Cult-Proof Your Coven: Charter Template with Egalitarian Structure

Article V – Leadership Council’s Roles and Responsibilities:

A. Any initiated member of [Coven Name] may be considered for ministerial positions on the Leadership Council.
B. The ministerial positions are based on gender balance with focus on receptive and projective mysteries; however, we will not discriminate based on physical gender.
C. Every effort will be made to maintain the Maiden, Summoner, High Priest and High Priestess as gender specific to their primary gender identity.

Section 1 – Spirit Ministry is defined as the High Priest, High Priestess, Maiden, Summoner

A. High Priest:

1. Ritual leadership at Sabbats and Rites of Passage.
2. Coordinates Masculine mystery work.
3. AthameBearer
4. Participates in governance and stewardship to fulfill mission and Great Work of [Coven Name].
5. Teaching and mentorship.
6. Participates in interfaith work and Pagan Community Leadership.
7. Emergency contact in times of crisis.

B. High Priestess:

1. Ritual leadership at Sabbats and Rites of Passage.
2. Coordinates Feminine mystery work.
3. ChaliceKeeper
4. Participates in governance and stewardship to fulfill mission and Great Work of [Coven Name].
5. Teaching and mentoring.
6. Participates in interfaith work and Pagan community leadership
7. Emergency contact in times of crisis.

C. Additional Responsibilities of The High Priestess and High Priest

1. They are responsible for ensuring that the [Coven Name] charter is upheld, the rights of all members are maintained.
2. Aid in maintaining the respectful decorum of all meetings, with the assistance of the Fire Minister.
3. They are to maintain the agenda and overall management of the business meetings.
4. They are to supervise the other Leadership Council members to make sure that they are fulfilling their duties to the best of their abilities, and to assist them when it is required.

D. Maiden:

1. Inner Circle management.
2. Assists the High-Priestess and will become next High Priestess.
3. Maintains and manages altar preparation and makes sure all is arranged for ritual workings.
4. Helps to plan the Great Work for the year, PatenKeeper
5. Schedules all [Coven Name] rituals.
6. Maintains events calendar and makes the announcements.
7. Serves as the back-up High Priestess.

E. Additional Responsibilities of the Maiden

• Is to schedule and notify members of the business meetings.
• She maintains any ritual and non-ritual items needed for both business meetings and 
rituals.
• She is to coordinate the set up of the business meeting space and ritual with the elemental ministers and Summoner.

F. Summoner:

1. Outer Circle management,
2. Assists the High Priest, and will become next High Priest.
3. Helps to plan the Great Work for the year, WandBearer.
4. Establishes and maintains boundary and safety of ritual circles.
5. Reviews and manages admittance to rituals.
6. Guardian at the ritual gate.
7. Serves as the back-up High Priest.

G. Additional Responsibilities of the Summoner

1. He makes sure that the perimeter of gatherings is safe and clearly marked, as appropriate for all rituals and business meetings, by coordinating with the elemental ministers and the Maiden.
2. He maintains the security of the ritual circles by approving guests to rituals, as is appropriate for the ritual purpose, and informs planners who will be present.
3. Works with the Fire Minister as necessary according to Article IV: Section 3-B: Grievance Resolution System.

Section 2 – Elemental Ministries: Earth, Fire, Water and Air

The purpose of having elemental ministries is to manage specific tasks for the functioning of [Coven Name]. Each elemental ministry has its own duties for facilitating the function of the Sabbat and Esbats based on the elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Each ministry has as many members in apprenticeship as there are those wishing to serve. The elemental minsters are as follows:

A. Earth Minister:

 1. Inner Circle work:
a. Earth Ministry; Healing and magickal practices.
b. BesomKeeper: Helps to plan the Great Work for the year, Gatekeeper of the North at Sabbats.
c. Provides the ritual cakes.
d. Plans and leads Esbats during Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn times periods.

2. Outer Circle Work:
a. Serves as treasurer to [Coven Name].
b. Initiate/Member coordinator.
c. Helps to teach lessons in the [Outer Court Training Program]
d. Helps to offer advanced training/teaching to [Coven Name] members.

3. Additional Responsibilities at Treasurer
a. Maintains the [Coven Name]’s finances; manages bank accounts, makes deposits, issues payments, tracks expenditures, files all receipts; balances the books.
b. Works with the Air 
Minister in maintaining membership information.
c. Collects and deposits yearly membership dues and monetary donations.
d. Attains signature of High Priest or High Priestess for expenditures greater than budgeted amounts.
f. Submits financial reports at quarterly business meetings and year-end expenditure report.

B. Fire Minister

1. Inner Circle Work
a. Fire Ministry; Energy work and ecstatic practice.
b. Raises the energy in sacred circles by movement, music, etc.
c. SwordBearer: Helps to plan the Great Work for the year, Gatekeeper of the South at Sabbats.
d. Maintains the ritual fire, candles, or tiki torches, as needed.
e. Plans and leads Esbats during Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius times periods.

2. Outer Circle Work
a. Serves as parliamentarian of [Coven Name].
b. Serves as official contact of [Coven Name].
c. Helps to teach lessons in the [Outer Court Training Program]
d. Helps to offer advanced training/teaching to [Coven Name] members.

3. Additional Responsibilities as Parliamentarian

a. Helps maintain decorum at Business meetings by managing who has the floor, and managing time.
b. Ensures polices are being adhered to by all members at all levels.
c. Investigates and mediates grievances per Article IV: Section 3-B: Grievance Resolution System.

C. Water Minister

1. Inner Circle work:
a. Water Ministry; Divination, journey work, spirit communication.
b. CauldronKeeper: Helps to plan the Great Work for the year, Gatekeeper of the West at Sabbats.
c. Provides the chalice brews and anoints at the gate.
d. Plans and leads Esbats during Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces times periods.

2. Outer Circle Work:
a. Serves as diviner/mediator to [Tradition Name]
b. Neophyte/Mentor coordinator.
c. Helps to teach lessons in the [Outer Court Training Program]
d. Helps to offer advanced training/teaching to [Coven Name] members.

3. Additional Responsibilities as Mediator

a. Provides pastoral counseling for members needing general spiritual guidance; aids members in need of mental health services by referring to appropriate health-care professionals.

b. Manages grievances through mediation according to Article IV: Section 3-B: Grievance Resolution System and Article IV:Section 7 – Ethical Conduct of Leaders, Teachers, and Mentors.

c. Management of neophyte mentorship process; evaluate compatibility between potential mentors and neophytes; monitoring progress through regular meetings; enforcing the mentoring policy; schedule with the Maiden the interviews and rituals that facilitate initiation.

D. Air Minister

1. Inner Circle work:
a. Air Ministry; Occult knowledge and ceremonial magick.
b. StaffBearer: Helps to plan the Great Work for the year, Gatekeeper of the East at Sabbats.
c. Provides the ritual incense and smudges at the gate.
d. Plans and leads Esbats during Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius times periods.

2. Outer Circle Work:
a. Serves as secretary and record keeper to circle.
b. Dedicant coordinator throughout the [Outer Court Training Program Classes] until graduation.
c. Helps to teach lessons in the [Outer Court Training Program]
d. Helps to offer advanced training/teaching to [Coven Name] members.

3. Additional Responsibilities as Secretary

a. Works with the Earth Minister in maintaining membership information.
b. Takes minutes during business meetings, and posts them to members.
c. Presents the minutes for approval at each business meeting.
d. Documents our coven history for posterity.