Articles of Incorporation
Aims
Office
Members
Representation of Members' Interests
Board of Directors
Officers
Ministers
Local chapters
National Chapters
Modification of Bylaws
Operational Guidelines
Active Credo
Founding Credo

ARTICLES OF   THE WORLD PANTHEIST MOVEMENT

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF A
COLORADO NONPROFIT CORPORATION

The undersigned persons, acting as incorporators of a nonprofit corporation
under the Colorado Nonprofit Corporation Act execute the following Articles
of Incorporation for such corporation.

FIRST: The name of the nonprofit corporation is: World Pantheist Movement.

SECOND: The address of the initial registered office of the nonprofit
corporation in Colorado is: 1366 South Drew Way, Lakewood, Colorado 80232,
and the name of its initial registered agent at such address is: Registered
Agency Services, Inc.

THIRD: Such nonprofit corporation is organized exclusively for charitable,
religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes, including, for such
purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as
exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. Specifically,
the nonprofit corporation's purposes consist of the following:

1. To inform and educate its members and the public about the principles
and practice of scientific pantheism, an earth-honoring religion for which
the universe is the supreme object of reverence; and which holds that there
is only one type of substance in the universe, energy/matter;

2. To organize and fund local, regional, national, international,
professional, university and special interest organizations of people who
share the basic beliefs of scientific pantheism;

3. To publish and disseminate literature and other materials in writing and
other media related to scientific pantheism;

4. To provide for the education and licensing of pantheist ministers, who
may perform religious and ceremonial functions on behalf of pantheists as
provided by law, including but not limited to funerals and the solemnization
of marriages;

5. To promote the development of scientific pantheist ideas and practices
in ceremony, philosophy, ethics, environment, education, arts, therapy and
other fields; and

6. To develop cooperative links with sympathetic organizations in order to
further these aims.

FOURTH: No part of the net earnings of the nonprofit corporation shall
inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, delegates,
directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the nonprofit
corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation
for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance
of the purposes set forth in Article Third hereof. No substantial part of
the activities of the nonprofit corporation shall be the carrying on of
propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the
nonprofit corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including
the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on
behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
Nothwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the nonprofit
corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be
carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any
future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are
deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the
corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

FIFTH: The nonprofit corporation will have members. The qualifications of
members, if any, the application process, the property, voting and other
rights and privileges of members and their liability for dues and
assessments, and the method of collection thereof, shall be set forth in the
Bylaws.

SIXTH: Provisions regarding the distribution of assets on dissolution of
the nonprofit corporation are as follows: Upon the dissolution of the
nonprofit corporation, its assets shall be distributed for one or more
exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code,
or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local
government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall
be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which
the principal office of the nonprofit corporation is then located,
exclusively for such purposes, or to such organization or organziations, as
said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for
such purposes.

SEVENTH: The nonprofit corporation shall have twelve (12) directors who
shall serve as the initial board of directors. The name of each
director is:

Paul Harrison                      Hilary Caws-Elwitt
Heather Cunningham          Ezella Edwards
William Garrett                     Ron Hooft
Jan Edward Garrett              Jocelyn Lee Markey
Tor Myrvang                         Jeff Pitcher
Sue Williams                         Charles Adam Yonce

EIGHTH: Bylaws of the Corporation may be adopted by the Board of Directors
at any regular meeting or special meeting for that purpose, so long as they
are not inconsistent with the provisions of these Articles.

NINTH: A director shall have no liability to the nonprofit corporation for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for acts
or omissions that involve breach of his duty of loyalty to the nonprofit
corporation or its members, acts or omissions not in good faith which
involve intentional misconduct by the director or a knowing violation of
law, acts involved in assenting to or participating in the making of a loan
from the nonprofit corporation to its directors or officers, or transactions
from which the director will personally receive a benefit in money, property
or services to which the director is not legally entitled.

