THE CIRCLE OF THE SACRED WELL

By Laws

I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

a. Our organizational purpose:

i. Said organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

b. Our spiritual purposes are to:

i. Create a spiritual community within which to celebrate the Divine

ii. Provide a loving, supportive spiritual home for Circle members

iii. Provide opportunities for spiritual education and growth

iv. Provide religious support services to Circle members and to the community at large

v. Facilitate social responsibility and foster awareness of community needs by performing volunteer work and/or providing charitable services.

c. Degrees of Participation and Membership: Participants in the programs sponsored by this Circle may include the following:

i. Attendees: Interested individuals who feel the desire to attend Circle events

1. Attendees generally follow an earth-honoring spiritual path and wish to participate in community with like-minded individuals.

2. Attendees may attend all open Circle activities.

ii. Members: Persons who follow an earth-honoring spiritual path and, wishing to have a deeper spiritual and personal connection to the Circle, have dedicated themselves to it

1. They form the Circle congregation and participate in and work to support the activities of the Circle.

2. Circle members may attend all open activities, as well as all members-only events.

3. Guidelines and requirements for seeking and maintaining Circle membership are located in Addendum I to these By-laws.

iii. Sabbat Attendees: Circle members who feel they may wish to pursue the Circle clergy status and so have applied to become Circle clergy members

1. Sabbat Attendees may attend all open activities, all members-only events, and up to 3 closed Sabbats.

2. Guidelines and requirements for Sabbat Attendee status are located in Addendum II to these By-laws.

3. NOTE: Sabbat Attendee status is a temporary status and will last no more than 6 months, after which time, the Sabbat Attendee will either join the Circle clergy or revert to Circle member status.

iv. Clergy: Circle members who have been initiated into Circle clergy membership

1. Circle clergy members form the formal Priesthood of the Circle and are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the Circle.

2. Guidelines and requirements for seeking and maintaining Circle clergy status are located in Addendum II to these By-laws.

v. Council Members: Founding Circle members and other selected senior Circle clergy members

1. Council members form the governing body of the Circle.

2. Guidelines and requirements for Circle Council status are located in Addendum III to these By-laws.

vi. Minors:

1. With the exception of picnics and certain family-oriented events, open Circle events are not generally suitable for children under the age of 10.

a. Childcare is usually not provided at Circle events.

i. Parents of children under 10 who wish to attend Circle events should make alternate childcare arrangements.

b. Minors between the ages of 10 and 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to attend open Circle events.

c. Unaccompanied minors between the ages of 16 and 18 will be allowed to attend open Circle events, HOWEVER, they must meet the following criteria BEFORE attending a Circle event:

i. Have a Circle permission slip, signed by a parent and/or legal guardian, on file with the Circle Council, and:

ii. Facilitate and participate in a meeting between their parent/ guardian and one or more Council and/or clergy members to discuss Circle attendance

vii. Closed Circle events are restricted to Circle clergy members and Sabbat Attendees only, with case-by-case exceptions.

d. Membership Recognition: Circle members will be provided with a visible symbol of their membership, as determined by the Council, including, but not limited to, the following:

i. Upon dedication, members will be presented with a cord in the colors of the Elements of Earth (green) and Water (blue).

1. This cord symbolizes the member’s commitment to honoring and preserving Mother Earth and to the Sacred Well from which the Circle takes its name.

2. The cord should be worn for ritual purposes only.

ii. Other cord colors are used to denote Circle clergy, Council members and other levels of achievement within the Circle. See Addendums II & III to these By-laws for details.

e. Membership Status:

i. As long as the Circle member abides by these By-laws and all applicable addendums, Circle membership shall continue until such time as the member wishes, for whatever reason, to withdraw from such membership.

ii. Any person’s Circle membership or Circle participation may be curtailed, suspended, or terminated by decision of the Circle Council, either for lack of attendance and/or participation, or for violation of Circle policies and/or procedures or for any illegal and/or unethical behavior.

II. ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION

a. Circle Council: The Circle Council is the decision-making body of the Circle.

i. The Council shall consist of all Founding Members and other senior Circle clergy members who apply for and are approved by the Council for Council membership.

ii. Scope: The Council is responsible for the overall direction of the Circle, as well as for making all policy decisions in matters involving:

1. Strategic planning

2. Policy planning

3. Applications for Circle, clergy, and Council membership, along with all other matters related to membership

4. Finance and budget

5. Program planning and activities

6. Outreach, networking and affiliations

iii. For more information about Circle Council duties and responsibilities, please see Addendum III.

b. Clergy Members: Circle clergy members are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the Circle and its members. They must engage in active and positive communication with each other and with the Council with the goal of creating community spirit.

i. Clergy members are expected work closely with the Council in implementing Circle Goals and Objectives.

ii. Business Meetings: A Circle clergy Business Meeting will be held at least once each quarter to discuss Circle business and plan upcoming events. Meeting dates will be set as far in advance as possible in order to allow all Circle clergy members to incorporate the meeting into their schedule.

