By-laws

By-laws of The Henge of the Cobbled Path
approved May 9, 2018

 

Article I – Name

The name of this organization is The Henge of the Cobbled Path, sometimes shortened to The Henge.

Article II – Mission

  1. The Henge of the Cobbled Path is a polytheist religious order.
  2. We are a religious order. As Pagans and polytheists, our first priority is honoring our Gods, ancestors, and the various spiritual beings who are part of our lives and our world.
  3. We are a teaching order. Sometimes we teach one-on-one, sometimes we teach in a classroom setting, and sometimes we teach experientially. Our work with the Henge helps us do a better job of understanding what we teach.
  4. We are an ecstatic order. Our practice is rooted in the first-hand experience of Gods and spirits.
  5. Our work with the Henge helps us grow in wisdom and power so we can successfully navigate difficult times, so we can be of greater service to our tradition and to our world, and so we can teach others to do the same.

Article III – Inclusivity and Hospitality

  1. The Henge of the Cobbled Path welcomes all people of good will, without regard to race, color, or cultural identity; background or nationality; sexual and affectional orientation; or gender identity and its expressions. We welcome all, regardless of religious background, family structure, age, mental and physical health, ability, political perspective, or educational, economic, or class status.
  2. We affirm that the deities and other spiritual beings call who They choose to call, and we reject “folkishness” and all other forms of racial segregation. We respect the living cultures of the world and the rights of indigenous people to maintain the integrity of their traditions.
  3. We affirm the virtue of hospitality and we take seriously the safety and well-being of our guests. We affirm the right of every person to choose if and how they and their property may be touched, and to be free of harassment and abuse, including but not limited to harassment based on the identities named in this statement. All our events and gatherings are considered sacred space and those who violate its sanctity and misuse our hospitality will be dealt with appropriately, including being removed from our space and banned from further events.

Article IV – Polytheism

  1. Definition. Polytheism as the Henge understands and practices it is the religious regard for many real Gods.
  2. Right of Conscience. Understanding that the true nature of the Gods is ultimately a mystery which each person must explore for themselves and in cooperation with others, the Henge respects the right of conscience of its members. The Henge has no requirements of orthodoxy (“right belief”) beyond the definition of polytheism in Article IV Section 1.
  3. Respect of other religions and religious groups. The Henge respects and will work with all persons of good will where our goals and interests coincide. We judge those who see the Gods differently and who follow other religions by how they live their lives, not by how closely their beliefs match ours.

Article V – Membership

The Henge has four rings of membership:

  1. Seeker. A Seeker is a person who is invited to and participates in any of the Henge’s private rituals. A Seeker takes an oath to preserve the sanctity of the gathering and the privacy of the participants, but otherwise makes no commitments to the Henge, and the Henge makes no commitments to the Seeker. Seekers are part of the wider Henge community but are not members of the order and have no voting or other rights within the Henge.
  2. Dedicant. Seekers who want to become members may apply to become a Dedicant. Upon approval of their application, they take an oath of membership in a ceremony appropriate to the occasion.

It is expected that Dedicants will begin a directed course of study and work diligently toward an initiation facilitated by Henge Initiates.

Dedicants are members of the order and have full voting rights except for matters specific to the Initiate and Senior Initiate rings.

  1. Initiate. An Initiate is a Dedicant who has been approved for initiation by the Henge and has completed their initiation. Henge initiations will be individualized, but they must be done specifically for the Henge – past initiations in other orders and traditions will not substitute.

Initiates have full voting rights except for matters specific to the Senior Initiate ring.

  1. Senior Initiate. A Senior Initiate of the Henge is an Initiate who has been approved for entry into the fourth ring by the Henge and has successfully completed the necessary preparations and rituals.

Senior Initiates have full voting rights on all matters, but otherwise have no rights or privileges beyond those of Initiates and Dedicants.

Article  VI – Governance

  1. Source of Authority. The Henge of the Cobbled Path is chartered by our patron deities as experienced in our foundational rituals and recorded in our founding documents, which are restricted to members of the order.
  2. Democratic process. While the source of authority for the Henge is our patron deities, the Henge is governed by the democratic process.
    1. Consensus. Until the Henge has 13 or more voting members, it will be run by consensus. If it is not possible to reach consensus on a specific matter, a vote will be taken and settled by simple majority.
      1. Executive Council. Within 90 days of reaching a membership of 13 or more, an election will be held to fill five seats on an Executive Council.
      2. The Executive Council will manage the business, financial, public relations, and other mundane affairs of the Henge.
      3. In consultation with the rest of the membership, it will set dates, times, and locations for all Henge programs and events, including education, training, service, social events, initiations, acts of worship, magical workings, and any other group activities.
      4. The Executive Council will develop and implement policies, processes, and procedures for the effective operation of the Henge, consistent with these by-laws and with the needs, desires, and capability of the membership.
      5. All members of the Executive Council will serve two-year terms, except that in the initial election, two of the five seats will be for one year only. Thus in the second year, two seats will be up for election, in the third year three seats, in the fourth year two seats, and so on. Annual elections will be held at least one month prior to the expiration of expiring terms. The first Executive Council may serve for up to 15 months in order to set convenient dates for the second election and the first transition.
      6. If one member of the Executive Council resigns or is otherwise unable to continue to serve, the remaining members of the Executive Council will appoint another member to serve the remainder of that term. If a second seat becomes vacant in a council term, an election must be called within 30 days to fill all open seats.
      7. No person may hold more than one seat on the Executive Council. No person may be elected to the Executive Council unless they agree to serve.vii. Each Executive Council may distribute its duties and responsibilities (such as Treasurer, Secretary, and other roles) among its members as it sees fit.
    2. The Elected Abbot. The Elected Abbot is the presiding officer and ceremonial head of the Henge of the Cobbled Path. The members of the Executive Council will choose one of themselves to serve in this position for the council’s one-year term.

