5. MEMBERSHIP

Membership may take the form of;

a) Ordinary

b) Clergy/Clerical

c) Associated Coven

d) Oak and Mistletoe

5.1 Membership Types

a) Ordinary membership is open to individual, natural persons who have a compatible philosophy and religious practice to that of the association. The applicant must have completed and signed the application form, be over 18 years of age, have paid the membership subscription and agree to be bound by the constitution of this association. Ordinary Members may also be members of an Associated Coven but must not be a teacher or leader of that coven. Upon acceptance by the Council, the individual shall be a member of the association.

b) Clerical membership (Reverend and Right Reverend) are honorary levels of membership bestowed upon Ordinary Members where they have met the minimum requirements as governed by the Council and where the Council approves such status.

i) Reverend Clergy Members are those individuals who have been Ordinary Members for at least one year, who have successfully completed the Toward First Degree program or an acceptable alternative and who wish to actively lead an Associated Coven Member of the association, have also completed the Toward Second Degree program or an acceptable alternative, who have shown a compatible philosophy and religious practice to that of the association, who have completed and signed the Clergy examination and process, who are over 18 years of age, and who agree to be bound by the constitution of this association. Upon acceptance and endorsement by the Council, the individual shall be honoured with the title of Reverend (Rev’d). Continued clerical membership and Rev’d status is subject to meeting the annual professional development requirements as outlined in the “Handbook and Guide for Clergy of the Community Church of Inclusive Wicca”.

ii) Right Reverend Clergy Members are those individuals who have been Reverend Clergy Members for at least three years, who have successfully completed the Toward First Degree program, the Toward Second Degree program and the Toward Third Degree program or acceptable alternatives and who wish to actively lead an Associated Coven Member of the association. In addition, they should undertake an Ordination ritual with a recognised and ordained CCIWI Right Reverend Minister and they must have shown a compatible philosophy and religious practice to that of the association, have completed and signed the Clergy examination, be over 18 years of age, and agree to be bound by the constitution of this association. Upon acceptance and endorsement by the Council, the individual shall be honoured with the title of Right Reverend (Rt Rev’d). Continued clerical membership and Rev’d status is subject to meeting the annual professional development requirements as outlined in the “Handbook and Guide for Clergy of the Community Church of Inclusive Wicca”.

c) Associated Coven membership is open to a body corporate that acts as a coven and whose full leadership have a compatible philosophy and religious practice to that of the association, whose leadership have all successfully completed at least the Oak and Mistletoe Toward First Degree training program or its equivalent to a level acceptable by the Council, whose leadership have all completed and signed the application form, who’s leadership are all over 18 years of age, whose leadership have paid the Associated Coven membership subscription and whose leadership agree to be bound by the constitution. Upon acceptance by the Council, the Associated Coven shall be a member of the association.

d) The Coven of Oak and Mistletoe shall automatically be a member of the association at all times.

5.2 Member Subscriptions

a) Ordinary membership

i) The subscription fee for Ordinary individual membership shall be such sum as the Council shall determine from time to time in an AGM or general meeting.

ii) The subscription fee shall be payable annually on 1 July. Where a new Ordinary Member joins between 1 January and 30 June, they will be required to pay only 50% of the annual subscription fee and then the full subscription fee from 1 July thereafter annually.

iii) Any Ordinary Member whose subscription is outstanding for more than three months after the due date for payment shall cease to be a member of the association, provided always that the Council may reinstate such a person’s membership on such terms as it thinks fit.

b) Clerical membership

i) The subscription fee for Lay and Ordained members shall be at the same rate as that set for Ordinary members.

ii) The subscription fee shall be payable annually on 1 July. Where a new Clerical Member joins between 1 January and 30 June, they will be required to pay only 50% of the annual subscription fee and then the full subscription fee from 1 July thereafter annually.

iii) Any Clerical Member whose subscription is outstanding for more than three months after the due date for payment shall cease to be a member of the association, provided always that the Council may reinstate such a person’s membership on such terms as it thinks fit.

c) Associated Coven membership

i)T he subscription fee for an Associated Coven membership shall be such sum as the Council shall determine from time to time in an AGM or general meeting.

ii) The subscription fee shall be payable annually on 1 July. Where a new Associated Coven joins between 1 January and 30 June, they will be required to pay only 50% of the annual subscription fee and then the full subscription fee from 1 July thereafter annually.

iii) Any Associated Coven member whose subscription is outstanding for more than three months after the due date for payment shall cease to be a member of the association, provided always that the Council may reinstate such a person’s membership on such terms as it thinks fit.

d)Oak and Mistletoe shall be exempt from any membership subscriptions to the association.

5.3 Member Resignation

An Ordinary, Clerical or Associated Coven member may resign their membership of the association at any time by giving written (electronic or hardcopy) notice to a Council Elder or the Public Officer of the association. Any resigning member shall be liable for any outstanding subscriptions which may be recovered as a debt due to the association.

5.4 Expulsion of a Member

a) Subject to giving a member an opportunity to be heard or to make a written submission, the Council may resolve, by a clear majority vote, to expel a member upon a charge of misconduct detrimental to the interests of the association.

b) Particulars of the charge shall be communicated to the member at least one month before the meeting of the Council at which the matter will be determined.

c) The determination of the Council shall be communicated to the member, and in the event of an adverse determination the member shall, (subject to section 5.4.e below), cease to be a member 14 days after the Council has communicated its determination to the member.

d) It shall be open to a member to appeal the expulsion to the council at a general meeting. The intention to appeal shall be communicated to the Council Chairperson or the Public Officer within 14 days after the determination of the Council has been communicated to the member.

e) In the event of an appeal under 5.4.d above, the appellant’s membership of the association shall not be terminated unless the determination of the Council to expel the member is upheld by the members of CCIWI in a general meeting after the appellant has been heard by the members of the association, and in such event membership will be terminated at the date of the general meeting at which the determination of the Council was upheld.

5.5 Register of Members

A register of members shall be kept and shall contain;

a) The name, physical and email address of each Ordinary and Clerical Member,

b) The Associated Coven name, the name and the physical and email address and ages of the leadership of that Associated Coven,

c) The date on which each member was admitted to the association,

d) If applicable, the date and reason(s) for termination of membership.