[in late 1999 I awoke from a dream with most of this text in my head--it seems to be about how to found the ideal church.  I'd like to try it someday...]

The Tenets:

1. Harm None.

2. Excepting that it harm none, all things are permissible, and the church shall not by practice or rule impede any person's expression.

3. All paths are valid; the church by practice or rule shall not interfere with anyone's attempt to attain Enlightenment, or Heaven, or Nirvana, or any other metaphysical goal; furthermore, it is the duty of the church to find teachers of all paths, to learn, record, and integrate these teachings to the best of its ability; further, the church shall, to the best of its ability, aid any member's quest to do the same, or to blaze a new trail.

4. The church shall not waste its resources, but shall use them for the betterment of self, community, planet, and the support of artists, for the salvation of the world shall come from such.

5. As mankind is uniquely able to help or harm the Earth, it is mankind's duty, and therefore that of the church, to do its best at all phases of life to take care of the planet and all creatures upon it; this shall include the formation of new programs and teachings, and also the support of those currently in effect; resources are not to be wasted or misused; this includes the only resources we are born with—our bodies—and therefore our bodies, unsullied by toxins or preservatives, shall be planted, bare save for graveclothes and winding cloth, in the earth as has been practiced for millennia; or else burned, unpoisoned, and returned to the earth or sea; or else donated, whole or in part, to aid in the efforts of the world's healers, through research or transplant.

6. The organization of the church shall at no time be such that all must rely upon one person, for such is a burden and a temptation on the person, and risks desperate failure of both church and leader.

7. All liturgical decisions shall be made by consensus of the membership, and should reflect the syncretism of the church.

8. As much as it is possible, no person should have to perform for the sake of making a living any repugnant task; therefore, let the church aid any member to find that work which brings joy to the worker, and help that person to live from this task, whether by payment, management, patronage, or sale of products, services or art.

9. As the Universe, and our lives within it, seem fraught with dichotomies created whole cloth by our language and culture; and as these false dichotomies of religion, politics, gender, sexuality, nationalism, race, social debate and others can be seen as a major cause of much of the world's strife and confusion, live the church strive in all things to demonstrate by language and behavior that these dichotomies are indeed false. If it be necessary to do so, let a new language be learned or created for this purpose.

10. Let any person who wishes to be a member, or to cease being a member, do so by a simple declaration before the congregation; if desired, the new member may demonstrate this declaration by any appropriate ritual or formalization.

11. Celebrate Ceaselessly. As we are to be close to the Earth, celebrate the turnings of the seasons and the moon; celebrate the holy days of all religions and cultures equally; in ritual or frenzy celebrate all turning points of life and growth; both as a church and as individuals celebrate ceaselessly. Note that if one's work is also one's joy and expression of spirit, then celebration and work may be the same thing.

12. Let the church develop syncretic ceremonies to celebrate birth, passage into maturity, passage into clergy, passage into sagehood, and passage into the cycle of death and rebirth; Let there be a ceremony for a boy's passage into manhood and a ceremony for a girl's passage into womanhood, and let these ceremonies be a mystery for those who have not been thus initiated; let those of two-spirit who wish to pursue a Shamanic path experience both ceremonies, with the consent and supervision of a current two-spirit Shaman or the leaders of the male and the female mysteries; let any who are beyond the age of turning still participate in these ceremonies, if they feel called to do so; let any child so recognized be now recognized as an adult in all things, and an equal in the community.

13. Let the church encourage any who so desire to become clergy; this process and formalization should parallel that of the clergy of the member's chosen path, or else created whole cloth to the specifications of the member, if that member be an initiate of a unique path; let this process occur under the supervision and with the assistance of a council of all clergy (that is priests, ministers, teachers, healers, Shaman, high priests and priestesses, rabbis, and others) in the Syncretic Order.

14. Let the church strive at all times to have among its members and clergy those whose gift or art is healing, and minister to the congregation and the community.

15. Let the church carry records of members, clergy, liturgy, rites of passage, and other pertinent matters for posterity's use.

16. Let no form of art or worship or sacrament or meditation be proscribed, as long as none are harmed thereby.

17. Let any who wish to spawn new churches, and let the church give full aid to those who wish to do so, even if there be disagreement; let there be mobile branches of the church, created along the lines of a roving Gypsy encampment, so that members might wander the countryside practicing their art and spirit under no onus of finance or government.

18. Let any part of this document be altered, excised, or added to by membership consensus only.

19. Let the design of the church, its decoration, and all aspects of liturgy and service be both art and sacred expression, and reflect the syncretic nature of the order.

20. Let the church not fail to teach also the children; and to assist families, however formed, in teaching and caring for the children; for if we do not, each passing generation will bring us closer to destruction.

21. The church shall recognize all forms of marriage and family union, as long as all concerned are consenting; further, if desired, the church shall perform a formalization ceremony for any such union; this is to include, but not be limited to, traditional marriage, same-sex marriage, polyamory, and term-limit marriages; the church shall do its best to aid these families, especially with regard to the care of the children.

22. The church shall at no time encourage its members to any one political view; laws and governments that are seen as unjust by a member should be dealt with as that member's conscience sees fit, and it is not the duty of the church to suppress any petition, vote, or civil disobedience, as long as it harm none; further, the church should take an interest in supporting laws, governments or programs which express ideals useful for the healing of the planet.

23. Let the church revive the old custom of Sanctuary, that those in need might call upon the church for protection, with the expectation that safety and succor might thus be had.

1999