TENTH: The name of each of the incorporators is:

Paul Harrison                  Jocelyn Lee Markey
Henry Gibbard

BY-LAWS OF THE WORLD PANTHEIST MOVEMENT

The World Pantheist Movement is a non-profit organization dedicated to
the fostering of scientific pantheism. In order to achieve this
purpose, the World Pantheist Movement has incorporated itself as World
Pantheist Movement, a Colorado Corporation (hereinafter referred to as
the Corporation). The directors of the Corporation hereby adopt the
following bylaws to govern its affairs:

__________________________________________________________________
Article 1. AIMS
The Corporation is organized exclusively for religious, educational,
charitable and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the
making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt
organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the
corresponding section of any future federal tax code. Specifically, the
Corporation's purposes consist of the following:
1.1 To inform and educate its members and the public about the
principles and practice of scientific pantheism, a religion for which the
universe is the only real divinity and nature is sacred,
which holds that there is only one type of substance in the universe,
energy/matter. The fundamental unifying beliefs of Scientific Pantheism
are presented in the belief statement of December 1997 (known as the
Founding Credo), as appended to these by-laws.
1.2. To organize and fund local, regional, national, international,
professional, university and special-interest organizations of people
who share the basic beliefs of scientific pantheism.
1.3. To publish and disseminate literature and other materials in
writing and other media related to scientific pantheism, and to hold
conferences, exhibitions and other gatherings to promote scientific
pantheism.
1.4. To provide for the education and licensing of pantheist
ministers, who may perform religious and ceremonial functions on behalf
of pantheists as provided by law, including but not limited to funerals
and the solemnization of marriages.
1.5. To promote the development of scientific pantheist ideas and
practices in ceremony, philosophy, ethics, environment, education, the
arts, therapy, and other fields.
1.6. To develop cooperative links with sympathetic organizations, to be
agreed by the Board of Directors, in order to further these aims. Eligible
organizations shall be decided by the Board of Directors.

_________________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE 2. OFFICE
The Corporation's principal office will be located at its
principal place of business. This location may be changed by a
majority vote of the Board of Directors (Board). The Corporation may
have such other offices, within or without the State of Colorado, as
the Board may designate.
______________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE 3. MEMBERS
3.1 Qualifications for Membership
Members of the Corporation shall consist of those persons who
have paid subscriptions to become members of the Corporation, or who
have been accepted as members with a waiver of subscription.
Full membership in the World Pantheist Movement is open to all persons
aged 16 and over, regardless of sex, race or nationality, who have an
interest in disseminating, or participating in the development and
religious expression of scientific pantheism. Persons under 16 are eligible
for junior membership but may have reduced privileges, as the
Board shall decide.
3.2 Membership dues and benefits
The Board will establish a scale of membership dues, provided
dues may be reduced or waived in specific instances to be
decided by the Board. The Board may specify membership
benefits to be enjoyed by members, provided that all such benefits
shall be intangible religious benefits or benefits of such nature that
they do not constitute a non-deductible quid pro quo for the
donor/member.
3.3 Termination or suspension of membership
A member may resign at any time. Membership privileges will lapse in the
case of failure to pay annual membership fees within three months of the
due date.
A member's membership may be terminated or suspended only for conduct
clearly inimical to the purposes of the World Pantheist
Movement, or for conduct clearly tending to bring the World Pantheist
Movement into public disrepute. The Board shall establish a procedure to be
followed in the event of termination or suspension of membership, which
shall provide the member with notice of the proceedings against him or her,
and an opportunity to be heard.
3.4 Donations and bequests
The Board may authorize the acceptance of donations and bequests to
benefit the tax-exempt purposes and aims of the Corporation.
3.5 Meetings of Members
An annual meeting of members shall not be required. Special
meetings of members may be held upon a vote by a majority of the
Board. The Board shall develop procedures for providing notice to
members of special meetings, and shall fix the time and place of such
meetings by resolution. Members may participate in such meetings
through the use of any means of communication by which all persons
participating in the meeting may hear each other during the meeting.
Any action that may be taken at such a special meeting may be taken
without a meeting by means of written ballot.

