The Northern California Local Council (NCLC) of the Covenant of the Goddess is the original starting point of CoG, and maintains itself with tithes from its membership, which are in addition to the tithes to the national organization. A member of NCLC is a member of CoG. The heart of the Covenant of the Goddess (CoG) is its members; assembled into Local Councils, which are comprised of both Coven members and Assembly of Solitaries (AoS) members, as well as National members (both Coven and AoS) who live in areas not served by a Local Council. A Local Council is the primary working unit of the Covenant, consisting of at least three member covens of at least two different traditions, in reasonably close geographic proximity to each other.
How to join - Steps on the Path to Membership
Contact the Northern California Local Council Membership Officer who will advise and assist applicants through the process. Because we are a consensus-based organization, and because trust is necessary in order to work through differences toward consensus, the path to membership is not as simple and as quick as might be found in other organizations.
You will need to
1) complete the application form including signature and date,
2) write a statement of practice which must contain certain information (see below),
3) pay two tithes - one to CoG and one to NCLC, and
4) obtain two letters of reference from current members of CoG (or people known to CoG) and
5) submit these to the Local Council Membership Officer.
The Local Council will discuss the application at their next meeting, and if approved, the application will be forwarded to the National Membership officer. The statement and letters will be published in the next two newsletters. The first publication begins a 90-day comment period, allowing people to object to the applicant. If there are no objections, the National Membership Officer will admit the applicant to the Covenant. If there are objections, submitted either to the National or Local Membership Officer, the objections and the application will be reviewed by the Local Council and acted upon. A way forward may be found (trial membership for a year, mediation with the objector until they remove their objection, an Associate membership, etc.) or the application may be returned, along with the tithes.
You will need to
1) complete the application form including signature and date,
2) write a statement of practice which must contain certain information (see below),
3) pay two tithes - one to CoG and one to NCLC, and
4) obtain two letters of reference from current members of CoG (or people known to CoG) and
5) submit these to the Local Council Membership Officer.
The Local Council will discuss the application at their next meeting, and if approved, the application will be forwarded to the National Membership officer. The statement and letters will be published in the next two newsletters. The first publication begins a 90-day comment period, allowing people to object to the applicant. If there are no objections, the National Membership Officer will admit the applicant to the Covenant. If there are objections, submitted either to the National or Local Membership Officer, the objections and the application will be reviewed by the Local Council and acted upon. A way forward may be found (trial membership for a year, mediation with the objector until they remove their objection, an Associate membership, etc.) or the application may be returned, along with the tithes.
Membership as a CovenMembership as a Coven confers CoG membership to all the Coven members. The advantage of Coven membership is that the identity of individual members is kept private. This is a special protection conferred on CoG because of its membership structure for its 501(c)(3) religious nonprofit status with the IRS and written into the bylaws of the organization as such.
Criteria for CoG Membership as a CovenIn order for the Covenant to be viable as an instrument of the joint will of its Members, a Coven, to be eligible for membership in the Covenant, must meet the following criteria, which must be addressed in each applicant’s Statement of Practice:
a. be recognized as being in fact a Coven of members of Our Religion by whichever CoG Members are already familiar with it and its members; and proclaim themselves as Witches or Wiccans in the Statement of Practice; b. be a cohesive, self-perpetuating group fully able to practice and preserve its Tradition of Our Religion; c. subscribe to a code of ethics compatible with that in Article 9, Section B. Code of Ethics, of the CoG Bylaws, d. generally focus its liturgy, theology, and practice around the worship of the Goddess or the Goddess and the Old Gods; e. have three or more members who have been formally accepted into training for the Clergy; f. have at least one member who is eligible to receive Elder Priest/ess Credentials according to the CoG Bylaws. g. have been meeting monthly or more often for at least six months in order to conduct worship services; h. pledge to abide by all the provisions of the CoG Charter, Bylaws, and all policy decisions of the Council; and i. agree that the Coven and all its members will hold harmless any Committee of the Covenant and all Committee members acting in their official capacities. |
Membership as a SolitaryThe Assembly of Solitaries is for individuals whose practice is not Coven-based. At business meetings Solitaries can form temporary caucuses made up of three or more Solitaries for the purposes of establishing quorum.
Criteria for CoG Membership as a SolitaryIn order to be eligible for membership as a member of an Assembly of Solitaries, a solitary practitioner of Our
Religion must meet the following criteria which must be addressed in each applicant’s Statement of Practice. a. be recognized as being in fact a member of Our Religion by whichever CoG members are already familiar with the practitioner; and proclaim themselves as a Witch or Wiccan in the Statement of Practice; b. subscribe to a code of ethics compatible with that in Article 9, Section B., Code of Ethics, of the CoG Bylaws; c. generally focus their liturgy, theology, and practice around the worship of the Goddess or the Goddess and the Old Gods; d. be eligible to receive Priest/ess Credentials according the CoG Bylaws; or as admitted by the judgment of a Local Council acting as a body according to the CoG, if applying through a Local Council. Or, if applying to the National Assembly of Solitaries, the applicant must be eligible for Elder Priest/ess Credentials according to the CoG Bylaws. e. pledge to abide by all provisions of the CoG Charter, these Bylaws, and all policy decisions of the Council; and f. agree to hold harmless any Committee of the Covenant and all Committee members acting in their official capacities. |
National and Local tithes
Membership tithes are for a period of one year. NCLC membership renewals and annual tithes are due at Mabon. If a member is admitted at a different date, at their first renewal their tithes will be prorated and their renewal date will be changed to Mabon.
The National annual tithe is a sliding scale, Covens $110-$170 and Solitaries $50-$90.
The NCLC annual tithe for Covens is $25 and for Solitaries is $10.
The National annual tithe is a sliding scale, Covens $110-$170 and Solitaries $50-$90.
The NCLC annual tithe for Covens is $25 and for Solitaries is $10.
Membership Renewal
Please complete this form to renew annual membership. Make two copies of the completed form, keep one for your records, give one to the Local Council Membership Officer with your Local Tithe, and send the original with your National tithe to:
COVENANT OF THE GODDESS
NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP OFFICER
P. O. BOX 12193
SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92423-2193
COVENANT OF THE GODDESS
NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP OFFICER
P. O. BOX 12193
SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92423-2193
You may contact the National Membership Officer at membership (at) cog (dot) org, or the NCLC Membership Officer at thea (dot) bristlebroom (at) gmail (dot) com.