1. Agenda: The Circle Council will meet at least 2 weeks prior to the date of the Circle Business Meeting to determine agenda items.

a. If Circle clergy members wish to add an item to the agenda, they must discuss it with, and obtain the approval of, the Council before the item will be added to the agenda. This must be done at least 2 weeks prior to the date of the Circle Business Meeting, to allow the Council time to discuss the proposed agenda item.

2. Quorum: All of the Circle Council and a minimum of 70 % of the active Circle clergy membership must be present to achieve quorum.

3. Facilitation: Circle clergy Business Meetings must be chaired by a member of the Circle Council.

4. Method of Operation: Circle clergy Business Meetings are run on an agreement-seeking decision making basis.

a. If the Circle clergy cannot come to a decision on an agenda item at a Circle clergy Business Meeting, it is at the discretion of the Council to either make a final binding decision or to table the item for further discussion.

b. A Talking Stick will be used, as necessary, to facilitate discussion.

c. Circle Members: Circle members form the base of Circle membership and are important contributors to the Circle’s continuing success.

i. They are dedicated to the Circle and to assisting Circle Council and clergy members to further the Circle’s Goals and Objectives.

ii. Meetings:

1. Business Meetings: A Circle member meeting will be held at least on an annual basis to review Circle business. Meeting dates will be set as far in advance as possible in order to allow all Circle members to incorporate the meeting into their schedule.

2. Other Meetings: Other meetings will be held on an as-needed basis in order to plan for and organize Circle Special Events and for other purposes, as determined by the Circle Council. All Circle members who wish to actively participate in the planning and operation of Special Events or other activities may attend. As needed, Sub-Committees may be formed to manage specific aspects of an event. The Circle Council will determine meeting dates and agendas and will be responsible for meeting management.

iii. Circle Duties: Prior to each Circle event, the Circle clergy shall seek Circle member volunteers for the following duties, which are essential to the proper operation of a Circle event.

1. Kitchen Witch: The Kitchen Witch is responsible for accepting all potluck items brought by Circle members to an event. The Kitchen Witch will prepare and monitor the ‘food service’ area of an event, including: setting up suitable tables, putting out utensils, plates, napkins, etc., arranging food items, and cleaning up after the event.

2. Greeter: Responsible for welcoming new and returning attendees to open Circle events. Introduces him/herself, gets names of greetees and introduces them to other attendees and Circle members. For first-time attendees, orients them to the space - where to put potluck items, where restrooms are, how long before we start, and to the event “Have you attended an open ritual before?” If no. “Well, here’s what to expect” . . . provide short explanation.

3. Quarter Caller: Responsible for calling one of the quarters during the ritual. Should familiarize him/herself with the words to the quarter call prior to the ritual and should have some experience in visualization and energy-work, which will be needed to successfully perform this duty.

4. Ritual Assistant: Responsible for taking an active role in the performance of specific rituals, as needed. Ritual Assistants will be provided with details of their part in the ritual as far in advance as possible (typically at least 48 hours prior to the ritual). Members who are willing to act as a Ritual Assistant for future rituals should make themselves known to a Circle clergy member.

5. Jack/Jill of All Trades: Responsible for helping to coordinate event set-up and/or tear down. Assists clergy with tasks related to event both before, during and or/at the end of the event.

6. Circle members who wish to assist by performing one of the above duties, or who can help with event set-up, should arrive 30 – 45 minutes prior to the event start time. (NOTE: The exception is for Quarter Caller. Member does not need to arrive more than 10 minutes prior to the start of the ritual for this duty.)

