CREATING YOUR CHURCH BYLAWS, REQUIREMENTS FOR CLERGY TO PERFORM
MARRIAGES IN YOUR STATE, OBTAING A NON-PROFIT MAILING PERMIT, OPENING A
CHURCH BANK ACCOUNT, AND CHECKING ZONING REGULATIONS.
THE CHURCH OF ......., INC.
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
(It is important that you not copy the above documents
verbatum)
CHECKING ON REQUIREMENTS FOR CLERGY TO REGISTER WITH LOCAL AND/OR STATE
OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO PERFORM MARRIAGES.
OBTAINING A NON-PROFIT MAILING PERMIT
The next step is to apply for a non-profit mailing permit. The importance
of this step cannot be over emphasized. This gives you even more
ammunition to use in proving that you are a church. The post office, by
giving you a permit, is acknowledging that you are in fact a non-profit
organization.
1. First, go to the main branch of your local
post office and ask for a third class non-profit mailing permit
application.
2. Next, fill the application out completely,
enclose the filing fee and send it back to the post office. You
should also enclose a copy of your State Incorporation
documents, the letter from the Association with the IRS letter
attached, and any other relevant documents.
3. Be prepared to wait an extended length of
time (although recently the wait has not been very long).
4. When you receive the permit, you may mail
letters or brochures at the rate of approx $ .098 cents per
item, but you have to have 300 of the same letter or brochure;
none may be personal mail, and they must all be related to
church business.
OPENING A CHURCH BANK ACCOUNT
Open a corporate bank account in the name of the church. You are again
establishing legitimacy to your efforts.
1. You will need a continuing resolution from
the board of directors to use (XXX) bank as your official church
banking institution.
2. Someone will have to be able to sign checks.
Designate either the president or the President and Secretary;
It is best if you get two accounts: a Money Market or savings
account and a general business account.
CHECKING LOCAL ZONING REGULATIONS CONCERNING YOUR CHURCH PROPERTY.
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