ARTICLE 4. Representation of Members Interests
4.1 Membership Advisory Council
4.1.1 General powers and duties
The council shall advise the panel of directors on matters concerned
with services to members and members' activities, including but not
restricted to publications for members, members' forums, fees and
status of ministers/celebrants, formation and activities of local groups. The
council will review complaints by individual members and make recommendations to the Directors (excluding matters relating to the application of mailing
list and forum rules). They will review directors' choice and wording of
poll questions and recommend changes if these seem necessary.
4.1.2 Number of Counsellors
There will be between five and eleven membership counsellors. The exact
number may be varied from time to time by majority vote of the Board of
Directors.
4.1.3 Nomination
The list of candidates will be prepared by a nominating committee
appointed by the board of directors and must consent to be nominated. Other
candidates meeting the qualifications may be added to the list by a
petition of ten or more members.
4.1.4 Election
After the initial election, one third of the the Membership Advisory
Council will be elected each year by vote of all full members of the
WPM. Each full member of the World Pantheist Movement shall have one vote for
each vacant seat on the Membership Advisory Council, and may use only
one vote for each of their choices. The candidates with the most votes
shall be elected. [See operational guideline 4.1.4]
4.1.5 Qualifications
Candidates shall be full members of the World Pantheist Movement of good
standing and of at least four months' membership, and willing to sign
the credo and aims of the WPM if elected. Once elected they will be
required to resign if it is later discovered that they disagree with
the fundamental principles of the Credo active at the time of their
election. Disagreement will be assessed on the same basis as for the
directors as set out in clause 5.4.
4.1.6 Disqualifications
Membership counsellors may be suspended for arrears of WPM dues of more
than three months; for persistent non-participation in council
deliberations and voting; for serious breach of mailing list and fora
rules; or for revealing the details of Membership Advisory Council
proceedings other than motions voted on and numerical voting results. A
counsellor who is suspended may not stand again.
4.1.7 Decisions and quorum
Decisions of the Membership Advisory Council shall be by simple
majority of half plus one. The quorum shall be five.
4.1.7 Resignations and replacements
If membership counsellors resign or are suspended, their seat will
remain vacant until the next annual election, unless the total falls below
six, in which case a by-election will be held to fill all the vacant seats.
4.1.8 Records and confidentiality
The Membership Advisory Council shall keep records of its motions and
votes. Its proceedings will be confidential to encourage frank
expressions of opinion, as will the detail of who voted for what motion.
4.2 Regular polls of members
The Directors will from time to time as needed submit polls of one or
more important issues for full WPM members to vote on, to give the
leadership a sense of the concerns and wishes of the members at large.
The poll questions will be drawn up by the Directors on the basis of
issues raised in WPM forums, and of matters where members' input is
desired. An issue may be included in the poll if agreed by a vote of directors, or requested by a vote of the Members' Council, or by a petition of at least one fifth of full members.
The Membership Advisory Council will review the choice of questions and
wording and make recommendations to the Directors who will be obliged to
give good faith consideration to these.
4.3 Open-ended consultation
The Board of Directors will have a duty to keep in permanent touch with
members' wishes and views on an ongoing basis through the WPM's various
mailing lists and fora. These shall be taken into consideration in all
deliberation of the Board of Directors, in the light of the aims and
credo.
4.4 Relation of Members' council and polls of members to the Board of
Directors
The Board of Directors will retain ultimate power of decision on all
matters, but shall be obliged to give good faith consideration to the
decisions of the Membership Advisory Council and the majority views of
the full members as expressed in polls, having regard to the WPM aims and
credo.

