Church of Humanity/Hierarchy

The Church of Humanity traces its roots to noble orders of knighthood and the laws of ancient monarchies. It espouses the principles of order, integrity, obedience, and loyalty as a result of these historical ties. Those who take the Oath of Faith, the Church's full members, are expected to help guide and teach others in the beliefs of Holy Church. In this way, we build a strong foundation of community and kinship under the Divine's loving gaze.

Holy Church's ranking is divided between Adherents, Oathsworn (full members who are themselves divided between tithers, Templars, and Clerics), and the Ecclesiarchy.

Most Adherent ranks are attained through devotion and tithing. It is through this stage in one's spiritual life that followers are to seek out the Church's teachings and doctrines Adherents are also expected during this time to consider their future within Holy Church, their path as one of the Oathsworn.

When an Adherent is ready to become a full member of the Faith they must contact the Ecclesiarchy and swear the Oath of Faith, pledging to uphold the Code of Chivlary, the Twelve Tenets, and the doctrines of Holy Church. <parsed for rewording>

The lowering of rank is uncommon unless requested from the Oathsworn or even Adherents who can no longer afford certain tithes. Exceptions include clerics who violate proscriptions (such as using the Faith to seize lands from landed lords), Knights Templar who disobey or refuse orders from their officers, or any who practice some form of heresy. In the latter case, punishment is only carried out by order of the Ecclesiarchy. Should one truly turn their back on the Tenets of Holy Church, they may be declared an apostate.

The Ecclesiarchy

The Ecclesiarchy in its entirety from across the world, it is the heart of Holy Church. While based on the Eastralis, its branches influence several continents and all obey the Tenets. While all Grand Clerics are equal as Pontificum, in practice the place for highest advancement in the entirety of the Church is the Eastralis as it is from there that the Arch Cleric oversees all.

Jor Tanos Arch Cleric, Pontifex Maximus of the Church
Michael Turner Grand Cleric Ecclesiast, Pontifex Magnus of the Curacy of Beluaterra
Malos Nebehn Grand Cleric Ecclesiast, Pontifex Magnus of the Curacy of the Far East
Benedictus Tanos Grand Cleric Vicarius, Pontifex Magnus of the Curacy of Eastralis
Vacant Grand Cleric Vicarius, Pontifex Errans of Beluaterra
Vacant Grand Cleric, Pontifex of the Azure See Eastralis
Vacant Grand Cleric, Pontifex of the Cobalt See Beluaterra
Vacant Grand Cleric, Pontifex of the Crimson See Beluaterra
Nafsika Aroo Grand Cleric, Pontifex of the Gold See Eastralis
Antonious Turner Grand Cleric, Pontifex of the Rose See Eastralis
Vacant Grand Cleric, Pontifex of the Sable See Eastralis
Jameson Talratheon Grand Cleric, Pontifex of the Scarlet See Eastralis
Vacant Grand Cleric, Pontifex of the Turquoise See Eastralis
Maedros Iltaran Grand Master of the Templar Order
Vacant Master of the Templar Order on Beluaterra
Genivae Mailler Archchancellor of Holy Church Eastralis
Lance Hagakure Counsellor Externus, Vicar Apostolic of Eponllyn Eastralis
Gaenm ap Gaenvan Revered Cleric of the Prelacy of Oligarch Eastralis
MieKarra Elvinfir Revered Cleric of the Prelacy of Partora Eastralis

Territorial Hierarchy

The Catholic and Most Holy Church

The entire Church of Humanity across all continents, the universal Church's mission is to save the souls of all Humanity and spread the knowledge and worship of the Divine. On Her behalf, it is overseen by the Arch Cleric from the holiest places in Eastralis.

Parish

The smallest unit of Church territorial authority, the parish generally generally only includes a village or perhaps small district of a townland or city. It is spiritually governed by a deacon, a lay person who has made certain vows but is not considered a proper cleric. The deacon maintains a chapel, known by many other faiths as "shrines", and from there maintains the spiritual well being of those within the parish's borders.