7. Circle members are encouraged to assist with these and other Circle duties, as their time and abilities permit.

d. Strategic Planning

i. The Council is responsible for creating and maintaining the following items:

1. Mission Statement

2. Vision Statement

3. Tradition Statement

4. Core Beliefs

5. Goals and Objectives

6. By-laws

7. Circle Training and Dedication materials

8. Other policies, as deemed necessary by the Council

ii. The Council must provide direction and guidance to the Circle in order to ensure that all of the above items govern the activities and ethos of the Circle.

iii. The Council must meet at least annually to review Circle performance in light of the above items.

iv. Only in the event of overwhelming evidence of necessity, and only at the discretion of the Council, will the Council consider making changes to items 1 – 6 as listed above. Changes to these items require unanimous approval by all Council members.

e. Guidelines for Conduct: All Circle members are expected to act in a mature manner and in accordance with the Circle Core Beliefs. In addition:

i. Gossip:

1. No Circle member shall negatively discuss other Circle members, or the decisions of the Council, with other Circle members in the absence of the affected Circle member or of the Council.

2. No Circle member shall discuss private Circle business with non-Circle members.

ii. Behavior

1. Circle members are expected to remember that their behavior reflects upon the reputation of the Circle and act accordingly.

2. Illegal and/or unethical behavior by Circle members will not be tolerated.

3. Predatory, harassing or intrusive behavior will not be tolerated.

4. Alcohol is not allowed at Circle events.

5. Unless otherwise stated, appropriate clothing must be worn at Circle events.

6. While sexual activity among consenting (non-married/domestic partnered) Circle members is allowed, the ramifications of such activities should be seriously considered before beginning a relationship.

a. Such matters are considered private and should be kept between the parties involved.

b. The relationship between the parties must not intrude upon Circle events or activities or unduly influence Circle member behavior regarding the Circle decision-making process.

7. Circle members must at all times act in a loving, respectful and trustworthy manner toward all other Circle members.

iii. A Circle member who becomes aware of violations, as listed above, by another Circle member should report the violations to a Council member.

iv. Failure to adhere to any of the above guidelines for conduct shall be taken seriously. Egregious or continuing violations of any of the above guidelines will result removal from Circle membership.

f. Disputes and Disagreements:

i. It is vital that an individual’s or clique’s negative words or actions do not disrupt the positive energy flow of the Circle.

ii. All disputes should be settled privately between the affected parties.

iii. Disputes should be settled with reason and with a view toward justice.

iv. If a peaceful resolution cannot be reached, the Council must be informed and will attempt to mediate the dispute.

v. If a peaceful resolution still cannot be achieved, one or both persons or sides will be asked to leave the Circle.

g. Dissolution of the Circle:

i. Dissolution of the Circle and discontinuation of all events will only occur if there is an irreconcilable breakdown within the Circle that the Founding Members feel can only be solved by such dissolution.

III. MEETING SCHEDULE

a. Rituals:

i. Full Moon rituals shall generally be held on the Sunday closest to the Full Moon.

ii. Sabbat rituals shall be held on the Saturday or Sunday nearest to the actual date of the Sabbat, as determined by the Council. Once a Sabbat is scheduled, the date shall not be changed unless the majority of the clergy can attend on the proposed alternative date.

b. Classes:

i. Introductory seminars and other classes open to the public shall be offered at such times and places as the Council decides.

ii. Special classes necessary for continuing study for those seeking clergy or Council membership shall be held according to the needs of those involved.

iii. The curricula for all Circle-run classes shall be established by the Council.

iv. No fees shall be charged for classes that are part of the regular curriculum of the Circle, with the exception of fees designed to generate funds for the Circle. In such case, 100 % of the fees must be donated to the Circle.

v. For classes that necessitate supplies, the supplies may be charged, at cost, to the class attendees.

c. Workings:

i. Occasionally, the Council may decide there is a need or desire for a specific ritual or magickal working.

ii. These workings may either be open or closed, depending upon the needs of the Circle and at the discretion of the Circle Council, and will be scheduled at such a time as to be convenient for the majority of Circle clergy and/or members.

iii. Typically, only Circle clergy and/or members will be permitted to attend workings, although exceptions will be made by the Council on a case-by-case basis.

d. Field trips and special events shall be held at such times and places as the Council decides.

IV. ATTENDANCE

a. Rituals:

i. A Full Moon ritual will be held on the Sunday closest to each Full Moon.

1. The ritual shall be held in a public location and will be open to both Circle members and to the general public.

ii. A Sabbat ritual will be held on or about the date of each of the eight Sabbats celebrated during the Wheel of the Year.

1. The ritual shall be held at a Circle clergy member’s home and will not be open to the public.

2. Only Circle clergy members and Sabbat Attendees may attend, with exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

iii. Other rituals may be held during the course of the year.

1. The time/place and status (open or closed) of these additional rituals will be at the discretion of the Council.

b. Classes:

i. Classes shall be designated as open or closed depending upon the nature of the class and based on the decision of the Council.

c. Study Group:

i. The Circle will sponsor a monthly open Study Group designed to provide information and training to all interested seekers and to build community.

