over by the Council of Elders.
8.5 Notice of Meetings. Not less then twenty nor more than thirty days
before the date fixed for a meeting of members, written notice stating the time, place and
purpose of such meeting shall be given by or at the direction of the Secretary, or an
Assistant Secretary or any other person or persons required or permitted by these By-Laws
to give such notice. The notice shall be given by personal delivery or by mail to each
member entitled to notice of the meeting who is of record as of the day next preceding the
day on which notice is given or, if a record date therefor is duly fixed, of record as of
said date. If mailed, such notice shall be addressed to the members at their respective
addresses as they appear on the records of The Church, and notice shall be deemed to have
been given on the day so mailed.
8.6 Quorum; Adjournment. Except as may be otherwise provided by law or
by the Articles of Incorporation, at any meeting of the members of the Church entitled to
vote shall constitute a quorum for such meeting, but no action required by law, by the
Articles of Incorporation or by these By-laws to be authorized or taken by the members of
any particular class or of each class of The Church may be authorized or taken by a lesser
proportion. The president may adjourn such meeting from time to time. If any meeting is
adjourned, notice of such adjournment need not be given if the time and place to which
such meeting is adjourned are fixed and announced at such meeting.
8.5. Proxy Voting. Proxy voting shall be governed by the following
provisions:
8.5.1. Any Active member attending a meeting who has to leave prior to
casting a vote, may give his or her written proxy to any member of the Church who is in
good standing for the remainder of the meeting.
8.5.2. Decisions of the Council of Elders shall be carried with a
majority vote, whether in person or by proxy.
ARTICLE IX
AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
9.1. The officers of The Church shall have authority and shall
perform such duties as are customarily incident to their respective offices, or as may be
determined by the Council of Elders, regardless of whether such authority and duties are
customarily incident to such office. The officers of the Church and their duties shall
consist of:
9.1.1. President, he or she is the secular leader of the Church;
administers the business of the Church according to the provisions of The Articles of
Incorporation and the Bylaws; acts as Chief Executive Officer of the Church and its
auxiliaries; has general and active control of its affairs and business and general
supervision of its officers, agents and employees; and shall have custody of the
treasurer's bond, if any.
9.1.2. Vice President. The vice president shall be elected by
the Council of Elders and shall:
(a) assist the president; and
(b) shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her by the
Council of Elders.
9.1.2. Secretary. The Secretary shall be elected by the Council
of Elders and shall keep the Church Records, attend and record meetings, and perform such
other duties as designated by the Council including:
(a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the Membership Meetings and
the Council of Elders; and
(b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the
provisions of these bylaws or as required by law; and
(c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the
corporation and affix the seal to all documents when authorized by the Council of Elders;
and
(d) keep at its registered office or principal place of business a
record containing the names and addresses of all members and the class of membership of
each, unless such a record shall be kept at the office of the corporation's transfer agent
or registrar; and
(e) in general, perform all duties incident to the office as secretary
and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Council of
Elders.
9.1.3. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be elected by the Council
of Elders. The treasurer shall:
(a) be the principal financial officer of the corporation; and
(b) perform all other duties incident to the office of the treasurer
and, upon request of the Council, shall make such reports to it as may be required at any
time; and
(c) be the principal accounting officer of the corporation; The
Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the Church and be responsible for cash
receipts and disbursements; and
(d) have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be from
time to time prescribed by Council of Elders.
9.2. All officers may hold more than one office and have more than one
title, but the president may not hold the office of secretary.
ARTICLE X
COMMITTEES
10.1 The Council of Elders may at any time appoint from among
the members, an Executive, Finance, or other committee or committees, consisting of such
number of members, not less than three, as the Council of Elders may deem advisable. Each
such committee shall act only in the intervals between meetings of the Council of Elders
and shall have such authority of the Council of Elders as may, from time to time, be
delegated by the Council of Elders except the authority to fill vacancies on the Council
of Elders or in any committee thereof. Any person dealing with The Church shall be
entitled to rely upon any act or authorization of an act by any such committee, to the
same extent as an act or authorization of the Council of Elders. Each committee shall keep
full and complete records of all meetings and actions, which shall be open to inspection
by the Elders.
10.2 Unless otherwise ordered by the Council of Elders, any such
committee may prescribe its own rules for calling and holding meetings, and for its own
method of procedure, and may act at a meeting by a majority of its members, or without a
meeting by a writing or writings signed by all of its members.
10.3. An officer or Active member may serve on more than one Committee.
10.4. An Associate or Probationary member may serve on a maximum of two
committees.
ARTICLE XI
FINANCIAL ASSESSMENTS
11.1. The Church shall have the power to assess its membership
for support of the Church by the following methods:
donations, tithes, pledges, fees for services rendered by the Church,
the sale of books and newsletters, fund raising projects, the issuance of bonds,
borrowing, or other methods approved by the President or the majority vote of The Counsel
of Elders.
11.2. All donations made to the church by any member or non member,
will immediately become the property of the Church. The Church may accept absolutely or in
trust for any of the purposes herein set out, any gift, grant, or devise of any real or
personal property and carry on all other such activities not limited by section 501(c) (3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of America, or the corresponding
provisions of any subsequent law. Donations may be used for the purchase of Land, the
payment of expenses, salaries or for investments.
