Church Structure

The Church of the Objective Truth is led by a Founder who provides general leadership of the Church. Day-to-day decision making and authority is vested in three Governors. Interactions with secular authorities and conventions are carried out by three Emissaries. Members of the church may not be members of any other religion, church, or cult.

Founder

The Founder is the Church’s architect and oversees the larger vision of the the Church and its Membership. The Founder shall defer day-to-day matters of Church functioning to the Governors except in times of turmoil. The first Founder established the Church, the next and each subsequent Founder will be selected by the Membership to continue the path.

The Founder must select and begin tutoring at least three potential replacements before their 60th birthday and must pass leadership to their selected replacement by their 75th birthday. The Founder must be 30 years of age or older when they assume the role and transitions will occur during the Spring Equinox.

Governors

The day-to-day business of the church is to be conducted by three Governors, two elected by the membership and one selected by the Founder. Governors will serve a seven-year term and will be replaced on the Fall Equinox. Governors must be at least 25 years of age when they assume the role and cannot be older than 60 years of age.

Emissaries

Three Emissaries will serve as the executive arm (President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and act as officiators for interactions with the secular world and oversee the Churches responsible handling of finances. Emissaries shall have no power to transfer funds or materials, or to buy, sell, mortgage, lease or transfer any Church property without a specific proposal by the Governors and a majority vote of Members; the Founder shall have discretionary power to veto or order execution of any action required to benefit and sustain the Church. It shall be the function of the Emissaries to affix their signatures to legal documents on behalf of the Church of the Objective Truth involving the purchase, sale, mortgage, rental, or transfer of property, or to other legal documents where the signatures of managers, trustees, or directors are required. The Founder will select the President, the Governors the Secretary, and the Members the Treasurer. Emissaries will serve a two-year term and will be replaced during the Winter Solstice. Emissaries must be at least 21 years of age and cannot be older than 55.

Members

Adherents dedicate their lives to the pursuit of the Objective Truth through worship and service to the Church and are supported by the Church. To become an Adherent, you must be found to be qualified and/or apt in Creation, Seeking, and Self-Sacrifice. All hopefuls must be sponsored by three Adherents and will be given three months to prove their mettle and value to the Church. Acceptance requires a majority vote of the Churches current Adherents.

Supporters of the Church participate in the Church’s activities and receive guidance and camaraderie. Supporters may vote as a full member of the Church after one year of membership and regular engagement. To become a supporter of the Church, you must formally request it from the Founder. After confirmation of eligibility (i.e., alignment with the church’s doctrine) and public affirmation of the Church creed and beliefs membership as a Supporter shall be granted.

Ordination and External Ministry

The mission of a Disciple is to grow membership in the Church. Only a Founder may ordain a Disciple. The physical, psychological, and spiritual mettle of a prospective Disciple shall be judged by the Founder following a period apprenticeship. Any Adherent may ask a Disciple to be their apprentice, but the decision to accept an apprentice will always be that of the Disciple, and the Disciple shall decide when the apprentice is ready. Governors and Emissaries shall determine where each Disciple will mission.

Church Size

When a Church becomes too large, the efficiency of worship is reduced and the path to Salvation for Adherents hampered. No Church shall grow beyond 110 Adherents. Once a Church has 110 Adherents, a new Founder must form a new Church taking 40 Adherents with them.

Formal code of discipline

Excommunication, temporary or permanent, from the Church is possible through investigation and conviction by the Founder and Governors and sentencing by the Membership to protect the sanctity and safety of the Church.

Governors and Emissaries can be removed from their positions by the Founder and a co-vote of other Governors or Emissaries and/or a majority vote of the Membership.

If complete faith is lost in a Founders ability to lead, then the membership shall leave and allow the Church to die. All assets of that Church will be divided among other Churches or donated to funding a fundamental (hard) science or mathematical pursuit.