V. FINANCES

a. Circle income shall include donations, profits from fundraising projects, and interest from banking
accounts, if any, established by the Council.

b. The budget shall be established and disbursements approved by the Council.

c. The Pursewarden shall make a full report of income and expenses at each quarterly Circle clergy Business Meeting, and at any other time the Council requests.

d. All required forms and reports shall be filed with the state and federal government, as necessary.

e. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

f. Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be disbursed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principle office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

VI. PRIVACY OF CIRCLE MEMBERS

          a.        The names, physical and electronic addresses, telephone numbers and other personal information
                relating to individual members shall be considered confidential and may not be disclosed to non-
                members without the permission of the individual involved.

b. Willful disclosure of confidential information may, at the discretion of the Council, be considered a violation of the By-laws and grounds for expulsion from membership.

VII. REVISING THESE BY-LAWS

a. These By-laws may be amended by a unanimous vote of the Circle Council.

b. When revised, a revised version must be printed and signed by all Circle Council members and maintained in the Circle Book of Shadows.

c. A copy of the revised By-laws must be provided to all Circle clergy members within 45 days of revision approval.

i. If a clergy member disagrees with the By-laws as revised, he/she can request a meeting with the Circle Council to discuss matters.

ii. If more than one clergy member disagrees with the By-laws as revised, a meeting of the Circle clergy will be called that requires a quorum of 80 % of active clergy members and which must include both the disagreeing parties and the Council members. The meeting will be held on the earliest possible date.

1. All disagreements will be aired, discussed and the Council will take all feedback under advisement.

a. If the Council agrees with a specific suggestions for change due to feedback, changes to the revisions may be made. The Council will have 30 days to devise alternate wording and redistribute the By-laws to Circle clergy members for final consideration.

b. If the Council feels specific revisions should stand as revised, they will do so.

iii. If the Council has determined that specific revisions should stand as-is, the disagreeing clergy member has the option to either accept the revisions as written or to discontinue clergy membership.

iv. Each clergy member has 30 days after dissemination of the revised by-laws to review them and, if he/she disagrees with any of the revisions, to request a meeting with the Council. If a meeting is not requested within 30 days, the revisions to the by-laws will be considered final.

d. A copy of the revised By-laws shall be made available to all current Circle members, as follows:

i. An e-mail notification of the revision shall be sent to all current Circle members

ii. Copies of the revised By-laws shall then be available at a minimum of 3 open Circle events after e-mail notification of the revision.

Addendum I

I. CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP

          a.        Qualifications: Those members of the spiritual community who wish for a deeper level of commitment
                to the Circle may consider becoming a Circle member. When considering Circle membership, the
                interested party should take into account the following things:

i. Accord: Circle members must be agreement with the following:

1. The Circle’s Vision, Mission and Tradition Statements, as well as its Core Beliefs and Goals and Objectives

ii. Commitment: Circle members must commit to abide by the Circle By-laws, including all applicable Addendums.

iii. Spiritual Path: Circle members should have or be actively seeking a fulfilling spiritual life which includes having the following goals:

1. Communion with the Creative Power in the Universe

2. Caring for Mother Earth and all Her inhabitants

3. Dedication to self-enlightenment and self-improvement

iv. Equal Opportunities Policy:

1. No person shall be denied access to membership on the basis of gender, race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, physical handicap or age, providing they have obtained their majority.

2. Prospective members who have personal objections to members who fall into any of the categories listed in I.d.i. above should seriously reconsider their desire to pursue Circle membership.

v. Proximity Policy:

1. In order to facilitate a close Circle community and prevent an excessive travel burden on Circle members, all prospective and current members must live within a 2-hour commute of the Sacred Well, which is located in Shelton, Connecticut.

b. Prerequisites: If the prospective member agrees with the items listed above, has no personal issues with the Equal Opportunities policy and meets or gains an exception to the Proximity policy, he or she must complete the following prerequisites before applying for Circle membership.

i. Attend at least 3 Full Moon rituals within a 12-month period

ii. Attend a Circle member Orientation class

iii. Once an applicant has completed all of the necessary prerequisites and presented his/her application for Circle membership, the Circle clergy will meet to review the application.

1. As long as there are no obvious bars to Circle membership, and if the majority of the Circle clergy are in agreement, the applicant shall be invited to dedicate him/herself to the Circle.

c. Circle Membership Dedication

i. Once accepted for membership, the prospective Circle member will dedicate him/herself to the Circle at the next scheduled Full Moon ritual.