______________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE 5. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
5.1 General Powers and Duties of Board
The administration of the affairs and funds of the Corporation
shall vest in a Board of Directors. The Board shall determine all
matters of policy and broad strategy in the development of the World
Pantheist Movement.
5.2 Number
The Board shall consist of not less than nine nor more than thirteen Directors.
The number of Directors may be changed from time to time by amendment to these Bylaws,
provided that no decrease in the number shall have the effect of shortening the term
of any incumbent Director.
5.3 Election of Directors
a. Initial Board
The initial Board of Directors shall consist of those named in the
articles of incorporation.
b. Successor Directors
When a Director dies, resigns or is removed, successor Directors shall be
elected by a vote of the Directors. A 75% majority of sitting
directors is required to appoint a new director.
c: Cooption
Directors may co-opt additional directors who fulfil the qualifications of
para. 5.4, provided this does not bring the total number to more than 20,
or than the maximum that the Board may have decided under clause 5.2.
5.4 Qualifications
Directors must agree to sign the Credo in force at the time of
their joining the board. They will be required to resign if it is later
discovered that they disagree with the fundamental principles of the
founding Credo of December 1997 on the universe as the only real
divinity, on nature, on matter, and on death, unless these teachings
have been modified because they no longer concur with the overwhelming
weight of current scientific opinion. If they do not agree to resign, a
vote of the directors shall be taken and a 75% majority shall be required
to remove a director.
Disagreement with the credo must be of an obvious and unambiguous
nature. Clear expression of any of the following beliefs shall be
considered as prima facie evidence of disagreement with the fundamental
principles: i. Belief that spirit and energy/matter are two separate
substances. ii. Belief in personal survival of the human soul after
death. iii. Belief in a personal creator divinity, cosmic mind or
cosmic soul. iv. Disagreement with clause three of the founding credo
beginning "We are an inseparable part of Nature."
5.5 Committees
The Board of Directors may create and appoint such standing or special
and advisory committees as it may consider necessary for the promotion
and proper conduct of the purposes of the Corporation. Members of the
Corporation who confirm agreement in writing to the credo and aims
shall be eligible to be considered for membership upon all committees so
created.
5.6 Compensation
Directors shall generally serve without compensation, but may be
reimbursed for expenses reasonably incurred and
authorized by the Board to further the purposes of the Corporation.
5.7 Special and Annual Meetings
The Board of Directors shall meet as and when needed. A special meeting may
be convened on the request of any member of the Board. Notice of the
meeting may be provided by means of electronic mail, and shall be given at
least five days prior to the scheduled meeting. Directors may be present in
person, or by any electronic or other means through which all directors
participating may hear each other during the meeting. There shall be one
full annual meeting, the date to be fixed by the Board, plus at least
one other full board meeting approximately six months apart from the annual
meeting.
5.8 Quorum and Voting
A majority of the Board of Directors in office immediately before the
meeting begins shall constitute a quorum, except in the special cases
outlined in clause 10 below.
Votes shall be decided by a 51% majority of those voting except in the
specific cases detailed in other clauses.
5.9 Resignation and suspension
Directors may resign at any time.
A director may be suspended from the board for persistent non-payment of
dues, for prolonged non-involvement in discussions without good reason,
for bringing the World Pantheist Movement into disrepute, or if it is
discovered that they disagree with the basic tenets of the credo as
defined above. The director shall have the right to present a defence. A
75% majority shall decide. Directors who resign
or who are suspended shall be replaced according to a vote of the remaining
directors.
5.10 Directors' responsibility for Credo
The belief statement in use at any time will be known as the Active Credo.
This will be reviewed by the Board of Directors if a majority vote to do
so. This shall occur not more than once in every two calendar years,
starting in December 1999, unless a 75% majority of directors decide that
the credo should be reviewed as a matter of urgency.
A review need not result in any change to the Credo. The Active
Credo shall always remain a short text that can fit on one page, written
in powerful and accessible language.
Individuals may produce their own commentaries which shall not have any
official status.
i. Any modification to the Active Credo must be passed with a 75%
majority of all Board members in place at the time of the revision.
ii No modification to the Active Credo shall normally be allowed if
it contradicts the four fundamental teachings of the Founding Credo of
December 1997 on the universe as supreme object of reverence, on
nature, on matter, and on death.
iii. However, modifications of this
fundamental type will be allowed if the relevant statement in the Founding
Credo is found to be in contradiction with the overwhelming weight of
current scientific opinion at any time in the future. Whether this is
the case or not shall be judged by a high-level committee of natural
scientists to be created at a later date. The criterion shall be, not
whether the members of the committee believe this to be so, but whether it
is so regarded by the overwhelming weight of scientific opinion.
iv. The Founding Credo of December 1997 is part of these by-laws. It has
historical status as the founding credo of the World Pantheist
Movement. It shall be known as the Founding Credo and may not be
altered under any circumstances and shall always be attached as an
appendix to this constitution.
5.12
Directors shall not divert members from the World Pantheist Movement by
actively promoting any directly competing religious membership movement,
unless explicitly authorized by the Board.
______________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE 6. OFFICERS
6.1 Definition:
Officers shall conduct the day to day business of the World Pantheist
Movement according to the policies decided by the Board of Directors.
6.2. Election:
Officers will be directly elected by directors from
among the directors. If no director candidates are available for an
officer position then qualified persons may be coopted from the
membership, provided they fulfil the criteria for directors; such
persons will then become directors. In the election, each director
will have as many votes as there are offices to be filled, and can
cast only one vote for each office. Candidates for office must gain
more than 50% of the votes cast. If no candidate achieves this, there
shall be a run-off election between the leading two candidates.
Elections will be held every two years with the first election in October 2000.
6.3. Nomination
Candidates for office must be nominated and seconded by directors.
6.4 Qualification:
Officers must be fully paid up members of at least one year's standing in
the World Pantheist Movement or the scientific pantheism mailing list.
Exceptions to this requirement may be agreed by the board in specific
cases. Officers must agree to sign the active credo.
6.5 Term of office
Officers are elected for one year and the president for three years.
Officers may stand for re-election.
6.6 Meetings.
Meetings shall be held whenever there is pressing business to discuss.
6.7 Suspension:
Officers may be suspended for non-payment of dues, for neglect of duties
or malfeasance in relation to their duties, for bringing the World
Pantheist Movement into disrepute, or if it is discovered that they
disagree with the basic tenets of the credo as defined above.
Cases of neglect, malfeasance or non-performance of duties or bringing
into disrepute will be on the basis of a complaint plus evidence from
another director, which shall be submitted to all the directors. The person
complained against will have the right to present a defence. A 66% majority
of directors shall decide.
6.8 Filling of vacancies
When an officer resigns or is suspended, the vacancy will be filled by an
election among the directors.