11.3. The Church shall have the power to pay salaries to its officers,
but no salaries shall be paid to the Counsel of Elders. Reimbursements for expenses
incurred by an Active member in carrying out the duties of an Elder may be paid.
ARTICLE XII
CHURCH CHARTERS
12.1. Other auxiliary, subsidiary or sister churches may be
chartered by The Church of ......., Inc. of Georgia upon approval by the Council of Elders
if such Church meets the following requirements:
12.1.1. Submission of a petition to the Council of Elders signed by two
Active members of Y Tylwyth Teg faith who are Second Level or higher, and who represent
two other Active members of Y Tylwyth Teg faith and desire to form a Church.
12.1.2. Written agreement that the Church will abide by the Bylaws of
the Church of ......., Inc. of Georgia.
12.1.3. Written agreement that the petitioning Church will abide by the
resolutions passed by the Council of Elders of the Church of ......., Inc. of Georgia
12.1.4. Written statement that the Church agrees that all disputes
between Churches chartered by the Church of ......., Inc. of Georgia shall be decided in
open Council by The Association of Cymmry Wicca of the Church of ........
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
13.1 These By-Laws may be amended or added to, or new By-Laws
may be adopted by the Council of Elders by a meeting held for such purpose, by the
affirmative vote of the Council of Elders empowered to exercise a majority of the voting
power on such proposal, or, without a meeting, by the written consent of the Council of
Elders entitled to exercise 100% of the voting power on such proposal.
ARTICLE XIV
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY
14.1 The religious authority of the Church of ......., Inc. of
Georgia is invested in the Council of Elders and shall not be subject to review by the
membership, except through election of elders.
ARTICLE XV
CHURCH RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
15.1 The Church of ......., Inc. was chartered by the State of
Georgia, United States of America on February 2, 1977 and has the sole right and
responsibility to:
15.1.1 Issue or revoke Church charters for churches of Y Tylwyth Teg
faith, through it's auxiliary, the Association of Cymmry Wicca of the Church of ........
15.1.2 Issue or revoke ordination certificates for priests and
priestesses (ministers) of Y Tylwyth Teg faith, through it's auxiliary, Bangor Institute.
15.1.3 Issue or revoke an IRS group exemption number to member
churches, through it's auxiliary, The Association of Cymmry Wicca of the Church of
........
ARTICLE XVI
CHURCH OF ....... AUXILIARIES
16.2. XXX Institute: is a wholly-owned auxiliary of the
Church of ......., Inc. The purpose of XXX Institute includes but is not limited to being
the education organization of Y Tylwyth Teg faith. It issues degrees and certificates to
members for completion of specified courses of study. The school is administered by two
Elders under the direction of the President.
16.3. YYY Ltd.: is a wholly-owned auxiliary of the Church of
......., Inc. Operations include but are not limited to the publishing of books and
materials authored by the President, as well as others. Published materials shall be in
keeping with the religious philosophy of Y Tylwyth Teg faith. XXX, Ltd. is administered by
two Elders under the direction of the President. XXX, Ltd. shall be a source of funding by
the Church, and all proceeds shall inure to the Church of ......., Inc.
16.4. ZZZ: is the official journal of the Church of .......,
Inc. and The Association of Cymmry Wicca. Operations include but are not limited to
publishing news and articles of interest pertaining to: The Church of ......., Inc., The
Association of Cymmry Wicca, or other auxiliaries of The Church of ......., Inc.
ARTICLE XVII
INDEMNIFICATION
17.1 The Church shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted
or authorized by Georgia Corporation Law as it may from time to time be amended, any
person made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit of proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by
reason of the fact that they are or were a Elder, officer or employee of The Church, or is
or was serving at the request of The Church as a Elder, trustee, officer or employee of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. In the case of
a merger into this Church of a constituent church or organization which, if its separate
existence had continued, would have been required to indemnify Elders, officers or
employees in specified situations prior to the merger, any person who served as a Elder,
officer or employee of the constituent church, or served at the request of the constituent
church as a Elder, trustee, officer or employee of another church, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be entitled to indemnification by this Church
(as the surviving church) for acts, omissions or other events or occurrences prior to the
merger to the same extent they would have been entitled to indemnification by the
constituent church if its separate existence had continued. The indemnification provided
by this Article IV shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person
seeking indemnification may be entitled under the articles of Incorporation or the
By-Laws, or any agreement, vote of members or disinterested Elders, or otherwise, both as
to action in the official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such
office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Elder, trustee, officer
or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of
such a person.
ARTICLE XVIII
MISCELLANEOUS
18.1 Waivers of Notice. Whenever notice is required by law, by
the articles of incorporation or by these bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by
the President, Elder or other person entitled to said notice, whether before or after the
time stated therein, or his or her appearance at such meeting in person or (in the case of
an annual membership meeting) by proxy, shall be equivalent to such notice.
18.2 The corporate seal of this Corporation shall be circular in form
and shall contain the name in this fashion: CHURCH OF Y TYLWYTH, INC. and
shall be in the form impressed on the margin hereof.
18.3 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be as
established by the Council of Elders.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF: the undersigned Elders approve these Bylaws, this
thirteenth day of April, of the year nineteen hundred and eighty eight:
___________________________________
President
___________________________________
Elder
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