Article VII – Business Meetings

  1. The Henge of the Cobbled Path will hold an annual meeting to elect a new Executive Council, to vote on proposed by-laws changes, and to conduct any other business that needs to come before the order as a whole.
  2. Other business meetings may be called by the Executive Council, or upon the request of a majority of members.
  3. The date, time, and place of all meetings will be announced to all members at least two weeks before they are held. The annual meeting should be scheduled well in advance.
  4. Members who cannot attend may appoint a proxy to vote for them.
  5. At least one technology option must be enabled to allow members to participate remotely.

Article VIII – Finances

  1. Henge expenses may be financed through member contributions, fund raising projects, or other sources commonly utilized by non-profit organizations.
  2. In general, Dedicants and other members are expected to pay for their own books, supplies, and other expenses.
  3. Any arrangement of dues or assessments must be grounded in the ability to pay, and mindful of our commitment to welcoming people in any economic and class status.

Article IX – Property and Assets

  1. Any property purchased with Henge funds or donated to the Henge belongs to the Henge and not to any individual member or members, including those who serve as caretakers of those items.
  2. The Executive Council (once formed) will provide a report of Henge assets (both objects and money), receipts, and expenditures to the full membership at the annual meeting, and upon the request of a majority of members.
  3. In the event the Henge is dissolved, all tangible property will be sold at fair market value. Members may purchase items at a fair price, but no property will be claimed or taken without payment. All remaining funds will be donated to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, or to a similar charitable organization.

Article X – Programs and Events

  1. The Henge will host and facilitate a variety of programs and events intended for a variety of audiences, based on the needs and desires of the members and the wider community.
  2. Public events are open to anyone of good will who observes the Inclusivity and Hospitality policy. No oaths or other prerequisites are required to attend.
  3. Private events are restricted to members and invited guests. Guests must take an oath to preserve the sanctity of the gathering and the privacy of the participants, as described in Article V Section 2.
  4. Closed events are restricted to members only.
  5. Any member may attend any event, except that only Initiates may attend Initiate events, and only Senior Initiates may attend Senior Initiate events.
  6. Admission or other fees may be charged for educational and entertainment programs, particularly when the Henge incurs costs in presenting them, within the guidelines of Article VIII. Admission may never be charged for any worship or devotional event, whether public, private, or closed.

Article XI – Disputes and Discipline

  1. Disputes between members should be settled promptly by those involved, so as not to distract from the work of the Henge.
  2. Disputes that cannot be settled, or accusations of serious wrong-doing – especially in ways that violate Article III (Inclusivity and Hospitality) – must be brought to the attention of the Executive Council.
    1. The Executive Council will investigate all accusations thoroughly, will listen carefully to all parties including witnesses, and will examine any and all evidence brought to its attention.
    2. If a member of the Executive Council is involved – as a principal or as a witness – they must recuse themselves from all deliberations.
    3. If the nature of the dispute or accusation exceeds the expertise of the Executive Council, the Executive Council will arrange for an independent third party to take over the investigation and/or mediation.
    4. Matters such as these can be complicated and painful to deal with, and often have conflicting priorities. If choices must be made, they will be made in this order:
      1. Protection of victims and vulnerable people.
      2. Due process, fairness, and justice for both accusers and the accused.
      3. Reconciliation and restoration of right relationship.
      4. Avoiding disruption to Henge activities and unfavorable publicity.
  3. The Executive Council may render whatever lawful and ethical judgement its investigation indicates is merited.
    1. Any party to a dispute may appeal the Executive Council’s decision to the full membership. If such an appeal is made, a meeting will be called under the processes of Article VII, all sides will have an opportunity to present their case, and a vote will be taken. The judgement of the Executive Council will be affirmed or reversed by a simple majority.
  4. If a dispute arises before the first Executive Council is elected, the membership will appoint a 3-person team to act in its place.

Article XII – Matters Not Covered In By-Laws

  1. Any matter not specifically covered in the by-laws may be addressed with policies, procedures, actions, and other decisions as the membership sees fit, within the framework of its governance.

Article XIII – Amendments

  1. The by-laws of the Henge may be amended by a two-thirds vote at the annual meeting or any other business meeting. The proposed changes must be announced and circulated at least two weeks. Article VII Sections 4 and 5 (proxy voting and remote participation via technology) must be strictly observed.
  2. Unless otherwise specified, any changes will take effect immediately after a successful two-thirds vote.