There shall be five classes of membership in the ISE: Member, Sponsor, Elder,
and Trustee (VIP Member). These shall be conferred, and have associated rights
as is provided for in this Article of these Bylaws. Once duly admitted, all
Members (excepting Trustee and Elder, which may not hold office on The BOARD
or a Local BOARD) shall have equal rights, including voting, holding office,
and on all other matters. The CABINET may also create classes of non-voting
Associates of the ISE.
An Associate of the
ISE shall be an individual, local group, or student group who does not otherwise
meet the requirements of membership in the ISE as stated in ARTICLE 2 of the
Bylaws of the ISE. Associate Membership
allows individuals to "try out" the ISE for a period of one year and
one day, before making a commitment to lifetime personal growth, or this organization.
Associates are non-voting members, so may not vote at any Sponsor meeting, or
Board Meeting, but may be heard if they are called upon by the Chairman. Associates
are encouraged to attend all ISE-sponsored events, and will receive Associate
member prices for these activities. Each associate is given free access to the
ISE-assoc
(an electronic mailing list for Associates and willing Elders and ISE Members).
Also, discussions with willing members and Elders is highly encouraged, as this
enables the Associate to come to decisions about his or her life.
In order that Associates of the ISE meet basic criteria for association with the ISE that is in accord with the membership of the ISE, all Associates must meet the following criteria that shall be attested to in the Membership Interview:
1.
An Associate must self-identify as a person who is seeking spiritual growth,
or would like to learn more about him/herself through participating in activities
conducted or sponsored by the ISE.
2. An Associate must be at least 18 years
of age or 16 years of age with the written consent of a parent or guardian.
3. An Associate's beliefs and practices
must be compatible with the statement "I seek personal spiritual growth…"
4. As Associate must agree to subscribe
to the Code of Ethics as defined in ARTICLE 9. of the Bylaws
of the ISE.
5. An Associate must make a statement of
eligibility at his or her Membership Interview. A Recommendation from a Sponsor
of the ISE is strongly encouraged but not required.
6. Associate status shall be pending until
decision is made by The BOARD or Local BOARD.
7. Associates shall receive Associate membership
prices at all ISE events, contact with willing elders and sponsors, and access
to an electronic listserv for Associates and willing ISE members. No confidential
ISE information shall be available to Associates.
8. Administration of the Associate program
shall be the responsibility of The Secretary who will send a letter of welcome
to the Associate outlining their status and rules, provide Associate Identification
cards, and any other necessary information.
9. Associates are urged to participate
in Home Church or Local Congregation activities and may be subject to Local
Congregation tithes.
10. Annual Associate tithes shall be determined
at the same time as Member tithes at the Annual CABINET Meeting.
11. Associates admitted under Local BOARD
procedures established before the formalization of the current process are grandfathered
Associates and retain their Associate status so long as they renew through their
Local Congregation.
In order to be eligible for membership as a Regular Member, an applicant must meet the following criteria which must be addressed in each applicant's Membership Interview.
1.
Be recognized by whichever Sponsor Members are already familiar with the practitioner
and proclaim her or himself as such in the Membership Interview;
2. Subscribe to a code of ethics, which is compatible
with those in Article 9, Section B, of the ISE Bylaws;
3. Generally focus its liturgy, theology, and
so on around our subscribed philosophies and teachings;
4. Be eligible to be a Member according to the
provisions of Article 7, Section B.1. b., c., and d. of the bylaws;
or as admitted by the judgment of a Local BOARD according to Article 7, Section
D. if applying through a Local Congregation. As a Solitary, the applicant must
be eligible for Sponsorship according to the provisions of Article 7. Section
B. 2 of the Bylaws.
5. Pledge to abide by all provisions of the Charter,
Bylaws, and all policy decisions of the
CABINET and the BOARD; and
6. Agree to hold harmless any Committee of the
ISE and all Committee members acting in their official capacities.
In order for the ISE to be viable as an instrument of the joint will of its Members, a Local Congregation, to be eligible for membership in the ISE, must meet the following criteria, which must be addressed in each applicant's Membership interview:
1.
Be recognized as being in fact a Local Congregation of members by whichever
Sponsor Members are already familiar with it and its members; and proclaim themselves
as such in the Membership Interview;
2. Subscribe to a code of ethics compatible with
that in Article 9, Section B, of the Bylaws,
3. Generally focus its liturgy, theology, and
so on around our subscribed philosophies and teachings.
4. Have one or more members who have been Formally
Accepted as Sponsors by the Home Church or another Local Congregation of the
ISE;
5. Have been meeting monthly or more often for
at least six months in order to conduct communal services, and/or educational
meetings;
6. Pledge to abide by all the provisions of the
Charter, the Bylaws,
and all policy decisions of the The CABINET and The BOARD; and agree that the
Local Congregation and all its members will hold harmless any Committee of the
Local Congregation and all Committee members acting in their official capacities.
7. Agree that the Local Congregation and all
its members will hold harmless any Committee of the ISE and all Committee members
acting in their official capacities.
A Sponsor is, as decided by The BOARD or the Local BOARD, a voting member of the CABINET (the governing body of the ISE). Sponsors are those judged by their peers to be eligible to hold office, and head committees, as well as to educate members in our faith and to lead us in worship services.
In order to be eligible for Sponsor level membership, a member must be ready to receive Sponsor Credentials, as minister of our religion; and shall:
Be an active member
of the Home Church, a Member Local Congregation, or a Solitary Practitioner.
Sponsor Credentials confer a membership level of Sponsorship in the ISE.
1. Satisfy the criteria b, c, and d of Section
B.1. of the Bylaws;
2. Have undergone at least one additional full
year of active training under a qualified Elder, after the year specified in
Section B.1. of the Bylaws;
3. Be In fact fully able to establish
a Local Congregation, admit members to it, and train them in all the tenets
and practices of her or his tradition.
An Elder is a Sponsor who has committed him/herself to spiritual growth through the personal growth of others. Sponsors may become Elders by a consensus of a Quorum of the Council of Elders. An Elder has the right to speak at any meeting of the ISE and may make a veto vote at any time without having a vote of No Confidence called upon them as a result. An Elder's Membership in the ISE may only be revoked by a consensus of the Council of Elders. Elders or their representatives will complete the training of all Sponsors. Elders recommend elgible Sponsors to the Board if a vacancy appears.
Elders, like Trustees may not hold office on the BOARD, or the Local BOARD. They, however do hold a position in the Council of Elders. A Sponsor is elevated to the position of Elder by a majority vote of a quorum of the Council of Elders.
Information on this level of membership forthcoming...
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