Article 28; State And National Funds
A.
Each chartered church shall be required to send one per cent of
all their income from whatever source; fund raisings, rentals of
church property, and, gifts, to their state organization and an
additional one percent to their national organization. These
funds shall be used for the support of the state and national
officials. Also, once a year the local churches shall request a
special donation, one for the state church and one for the
national. These special donations should be separated by six
month intervals. The state church on the first of the year, the
national in the middle.
All church funds shall be put into insured accounts. They may
not be used for speculative investments. Any official that
suggests doing so shall be removed from their office, and any
members that try to get control of church funds so that they may
invest them in questionable activities will lose their
membership.
Any stocks or bonds given to the church may not be sold. They
are to be held and whatever interests or dividends they earn are
to be used for the church's general fund. It is an ancient
tradition that Spiritists, when forming new companies, give one
share of stock each, to their local, state, and national
organization. This is not a church rule, but a very ancient
tradition.
Any land given to the church must be used for the purpose for which it was given. If it later becomes valuable it cannot be sold and used for another purpose. Such gifts are considered sacred and the misuse of them a serious offense.
The Rules Of (place the name of your church here.)
1. Any attempt to change the rules of the church, or to add
any rule or teaching that is in contradiction to an already
existing rule or teaching, will either mean dismissal of the
members making this attempt, or loss of that church's charter.
2. The Rule Of The First Church
The first church in any nation is to be considered the national
church, and that church's Speaker is to be considered the
national Speaker. And until a state organization is formed, it is
also considered to be that state's state church. Until each
individual state churches form a state organization, the national
church shall recognize the first church in that state as the
official head of that state's organization.
The national church, when forming new churches, may waver the
rules for officers as to time in the church is concerned until
enough time is passed that the normal rules of the church can
function.
But the conditions for removal of officers are the same.
3. Homosexuals are not allowed membership in the church. They
may be given counseling to help them in their condition, but as
long as they claim what they do is proper they cannot enter into
fellowship. Any persons entering the church and then declaring
they are homosexuals shall have their membership revoked. Any
church that does not remove such a member will lose their
charter. Any members of the church campaigning to change the
church's rules to accept homosexuality will have their membership
revoked. Any church that does not remove such individuals will
lose their charter.
4. At no time shall anyone be allowed to teach hate in the
church, or, racial prejudice of any kind. Any member doing so,
shall be immediately expelled from the church. Any church failing
to carry out this rule may have its charter revoked without
question.
5. Any member found guilty of lying about any other member for
any purpose shall be required to pay a fine to that member equal
to five times their weekly income. If they refuse to pay this
fine, they shall be removed from the church and not allowed to
re-enter the church until they have made payment to the offended
party. Any church knowingly accepting any person into fellowship
who is under punishment in another church, shall loose their
charter, and shall not regain it until that person is removed
from their membership.
6. No church officials may, at any time, hold secret or closed
meetings, having to do with church business. All meetings must be
announced and opened to membership.
7. No official can remove any worker's membership except
through due process as laid out in the by-laws. Any officer doing
so shall be removed from his or her office.
8. Any officer of the church not using due process toward any
member shall loose their office and pay a fine of 500% to the
party they have offended, or be expelled from the church.
9. Sensitive's readings may be given in the church only twice
a year; on Communications Day, and All Spirit's Day, and these
should only be general readings. All other readings shall either
be at seances or the individual sensitive's home. This is because
that Spirit believes that readings of any good nature should be
private, as they carry personal information.
10. Manner Of Dress For Speakers
When not doing service for the church, a Speaker may dress in any
manner appropriate according to the teachings of Spirit. While
carrying on Church work, all workers should wear clothes of a
dark color, preferably, black. For men; suit coats and pants,
with a white turtle neck shirt, is recommended, but a white dress
shirt without tie is also permissible. Women must wear dresses
while doing services and work for the church. In foul weather it
is permissible for women to wear slacks out of doors, but these
should be changed before conducting services. It is also
permissible for workers or members to wear the traditional hooded
robes both to services and otherwise. Manner of dress for members
is optional and dependent on their financial status. Men should
wear suit coats with turtle neck shirts to service if they have
them. Women should wear dresses of a moderate style. They should
not be above the knee, or too revealing in the bosom. Spirit does
not approve of men wearing bright colored patterns to service or
otherwise. Members are perfectly free to wear the traditional
robes to service.
11. Any member convicted of breaking any of the church's laws
shall have their membership withdrawn, until such time as they
have completed the punishment for their crime. At that time their
membership shall be renewed without question, and their past
forgotten by the church.
12. Trials in the Church
After the church Guardian has investigated any charges of
misconduct by members and found there is sufficient evidence that
statements made against this person are true, they shall take the
information to the church Speaker who shall, at the next service,
call this person for trial. The Speaker shall select ten members
at random from the church to judge the case as to guilt or
innocence of the member. If the party is found guilty, the
appropriate action demanded in the rules or by-laws shall be
taken.
A. These trials shall be held at night, so they do not
interfere with the labor of those chosen as judges.
B. Any persons threatening a person chosen as a judge has
themselves committed a crime punishable by the removal of their
membership, for ten years. Any person bribing a judge shall also
loose their membership for ten years.
C. Any judge who is found did not report a threat or an
attempted bribe, shall lose their membership for ten years.
13. At no time shall smoking or the consumption of alcoholic
beverages or any other type of drug be allowed in any building
being used for a church building, function, or meeting. A member
doing so shall pay a 50% fine to the church and lose their
membership for one month.
14. Any church official whose membership is revoked,
automatically loses their office, and cannot regain it except
through reelection.
15. All family names and symbols are to be registered with the
church and no one may use a family symbol or name without the
permission of that family. No name or family emblem can be
inherited without the written permission of the family. For
complete information on how to register your family name and
symbol, write the national church.
16. A lie detector test is acceptable evidence in a church
trial. Any person refusing to take such a test shall be
automatically considered guilty.
17. Along with knowing the by-laws, rules and teachings of the
church a person must also know how to contact their state and
national organizations. The addresses for both of these shall be
included in the test for qualification as a member. At present,
the address of the national representative is P.O. Box 4301,
Portland, ME 04101.
18. No officer in the church, no matter what their level,
shall make no more than the minimum wage.
19. No church shall have expensive, fuel-inefficient vehicles.