6.9. POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICERS
Officers shall have the powers related to their offices:

6.9.1 PRESIDENT
The president shall:
6.9.1.1 Preside over meetings of the board, coordinate agenda.
6.9.1.2 Make reports to the board, council and members.
6.9.1.3 Sign contracts and deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other
instruments, under the Board's specific or standing instructions.
6.9.1.4 In general, exercise the duties and functions incident to the
office of President and such other duties as may be assigned to him or her
by the Board.

6.9.2 VICE-PRESIDENTS
6.9.2.1. There shall be regional Vice-presidents for the major
continents, depending on the numbers of members and the availability
of suitable candidates. The geographical allocation of VPs will be
designated in operational guidelines.
6.9.2.2 In addition, the regional VPs shall have particular
responsibility to encourage initiatives for promotion and for
membership in their respective areas.
6.9.2.3 In the president's absence, or by delegation, one or more of the
VPs will exercise or delegate any or all of the functions of President. The
distribution of functions at such times shall be decided by an operational
guideline, and any functions not covered by the guideline, or any
extra-constitutional functions, will be distributed or delegated by
agreement or by decision of the board of directors.
[See operational guidelines to 6.9.2]

6.9.3 SECRETARY.
The Secretary shall:
6.9.3.1 Prepare and maintain minutes of directors' and members' meetings
and other records and information required by law to be kept by the
Corporation;
6.9.3.2 Authenticate records of the nonprofit corporation;
6.9.3.3 Respond to requests for information concerning the records of the
corporation from members, government agencies, and the general public;
6.9.3.4 See that notices are duly given as required by these Bylaws or by
law;
6.9.3.5 Keep a copy of records concerning each current or former member
and his or her status as a member of the Corporation;
6.9.3.6 Sign with the President or the Board, deeds, mortgages, bonds,
contracts or other instruments;
6.9.3.7 Assist the President or designated Vice President in filing such
reports as are required by the Colorado Secretary of State; and
6.9.3.8 In general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary
and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by
the President or the Board.

