Iconoclastic Astroism/Charter

Charter of Sanguis Astroism

We believe that the Divine Bloodstars, acting through our blood, influence everything that we do.

We believe that the Maddening Star influences our raw emotions and impulses.

We believe that the Auspicious Star influences our reason and capacity for logical thought.

We believe that the Austere Star influences our soul and capacity for serenity.

We believe that above all else, men should seek to reach a state of Harmony with the influence of all three Stars, so that we may act with Wisdom according to our knowledge.

We believe that to succeed at this is to attain Enlightenment, as the First Prophet Mathurin did.

We hold the spiritual writings of the First Prophet Mathurin to come from the greatest understanding of the Stars we have yet achieved. All should study them so we can better understand and study the Stars themselves.

We hold the spiritual writings of the Second Prophet Jonsu to come from an understanding of the Stars equal to the First Prophet. All should study them so we can better understand and study the Stars themselves.

We believe that graven images of the Stars, the Saints, the Prophets or anything of the Church are sinful, and to be destroyed.

We believe that churches larger than they need to be to support a region's population are sinful, and to be destroyed.

We believe that excessive wealth is to be used to help the less fortunate. Opulence and greed are sinful.

We believe that everyone should know and believe this creed to be true. We do not shun those who seek honest enlightenment, and we seek always to spread our knowledge of the Truth to the unenlightened.

All this we believe.

I. Elder Votes: Each Elder may cast 1 vote.

II. Charter Amendments:. Amending this charter requires a 2/3rds majority.

III. Prophet's Veto: The Prophet may veto any vote by the Elders Council if he so deems it necessary. This veto is independent of any for/against vote (meaning that the Prophet can still vote against a proposal without vetoing it).

IV. Amendment Protocol: After a motion has been seconded there will be Four days of discussion. After which will be 2 days of voting. Each Elder shall have an opportunity to present amendments. No more than 2 amendments may be discussed at one time.

V. Light-Luminary Succession: A Light shall have the authority to choose his Luminary with the approval of at least 1 other Light or the Prophet. If a Light's seat is empty, the Luminary shall become the Light.

VI. Consul Elections: Consuls are elected every 2 years (6 months) by the full members of the church. Each member is able to cast 3 votes. They are weighted 1: 4 votes, 2: 2 votes, 3: 1 vote. The 3 with the most votes are elected for a 2 year term.

VI.I Consul Responsibilities During Election: At the beginning of Consul elections, current Consuls have a choice to demote themselves to full membership. Running again and voting is permitted only if the Consul steps down before the election starts. Consuls remaining within the elder council during the vote have no right to run nor vote. To give consuls the time to step down, elections must be announced with a 3 days warning - or otherwise start 3 days after the warning is given. No vote can be held during the elections due to the potential absence of Consuls.

VII. The Office of the Austere: The duties of the Office of the Austere are as follows:

Temporal Duties: The Light of the Austere is responsible for the management of the Temples and treasury. The Light, aided by the priests of the Cup is responsible for ensuring that currant temples are well funded as well as overseeing the construction of new temples and the expansion of old ones. He is also to monitor the global treasury and to raise money from the nobility if more funds are sorely needed. Also it is the duty of the priests of the Cup to offer information about the faith to our novices, as too often we have found the Church filled with converts in name only.

Spiritual Duties: The Light of the Austere is responsible for the perseverance of the Faith. It is his duty enact the decisions of the Magestratum in the Church and the priests of the Cup may be used as inquisitors for the Magestratum, investigating situation that the Magistrates themselves cannot tend to and serving to root out heretics once the trial of concluded.

VIII: The Office of the Auspicious: The duties of the Office of the Auspicious are as follows:

Temporal Duties: The Light of the Auspicious is responsible for the missionary work of the Faith. It is his duty to send out priests into heathen lands and coordinate their efforts to convert peasantry and nobility, preferably obtaining permission from the local authorities. It is also the duty of the Light with the aid of the priests of the Open Hand to establish relations with other religions and to act as diplomatic envoys for the Church if the Regent and Elders Council are in need of far-traveling messengers.

Spiritual Duties: The Light of the Auspicious is responsible for the intellectual advancement of the Faith. Any new theological treatise should be submitted to the Light of the Auspicious where it will be first debated amongst the priests of the Open Hand, before then being put forward to the priesthood as a whole. Taking this into account the Light will then decide whether or not to add it to the temple libraries, add an accompanying commentary or call upon the Magestratum.

IX: The Office of the Maddening: The duties of the Office of the Maddening are as follows:

Temporal Duties: The Light of the Maddening is responsible for the direction of hostile ecclesiastical action. It is his duty, and aided by his Luminary and priests of the Sword, to direct such actions as religious takeovers, auto-de-fe, hunting enemies of the faith, influencing the peasantry and preaching unrest in heathen lands. He is also responsible for the use of temple funds in aiding the military armies of the faith in battle.

Spiritual Duties: The Light of the Maddening is responsible for the declaration of Holy Crusades. Any petition of a crusade will be sent to the Light of the Maddening and first debated amongst the priests of the Sword. It is then to be debated in the Elders Council before the Light of the Maddening reaches the final decision.

X. The Haruspex Arcani: The duties of the Office of the Haruspex Arcani is to ensure the responsible use of magic within the faith, and to see it properly utilized in defense of the holy Church. The Office of the Haruspex Arcani is a non-voting Elder Rank. Each Light may appoint a Haruspex Arcani to fall under their office. They may only have one at a time. A Haruspex Arcani must be proven to be proficient and responsible in the use of magic.

XI. Prohibition of Crusades Against the Faithful: Crusades shall not be declared against the faithful of this Church save in cases where the Church itself is in danger. There shall not be a repeat of the Crusade of Follies, where a defensive Crusade is declared to attempt to save a dying realm that declared itself a theocracy in its dying days to attempt to save itself. Crusades against the faithful are a serious matter, and pose the danger of seriously damaging the Church. Crusades are meant to be waged against Heretics and Heathens. If a government is declared to be in good faith by the Church (meaning at the very least the ruler and a not insignificant minority of the nobles are of the faith and not excommunicated), no Crusade shall be waged against it. Waging war against theocracies of the faith with good reason is not grounds for excommunication. In cases of doubt: DO NOT DO IT.