1. If the applicant fails to dedicate him/herself to Circle membership within the next 3 Full Moons after the application is approved, then the application will be inactivated.

2. Inactivated applications may be reactivated, at the discretion of the Circle Council.

ii. The dedication includes the following:

1. Pledging agreement with the Circle’s Vision, Mission and Tradition statements, as well as its Core Beliefs

2. Pledging to support the Circle’s Goals and Objectives

3. Taking an Oath dedicating oneself to Circle membership

4. Signing the Circle Member Genealogy

5. Receiving a Circle membership cord

6. Taking a magickal Circle name (optional)

iii. Once dedicated to the Circle, the applicant becomes a Circle member in good standing

II. CIRCLE MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

a. Circle Member Participation:

i. Circle members are expected to attend a certain number of Circle activities in order to remain on the roles as an active Circle member.

ii. To stay active as a Circle member, members must participate in Circle activities on an annual basis by:

1. Attending at least 5 of the 13 Full Moon Rituals

2. Performing a Circle duty at least 3 times per year (see By-laws for definitions of Circle duties)

3. Attending at least 3 other open Circle-sponsored events or classes.

a. Open Circle classes are defined as the monthly Study Group class and the monthly Shamanic Journeying workshop, plus any other specially-organized Circle classes.

b. Circle Member Opportunities:

i. Circle members are entitled to:

1. Help create sacred space at Circle events

2. Wear their Circle cord at all Circle rituals

3. Claim Circle membership in oral and written communication

ii. Circle members will be invited to all ‘Member’s Only’ Circle events, which take place at least quarterly.

iii. Circle members are encouraged to provide constructive input by voicing their ideas and suggestions concerning future Circle projects, activities and events.

iv. Circle members are invited to take an active role in realizing Circle Goals and Objectives, both in planning and performance, as suits their time and abilities.

v. Circle members may be appointed to serve on Event Planning Committees and to serve in other temporary or permanent Circle roles.

vi. Circle members will be entitled to attend the Annual Member’s Meeting, at which there will be a review of the Circle’s performance of the past year, as well as a preview of the upcoming year.

1. The review will include: Financial, Membership and Activity Reports.

2. The preview will include, but is not limited to: plans for upcoming Special Events and opportunities for member involvement in meeting Circle Goals and Objectives.

III. CIRCLE MEMBER STATUS

a. Maintaining Circle Member Status: In order to maintain Circle member status, Circle members
must maintain the level of dedication and behavior as listed in the By-laws and in this Addendum.

i. Failure to adhere to either set of guidelines for conduct and responsibilities shall considered by the Circle Council to indicate a breach in the terms of Circle membership and may result in curtailment, suspension or termination of Circle membership.

ii. Circle members who breach the terms of their Circle membership will have one or more of the following actions taken:

1. Member will be given an opportunity to recommit to fulfilling the roles and responsibilities of Circle membership.

2. Circle member status will be suspended or revoked.

iii. The decision regarding which of the above actions will be taken will be made by the Circle Council on a case-by-case basis.

b. Sabbaticals: Circle members may apply to the Council for a membership Sabbatical, not to exceed 12 months, in circumstances where family or work commitments make it impossible for them to meet membership attendance and participation requirements.

i. To request a Sabbatical, members must submit a letter listing their reasons for requesting the Sabbatical, along with an estimated return date.

ii. Decisions regarding granting a Sabbatical shall be at the discretion of the Council.

iii. Members on Sabbatical must submit a written request to resume active membership to the Council not less than 30 days prior to their requested return date.

iv. The Council shall meet with the Circle member not less than 15 days prior to the Circle member’s requested return date to discuss matters relating to the Sabbatical and its conclusion and to facilitate the successful reintegration of the member into active Circle membership.

c. Separation from Circle membership: Circle membership may be terminated, either by the choice of the member, or, in cases of continuing or egregious violation of Circle By-laws, at the discretion of the Circle Council.

i. Circle members who, for whatever reason, wish to discontinue their Circle membership are asked to submit a letter stating their intentions to the Circle Council. The letter should include an effective date for the discontinuation of Circle membership.

ii. Circle members whose membership is terminated by the Circle Council will receive written notification of such termination.

iii. Whatever the reason for separation, a separation ritual will be performed. The outgoing Circle member does not need to be present.

iv. Once an individual is separated from Circle membership, whether by choice or not, all Circle entitlements are terminated.

*** Addendums II & III concern requirements for Circle clergy and Council status. They are available for review to interested parties by speaking with a Circle Council member.

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