6.9.4 TREASURER
6.9.4.1 The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible
for all funds and securities of the Corporation; receive and give receipts
for moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever,
and deposit all such moneys in the name of the Corporation in banks, trust
companies or other depositories selected by the Board in accordance with
the provisions of these Bylaws; and in general perform all of the duties
incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to
time may be assigned to him or her by the President or the Board.
6.9.4.2 The treasurer shall have the following, additional duties:
a. The Treasurer shall assist the President or a designated
Vice President in filing such forms or reports as may be required of a
non-profit corporation by the Internal Revenue Service or the State of
Colorado.
b. The Treasurer will provide a summary financial status report on
liabilities and assets when requested by the board, being given at least
one month's notice before the report is due
c. The Treasurer shall render an annual report to the Directors for each
fiscal year and his reports shall be audited at such time and in such
manner as the directors may direct and according to the requirements of the
laws of the State of Colorado, federal US laws, and the IRS.
d. The Corporate books shall be reviewed biannually to ensure completeness
by at least one other board member or by some other official method deemed
appropriate by the Board.
Safeguards
6.9.4.3. In engaging in transactions for the World Pantheist Movement, the
treasurer shall follow the following procedures:
a. The following items must be photocopied in duplicate:
All checks, whether incoming or outgoing.
All deposit slips or withdrawal slips.
All bills must be photocopied
b. All transactions must be dated, itemized, with the payees' named and addresses
c. The Treasurer shall provide the board biannually with an itemized report that includes a detail of all
deposits and withdrawals;
d. All originals and one set of copies are to be maintained by the Treasurer
e. Full sets of copies of the above information are to be sent biannually to the Secretary to be filed with the
corporate records.
f. A monthly report consisting of all transactions, complete with dates paid and payees' names and addresses is to be sent to the Secretary to be filed with the corporate records.
6.9.4.4 Approval of the Board or the designated finance committee is
required for expenditure of sums exceeding $100.
6.9.4.5. Two signatures shall be required for checks or other forms of
payment exceeding $100. The Treasurer plus one other officer may sign.

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
6.9.5 The Membership Secretary shall be the contact person for all members
regarding membership of the Corporation. He or She shall also coordinate a
membership committee (if one is formed). The duties for this position shall
be, to receive dues in coordination with the Corporation's treasurer, to
keep records of member information and dues paid, and to oversee the
distribution of benefits of membership.
6.9.5.1 The Membership Secretary shall obtain a secure Post Office Box to
receive incoming subscriptions and all pertinent material. The PO Box shall
be checked regularly to ensure prompt processing of all incoming monies and
information.
6.9.5.2 The Membership Secretary will make 2 photocopies of all incoming
checks. One copy will be sent with a batch of checks to the Treasurer for
deposit on a predetermined regular occasion. The second copy will be sent
to the Secretary biannually.
6.9.5.3 All subscriptions to the Corporation shall be recorded by the
Membership Secretary in an electronic database capable of transferring data
to commonly accessible spreadsheets or word processor files, easily
transmittable as attachments through common email software.
6.9.5.4 All distribution of benefits, gifts or gift premiums accruing to
members at their respective level of membership paid shall be the
responsibility of the Membership Secretary or the Membership Committee
(upon the organization of such). A record of said distributions shall be
recorded in the Corporation's database including a date of distribution.
6.9.5.5 It shall be the responsibility of the Membership Secretary to keep
and provide a hard copy of the aforementioned records for provision to the
officers and members of the board bi-annually. The posting of such records
or hard copies shall be postmarked at least one week prior to the biannual
meeting of the board.
______________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE 7. MINISTERS AND RITUAL
7.1. The Board or Directors may authorize individual members of the
Corporation to officiate at ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and so
on. The titles, qualifications, responsibilities and remunerations of
such ministers shall be decided by the Board.
7.2 Ministers may be suspended for bringing the World Pantheist Movement
into disrepute, or if it is discovered that they are teaching doctrines
or practices incompatible with the aims and Active Credo of the World
Pantheist Movement. The method of appeal against such suspension shall
be decided by the Board.
7.3. The World Pantheist Movement may from time to time produce advice or
literature on ceremony, ritual, songs, formats of meetings, and so on but
these shall be for guidance and shall not be binding on individuals or
local groups.

