4 MEMBERSHIP

No person will be denied access to etiher student or Inner Court membership on the basis of race gender, ethnic background, sexual preference, physical impariment or age, providing they have reached the age of eighteen years.

Membership may take the form of;

a)    Friend of the Coven

b)     Student membership

c)   Inner Court membership

d)     Elder

4.1 Membership Types

a) A Friend of the Coven is a person who has empathy with the purpose of O & M but who is neither a registered student nor a member of Inner Court. Such people do not have voting rights but may attend coven activities where agreed and invited by the Coven Council.

b)     Student members are those members registered as students of the Toward First Degree program. Training lasts at least eight months and once completed, members may seek advancement through initiation or dedication to Inner Court membership. Student members have the right to a single vote.

c)   Inner Court members are those members who have completed the Toward First Degree program through the Circle of Oak and Mistletoe face to face or online program or via an alternative approved method and have been initiated or dedicated into the tradition or a coven of this tradition. Members of this group can elect to also undertake Toward Second Degree training and such training lasts at least twelve months. Inner Court members have the right to a single vote.

d)     Elders are those members, appointed by the Coven Council, who have served or continue to serve as Inner Court members and who have completed at least the Second Degree training program.  The status of Elder is usually granted after the member has demonstrated;

    i.     leadership qualities,

   ii.    has been ordained by the Community Church of Inclusive Wicca,

  iii.    has served on the Coven Council for at least one term,

iv. and who demonstrates the ethics and practices synonymous with those expected by O & M. 

4.2 Membership Fees and Levies

The Coven Council may elect to charge membership dues to cover operating expenses, or to levy reasonable fees for particular events or projects. Where dues or fees are levied, they must be set only to cover costs and not to produce profits and accurate and up to date accounts must be freely available for scrutiny by the full O & M membership at any time. Only the Coven Council may elect to levy fees or dues against itself.

Where a coven member suffers hardship and is unable to contribute to a due or fee, such contribution can be waivered after a vote by the Coven Council. However where this result in a deficit of expenses, such an outcome must be assessed by the Coven Council and any relevant coven activity must be either curtailed or paid for by the remaining coven membership.

4.4 Membership Resignation

An member may resign their membership of O & M at any time by giving written (electronic or hardcopy) notice to an Elder or to a Coven Councillor of O & M.

4.5   Explusion of a Member

a) Subject to giving a member an opportunity to be heard or to mae a written submission, the Coven Council may resolve, by a clear majority vote, to expel a member upon a charge of misconduct detreimental to the interests of O and M.b)     Particulars of the charge shall be communicated to the member at least two weeks before the meeting of the Coven Council at which the matter will be determined.

c) The determination of the Coven Council shall be communicated to the member, and in the event of an adverse determination the member shall cease to be a member 1 day after the Coven Council has communicated its determination to the member.

d)     There will be no grounds for appeal and as such the Coven Council must ensure that any decision made is fair, informed by all relevant evidence and after the member has been given the opportunity to state their case.