Titular Hierarchy

Ecclesiarchy Arch Cleric As the Pontifex Maximus of the Church, there is only one allowed, which is voted in by popular vote of the Ecclesiarchy, with the current (former) Arch Cleric themself having the final decision in the event of the Arch Cleric abdicating. Monthly grant of: 100 gold. Maximum debt: 0 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Holiness Your Holiness Holy Father/Mother Grand Cleric Ecclesiast (Magnus) A special Clerical commission from the Arch Cleric, the Grand Cleric Ecclesiast serves as the Pontifex Magnus on all overseas curacy. Though the first carrier of this title on a continent is granted the Magnus honorific, none after him or her may carry it. By Church law, only one Grand Cleric Ecclesiast may be proclaimed in each curacy. Monthly grant of: 50 gold. Maximum debt: 200 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Most Eminent Highness Your Most Eminent Highness Most Eminent Father/Mother Grand Cleric Vicarius While Pontifex Magnus on Eastralis, they serve as Pontifex Minorium in the overseas curacy. Their task is to serve as a roving Grand Cleric unbound by the borders of any See and represent the interests of the Ecclesiarchy. Monthly grant/fee of: 15 gold. Maximum debt: 50 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Beatitude Your Beatitude Beatific Father/Mother Grand Cleric Pontifex of their Sees, Grand Clerics traditionally are bound by those borders but serve as the voice of Holy Church's authority within them. Such Sees typically correspond to the borders of realms and as such Grand Clerics are typically the highest ranked Cleric within a kingdom. Monthly grant of: 25 gold. Maximum debt: 50 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Holy Eminence Your Holy Eminence Eminent Father/Mother Grand Master of the Templar Order Serving as supreme military commander of the universal Ordo Fraternum Templarii including all minor Orders, the Grand Master is responsible for the organization and well being of all Templars, be they knights, sergeants, or paladins. The Grand Master serves as the sword of Holy Church. Monthly grant of: 50 gold. Maximum debt: 25 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Most Venerable Lordship/Ladyship Most Venerable Brother/Sister Grand Master and Brother/Sister Lord/Lady <Name> Master of the Templar Order Much like the Grand Master, the Master serves as commander of the Ordo Fraternum Templarii and minor Orders within an overseas curacy. Though they are under the oversight of their Grand Cleric Ecclesiast, their direct superior is the Grand Master. Monthly grant of: 30 gold. Maximum debt: 200 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Venerable Lordship/Ladyship Venerable Brother/Sister <Name> Master and Brother/Sister Lord/Lady <Name> Archchancellor Serving as the voice of Holy Church, the Archchancellors are lay members who specialize in diplomacy. Through them, peace is to be maintained and the spread of the Divine's Light secured. Monthly grant of: 30 gold. Maximum debt: 200 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Serene Excellency Your Serene Excellency, Archchancellor <Name> Archchancellor <name> Counsellor Externus In realms where a See is ordered established yet there is no native Grand Cleric to represent the Faithful to the Ecclesiarchy, a Counsellor Externus is appointed. With the voice and authority of Holy Church, they act as Grand Clerics with the only difference that they are not permitted to hold sermons. They are, however, granted authority to consecrate building projects to enlarge the temples to the Divine. Monthly grant of: 30 gold. Maximum debt: 200 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Apostolic Vicar Apostolic Vicar Counsellor Externus <Name> Revered Cleric Revered Clerics function as the religious head of a duchy, maintaining the spiritual well being of the Faithful within those bounds. Monthly grant of: 30 gold. Maximum debt: 200 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Eminence Your Eminence Most Revered Father/Mother Knight Marshal Serving as the second in command to either the Grand Master or their curacy's Templar Master, the Knight Marshals help keep the Templar Order a well organized and functioning spiritual and actual army. Monthly grant of: 30 gold. Maximum debt: 200 gold. Reference Style Spoken Style Religious Style His/Her Most Devout Lordship Most Devout Brother/Sister Most Devout Brother/Sister Lord/Lady <Name> Oathsworn Oathsworn Ranks can only be obtained after the Test has been taken, and after at least one month of service in the Church. High Cleric Experienced priests who are granted additional responsiblity by the Ecclesiarchy. Monthly grant of: 20 gold. Maximum debt: 100 gold. Guiding Priest For all normal priests. Must have been a Apprentice Priest for at least one month. Monthly grant of: 10 gold. Maximum debt: 30 gold. Master Monthly fee of: 25 gold. Joining fee of: 50 gold. Maximum debt: 75 gold. Guide Monthly fee of: 20 gold. Joining fee of: 40 gold. Maximum debt: 60 gold. Mentor Monthly fee of: 15 gold. Joining fee of: 30 gold. Maximum debt: 45 gold. Tutor Monthly fee of: 10 gold. Joining fee of: 20 gold. Maximum debt: 30 gold. Adviser Monthly fee of: 5 gold. Joining fee of: 10 gold. Maximum debt: 15 gold. Only obtained after taking the test and stating to become a donator (by either stating during the test, or action through joining fee). Graduate Only obtained after taking the test and state not to become a donator. No monthly fee. No joining fee. No maximum debt. Oath takers Oath Donator Ranks can only be obtained after one has taken the Oath. Apprentice Priest For all beginning priests. You must be a priest. No monthly fee/grant. No maximum debt. Undergraduate Monthly fee of: 15 gold. Joining fee of: 30 gold. Maximum debt: 30 gold. Student Monthly fee of: 10 gold. Joining fee of: 20 gold. Maximum debt: 20 gold. Apprentice Monthly fee of: 5 gold. Joining fee of: 10 gold. Maximum debt: 10 gold. Trainee Can only be obtained after taking the oath and stating to become a donator (by either stating in the oath, or action through joining fee). Monthly fee of: 1 gold. Joining fee of: 2 gold. Maximum debt: 2 gold. Novice Can only be obtained after taking the oath and stating not to become a donator. No monthly fee/grant. No joining fee. Followers Apostate Can only be obtained by demotion. If you get here, I suggest leaving, fast. Monthly fee of: 25 gold. No maximum debt. Donating Believer Monthly fee of: 5 gold. Joining fee of: 10 gold. Maximum debt: 5 gold. Believer Monthly fee of: 1 gold. Joining fee of: 5 gold. Maximum debt: 1 gold. Initiate No monthly fee. Joining fee of: 1 gold No maximum debt.