______________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE 8. LOCAL, PROFESSIONAL, SPECIAL INTEREST AND UNIVERSITY CIRCLES
8.1. Formation:
Any two or more members of the Corporation may form a local, university,
professional or special-interest group [hereafter known as local groups].
Such groups wishing formal recognition as part of the World Pantheist
Movement must be so designated by the Board.
8.2. Constitution:
Local, university, professional and special interest groups shall be free
to choose their own constitutions subject to the approval of
the Board of the World Pantheist Movement, and provided nothing in
their constitutions conflicts with the World Pantheist Movement
constitution. Certain basic elements including the aims, credo and
safeguards and other elements, as the Board shall determine, must be
part of every local group constitution if the group wishes formal
recognition as part of the World Pantheist Movement.
8.3. Activities
Local groups shall be free to choose their own activities
provided these do not bring World Pantheist Movement into disrepute or
spread doctrines or practices which are incompatible with the aims and
credo of the World Pantheist Movement.
8.4. Funds
Where the Board is satisfied that adequate financial
safeguards are in place, local groups shall be free to raise their own
funds separate from members' dues payable
to the World Pantheist Movement. They may use these funds in any way they
wish consistent with the aims of the World Pantheist Movement, but they
must account for their use to their members.
8.5. Suspension
A local group may be suspended or removed from affiliation with the World
Pantheist Movement if it is bringing the World Pantheist Movement into
disrepute or spreading doctrines or practices which are incompatible
with the aims and the credo. The method of appeal against such
suspension shall be decided by the Board.

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ARTICLE 9. NATIONAL CHAPTERS
9.1 Formation of national chapters:
The members of the World Pantheist Movement in one country may, if there
are more than five members, agree to form a national chapter. National
chapters wishing formal recognition as national chapters of the World
Pantheist Movement must be so designated by the Board. National chapters
will be encouraged to incorporate as religious charities in their
respective countries.
9.2. Constitutions.
National chapters will be free to choose their own constitution subject to
the approval of the Board of the World Pantheist Movement, and provided
nothing in this conflicts with the World Pantheist Movement constitution.
Certain basic elements including the aims, credo and safeguards and any
other elements the Board shall determine must be part of every national
chapter constitution.
9.3. Membership dues.
Where a national chapter does not yet exist, members shall pay their dues directly to the Corporation Headquarters. To reduce foreign exchange losses from countries other than the USA, the directors may designate a trusted national agent to collect dues in local currency and transfer them to headquarters, or to hold them pending spending decisions by the panel and its committees.
9.4 Retention of membership dues
Where a national chapter does exist, and where the Board is satisfied with its constitution and financial safeguards, it may act as agent for the Corporation in collecting dues aid by members within that country, and may retain a proportion of dues paid by members within that country for spending on promotion and other approved expenses related to the WPM within that country. The proportion will be agreed by the board of directors. The directors of the national chapter will account for any such use to the Board at intervals to be agreed with the Board.
9.5 Financial assistance.
National chapters whose constitution and financial safeguards have been approved by the board may be eligible to receive funds from the World Pantheist Movement for specific purposes in promoting Scientific Pantheism in their countries. This shall be at the discretion of the Board.
9.6. Members' benefits.
Members of national chapters shall enjoy all benefits available to members
of the World Pantheist Movement. Printed material may be sent in
electronic form to people who have access to the Internet.
9.7. Suspension.
A national chapter may be suspended or removed from the World Pantheist
Movement if it is bringing the World Pantheist Movement into disrepute or
spreading doctrines or practices in contradiction to the basic tenets or
failing to report legitimate use of funds. The method of appeal against
such suspension shall be decided by the Board.
9.8 Responsibility for local chapters
National chapters shall further the aims of the WPM within their country
and shall encourage the formation of local groups. Once a national group is
formed in any country it will take over responsibility for supvervision of
local groups in that country.
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ARTICLE 10. MODIFICATION OF BYLAWS
10.1 The following sections may be modified only with unanimous vote of
all directors on the Board.
    1. Aims.
    5.4 Qualifications of directors.
    5.9 Directors' responsibility for Credo.
    8.2 Constitutions of local groups to include 1, 5.4 and 5.9.
    9.2 Constitutions of national groups to include 1, 5.4 and 5.9.
    10 Modification of bylaws
10.2 The rest of the bylaws may be amended by a majority of 75% of
all members of the Board of Directors.

OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

Section 4.1.4 Membership Advisory Council

Two months before each annual election the Board of Directors and the
Membership Advisory Council shall establish through mutual agreement
which of the counsellors' positions will be up for re-election.

Section 6.9.2 Vice Presidents

There shall initially be Vice-presidents for the Americas, Europe, and
Africa/Asia. VPs for Latin America, Asia and Oceania will be added by
vote of the board of directors as and when the number of members and
the availability of suitable candidates makes this appropriate.

During absences of the President lasting for two weeks or longer, the
Vice President for the Americas shall take over any constitutional functions
of the President that need to be exercised during that period, in consultation
with the other VPs and the board of directors.

APPENDIX TO THE BY-LAWS

ACTIVE CREDO OF THE WORLD PANTHEIST MOVEMENT

FOUNDING CREDO OF THE WORLD PANTHEIST MOVEMENT

1. We revere and celebrate the Universe as the ever-changing totality of being, past, present and future. It is self-creating, self-organizing, and inexhaustibly diverse. Its overwhelming power and fundamental mystery establish it as the only real divinity.
2. All matter, energy, and life are an interconnected unity of which we are an inseparable part. We rejoice in our existence and seek to participate ever more deeply in this unity through knowledge, art, celebration, meditation, empathy, love and ethical action.
3. We are an inseparable part of Nature, which we should cherish, revere and preserve in all its magnificent beauty and diversity. We should strive to live in harmony with Nature locally and globally. We believe in treating all living creatures with compassion, empathy, and respect. We believe in the inherent value of all life, human and non-human.
4. We believe in freedom, democracy, justice, equity, and non-discrimination, and in a world community based on peace, an end to poverty, sustainable ways of life, and full respect for human rights.
5. We believe there is only one kind of substance, matter/energy, which is not base or inferior, but wonderfully vibrant and creative in all its forms. Body, mind, and spirit are not separate, but all inseparably united.
6. We respect reality and keep our minds open to the evidence of the senses and of evolving science. These are our best means of obtaining and refining our knowledge of the Universe, and on them we base our aesthetic and religious feelings about reality.
7. We see death as a return to nature of our elements. Our actions, our ideas and memories of us live on in the world, according to what we do in our lives.
8. We believe that every individual can have direct access through perception and emotion to ultimate reality, which is the Universe and Nature. There is no secret wisdom accessible only through gurus or revealed scriptures.
9. We respect the general freedom of religion, and the freedom of all pantheists to express and celebrate their beliefs, as individuals or in groups, in any non-harmful ritual or symbolic form that is meaningful to them.

Page updated: October 6, 2000             Contact us: info@pantheism.net