Clergy Outline

Prelates

Prelates are members of the College of Prelates, and are generally accorded the title of "Bishop" after their elevation or consecration. As with most titles in TTO, the exact choice is somewhat at the discretion of the individual.

The College of Prelates makes decisions concerning the Ordination of Clergy, generally through an Ordination Committee.
The College of Prelates elects a Pontifex, who is the Chair and leader of the College, and serves for a term of two years.
The College of Prelates sets the official Canon and selects rituals and ceremonies as "official" rituals of EGHd it, it doesn’t exist. Clearly list and describe the services you offer. Also, be sure to showcase a premium service.

Clergy

Clergy are official representatives of EGH. They have initial and continuing educational requirements

Clergy may lead all rituals and ceremonies of TTO, administer all sacraments, saving Ordination, which is reserved to the College of Prelates, and Attainment which is not administered.
Unlike some other Thelemic and pagan organizations, all Ordained Clergy are, like their counterparts in most Christian Churches, eligible to be sponsored for actual legal ministerial status, and receive aid in acquiring such status, in their US State or other place of residence. In States where TTO does not yet have a presence, TTO will work with local clergy to establish the necessary local structure to receive legal ministerial status.
While TTO encourages mentorship, and hopes Clergy will develop close relations with each other and Prelates, there is no formal system of apprenticeship. Clergy Petition the College for Ordination, and may be subject to impartial examination.
Clergy have administrative duties including reporting administration of the sacraments, and other rituals and ceremonies.

Novice Clergy

Confirmed members of the EGH may enter into Novitiate Training by submitting a Declaration of Intent to the Secretary of the College of Prelates. In respect to the individual nature of Thelema, there are no formal requirements to submit a Petition for Ordination, however it is expected that the Novice must undertake Mastery in three Qualities:

Administration - the Novice must show basic competence necessary to ensure the ability to complete those functions of Clergy which involve the recording of events, and adherence to formal regulation.
Ritualism - the Novice must show competence and expertise at the performance of the rituals of the Order, both by performing scripted material, and showing an appropriate ability to deal with improvisation or adversity.
Demeanor - the Novice must show that they are able to interact with their siblings in a way which is respectful and exemplifies love.

Novice Clergy may, like all Clergy, develop and perform their own liturgy or variants on liturgy, provided that they have completed all relevant and current safety and consent training.

Novice Clergy may perform the sacrament of the Mass, Baptism and Unbaptism.

Other Sacraments require written authority of Fully Ordained Clergy.

Novice Clergy, while accorded respect, are not considered to be official representatives of the EGH.

Lay Clergy

The Lay Clergy is made up of all of those individuals who are at least Corresponding members and who hold various roles of leadership and responsibility within the EGH, but who do not currently intend to progress to ordination. The organization and acceptance of various positions within the Lay Priesthood is under the authority of the Ordained Clergy of a Chartered Group. For example, a given Group might establish a system of Deacons, Assistant Priests, Sacristans, or any other arrangement which suits their operation.

Lay Clergy must be Confirmed in EGH
The position of Lay Clergy does not convey outside the Chartering Group
Lay Clergy are not official representatives of TTO
The creation of Lay Clergy must be reported as with the creation of any other Officer of a Local Group

Gender & Clergy

TTO tolerates no discrimination based on gender, gender expression, sexuality or sexual expression.

The choice of title, roles, etc. within the various rituals of EGH is at the discretion of the individual clergy member on a fluid ritual-by-ritual basis.

It is expressly against the discrimination policy of TTO for any officiant, Ordained Clergy, Local Master etc., in any setting private or public to disqualify an individual from a preferred role solely on the basis of gender, gender expression, sexuality or sexual expression.

Preference may not be used to mask discrimination. Thus a phrasing such as "we would prefer a cis-gender male for this role" is coercive and constitutes discrimination as it would clearly tend to dissuade persons of any other gender from applying for the role.

Any individual member of the Clergy may choose at any time to withdraw from any ritual or ceremony for any reason. That may include being placed in a situation where they would be forced into any interaction which would be uncomfortable for them for whatever reason. The choice to withdraw is personal, a vital element of consent, and should not be questioned.

Withdrawal may not be used as a public, de facto, weapon of exclusion. The private choice to withdraw because of discomfort with a co-celebrant's gender expression is a matter of personal consent. Expression of it in such a way as to cause strife, disharmony, humiliation, or dissuade further participation on the part of the co-celebrant is discriminatory.

While individual gender expression may be fluid, provided there is no special discrimination in regards to individuals of a given gender, "locking in" certain roles in a given ritual a sufficient time in advance to allow for rehearsal, advertisement, and planning, is not discriminatory.

A consistent preference for working in ritual with a given partner or circle of partners is not evidence of discrimination. At public bodies it is expected that due consideration will be given to ensuring all Clergy are able, on some reasonable cycle, to participate in ritual. At private bodies, the prevalence of a given group of Clergy may constitute a norm.

Multiple Leaders Present

There is an EGH event at my Group. Who has the ultimate say-so on what can happen? The Ordained Clergy presenting the EGH Ceremony, or the Local Group Leader?

If the two are not one in the same, whether the Ordained Clergy are from the same Group or not, it is best to view the situation as one in which the Local Group Leader is the host, and the Ordained Clergy the guest.
In terms of the site, safety, safety related issues, etc., the preferences of the Local Group Leader take precedence. E.g. “you cannot use candles in that place” is a safety matter.
In terms of consent, and anything related to content which might be considered questionable or adult, the preferences of the Local Group Leader take precedence, e.g. “no you may not ask people to be nude at this ritual.”
In terms of what happens in the EGH ritual, in general the Ordained Clergy member who is designated Lead for the Ceremony has final say. E.g., the Local Master, even if they are also Ordained Clergy, cannot draw lines about how Mass may be presented, who may wear what, what music or anthems are used (except in regards to high volume,) etc.
Ultimately the Group Leader has final say-so over whether or not a given ritual may run in their space.
- In Priories, Chapters, and Sanctuaries, the private bodies, the word of the Local Master is the ultimate authority, and TTO will generally give wide allowance for any restrictions they may set on Clergy, To some extent, what happens in a local body is a matter of local taste.
- In Lodges and Temples, the public bodies, the Group Leader is expected to show extreme restraint and respect for any Ordained Clergy, local or guest, who have been designated to perform an EGH ritual, and to allow various local or invited Ordained Clergy to lead in Rituals.
  - Overt interference with Ordained Clergy, or refusal to allow participation in a public body, may lead to administrative action in which the Group is reclassified as a Priory, Chapter, or Sanctuary.