ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE CHANCELLOR
25 September, Year 6 Aquarius

Greetings all

I am writing to you today to help clear up some of the questions which have been circulating regarding the future of the Correllian Tradition and its largest incorporated body, the Correllian Nativist Church International, Inc. (CNCI). Recent actions on the part of the CNCI in regard to its new seminary New Aeon, and in regard to its proposed “Universal Nativism” and “New Aeon Church” have caused great concern among Correllians, and in the Correllian Council of Elders.

I will answer these questions once and for all today.

Many people think that the Correllian Tradition and the CNCI are the same thing –they are not. The Correllian Tradition has its own bylaws, which every Correllian First Degree is required to study –these are not the bylaws of the CNCI. The Correllian Tradition has its own leadership –the First Priesthood, Council of Elders and Witan- the CNCI has a Board of Directors which includes members of the Correllian leadership just named, but is distinct from it. The Correllian Tradition is in essence an unincorporated association comprising a number of incorporated bodies around the world. The CNCI is the largest of those bodies, but certainly not the only one.

 


I have this day resigned from the CNCI and its Board of Directors because of irreconcilable differences of vision. The CNCI has a definite vision for itself, which has departed from that of the main body of the Correllian Tradition, and the core values of Correllianism. The CNCI wishes to be more exclusive, emphasize more rigorous academic quality, and operate a seminary on the model of Collegiate Academics as the sole path to clergy credentials. The Correllian Tradition is and has always been first and foremost a popular movement dedicated to the idea of Wiccan spirituality for everyone who wants it.

For the Tradition this begins a wonderful growth and expansion of the local incorporation of our Temples. All Temples who will benefit by incorporation are encouraged to seek local incorporation in their own right. In addition several Correllian Temples are currently in the process of seeking 501c3 standing, and no doubt more will. This is a great step forward for us.

This is much more in keeping with the actual Correllian bylaws, which never set out to micro-manage Temples. The Witan, Council of Elders, and First Priesthood still remain, but wield an influence that incorporated Temples will voluntarily accept as part of what it is to be Correllian, or go their own way.

What this means is that, so far as the Tradition is concerned, any Correllian Temple with its own legal standing may ordain in its own right. We do ask that the Temples, if they wish to remain in good standing with the Tradition, adhere to the minimum standards set by the Tradition –but beyond those minimum standards they may add whatever additional requirements they see fit.

We also ask that the individual Temples continue to keep the Tradition itself informed of their memberships and ordinations so that a central data base continues to exist, and so that members may continue to be registered in and blessed with the Book of Life.

Individual Correllians may seek Outer Court or Clerical standing with any or all of the individually incorporated Temples.

In addition the Correll Mother Temple itself specifically recognizes under its own incorporation all existing Correllian OCM and Clergy standing as of 25 September, Year 6 Aquarius. What this means is that all Correllians having pre-existing standing may view themselves as also having that standing directly through the Mother Temple.

Temple Heads with questions may contact the Witan Herald, Rev. Anna Rowe (witanherald@btinternet.com), who will be happy to assist you.

Clergy and Outer Court Members with questions may contact Rev. Virginia Powell (virginia@witchschool.com) or Rev. Windy LaJoie (windy0716@aol.com), who will gladly help.

In addition I am at this time dissolving the Correllian Directorate as a body of the Correllian Tradition and eliminating the office of First Director. The former duties of the First Director will be absorbed back into the office of First Priest from which the originally came.

I hope that this answers all questions. Additional announcements will undoubtedly come in the next few days and weeks.

May the Blessing Be upon you,

M. Rev. Donald Lewis-Highcorrell ,
First Priest and Chancellor
Correllian Nativist Tradition