Articles of Incorporation

Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church

Preamble

This Articles of Incorporation are made to:

1. Preserve and secure the principles of our faith.

2. Preserve the liberties of each individual member of the church.

3. Ensure freedom of action of independence from any religious body or organization.

4. Provide for orderly conduct of internal affairs, in dealing with others, and of governing

    church members.

I. Name

The name of this church shall be Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church Church. The parent Corporation of this Church is Tantris Empathicus, Inc., a Missouri registered not for profit religious church. It shall be affiliated with the Esoteric Interfaith Church, Inc., Texas, though not chartered by nor governed by the affiliated organization.

II. Business Location

The address of the principal office of this church shall be: 11016 N. Farm Road 115, Willard, Missouri 65781.

III. Purpose

The purposes of Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church are:

1. This church recognizes the following as the fundamental principles of doctrine and

    government:

(a) the Bible and the Al Qui’ran as inspired guidelines for spiritual growth

(b) Rede of the Wiccae as being the guiding principle in the day to day life and

     operations of the church

(c) the teaching and practice of Esoteric worship as outlined in our tenets of faith

2. To minister to the needs of the members and others as the church is able to do so

3. To educate and ordain our ministers:

            (a)  to legally officiate weddings as duly ordained ministers of the church

            (b)  to legally perform funerals and memorial services as duly ordained ministers

                  of the church

            (c)  To administer sacraments, perform liturgical duties and all other duties

                   normally associated with ordained clergy.

            (d)  to perform symbolic unions for those that the current law prohibits from

                  legally marrying with the understanding that such unions are symbolic only

                  and have no legal or financial benefits, implied or otherwise, but are merely a

                  public profession of love and commitment towards one another.

4. To do any and all things related to and in connection with the carrying out of the

    object and purpose herein above set forth.

IV. Articles of Faith

The Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church believes that spiritual liberation, wisdom, enlightenment of the soul, mind and spirit, are also goals of the believer; we are not only seeking "salvation" of the soul. Knowledge that liberates consciousness is often described as esoteric. Etymologically the word comes from the Greek esotero, which means "further in." Our church believes you must go "further in" yourself to understand what this knowledge is about.  Esotericism teaches that this world within consists of many different levels of being. Although these levels stand between us and God, they do so not as obstacles but as way stations. Christ said, "In my Father's house are many mansions" (John 14:2). The Greek word here translated as "mansions" literally means "way stations."

Esoteric Faith is characterized by an interest in these different levels of consciousness and being. We seek mystical union with God, yes, but we want to study the ancient religious texts, too. Mysticism is not quite so concerned with these intermediate states; it focuses on reaching God in the most direct and immediate way. The mystic wants to reach his destination as quickly as possible; the esotericist wants to learn something about the landscape on the way. Moreover, mysticism tends more toward passivity: a quiet "waiting upon God" rather than active investigation.  We believe the individual should investigate these different levels between God and the physical realm and learn to experience them.

We believe esoteric faith offers the following to the individual and to the collective Church:

1. A way of self-knowledge - a way, perhaps, to the ultimate knowledge of Self.

2. A resolution of the age-old dilemma of faith. Faith originally meant conviction or certainty: "Thy faith has made thee whole" (Luke 17:19). But the term has been watered down into connoting a blind trust in secondhand dogma despite one's own better judgment. We at the Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church believe faith is indeed vital, but it is not blind trust; rather, it is "the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). Faith in this sense is the conviction, deeply felt and unshaken by whatever the world may say, that something real and vital lies beyond the surface of appearances. In this sense, faith too is a way station. It is the gateway to knowledge.

3. To Christianity collectively, esotericism offers an outlook that can revitalize the tradition and cut thru difficulties that now seem almost insurmountable. One example is biblical interpretation, which now focuses exclusively on the literal truth of Scripture. (Fundamentalists vs. Liberalists, Bible literally true vs. myths and legends). The liberal perspective, in writing off so much of the central sacred texts of the tradition, tends to weaken and even invalidate the Christian message. The endless debate about the "historical Jesus" versus the "Christ of faith," which has been going on for over two centuries without resolution is the most obvious example of this impasse. We believe Jesus Christ came in the flesh and walked the earth among mankind. We reject the notion he was a "mythical" non-historical character.

Key Tenets of the Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church are:

We believe the Bible and Al Qui’ran have always been meant to be read on several different levels, of which the literal is only one and in fact the lowest. For example, the Fall is not a folktale, but symbolic of our human predicament, the story of Christ is not only an account of an historical man but also a figurative representation of the path that each of us must follow to attain liberation and salvation.

Esoteric spirituality thus differs from exoteric (or outer) religion, which is the form of the faith that is known to the public at large. Esoteric Faith has long been secret and to some degree inaccessible, but this is not out of a hard-hearted elitism. It is partly because for centuries the mainstream churches looked askance at anyone who did not see divine truth as they did and shunned or hunted down such people. But even in our more open-minded era, esoteric work still requires the effort and sincerity to look within. This is not always pleasant or easy, and the forces of exterior life generally pull one away from it. "Many are called, but few are chosen," said Christ (Matt.22:14). Ultimately this "choosing" is a process of self-selection. - Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition, by Richard Smoley.

The Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church does not deny that there is an afterlife that will be shaped by our actions in the present, and we are no less concerned with obtaining salvation in the future than with attaining illumination now.

We believe repentance "metanoia” literally means something like a "change of mind," even a change in attention and attitude. We believe the call to "repent" is really a call to look and go within, to turn away from looking outward toward the world.

Esotericists of different faiths (Christianity, Judaism, Islam , Wiccae whose Esotericists are the Sufis) may feel more affinity for one another than they do for members of their own religions who see things only from the exterior. This is one of the reasons we have the word Interfaith in our name. esoteric Jews (Kabalists), Esoteric Faith Practitioners, Esoteric Wiccae, and esoteric Muslims (Sufis); even esoteric Buddhists and Hindus (Zen, Vedanta, Tantra) get along beautifully with one another -- better than they get along with fundamentalist believers of the mainstream (exoteric) versions of their religion.  If you are an esoteric faith practitioner, for example, you will get along better with a Kabala student or a Zen Buddhist than you will with a fundamentalist Christian.

We believe that as Esotericists, we have the responsibility of trying to see inner reality as well as we can and express it according to the needs and understanding of the time.

Those pursuing a path of inner spiritual growth can be found in all denominations and outside of them as well. This is not because dogmas and doctrines are of no interest to the esotericist, but because no single doctrine ever completely or satisfactorily expresses spiritual truth. We have founded the Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church so that those pursuing the inner spiritual path can have a church of likeminded souls to fellowship and grow with, to worship and study with.

We believe one's faith, one's religion, must resonate with a person. More than most forms of discourse, esoteric thought calls upon you to assimilate it, not on the basis of citations and credentials, but by its resonance with your own being. The Gospel alludes to this issue when it says of Christ "that the people were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt. 7:28-29) The scribes quibble over chapter and verse. Christ's authority came from a knowledge that went deeper than the letter of the law. This is what "astonished" the people. At the same time, there had to be some deeper knowing in the people themselves that could recognize this authority; that could hear it in the ring of truth. It is this intuitive knowing (which all of us possess) that we believe draws the seeker to the right resonate faith for him or her.

We believe that the devotional dimension of spiritual health consisting of prayer, contemplation and mysticism, (called the heart and emotions), is necessary on the spiritual path, but it is not enough. For the spirit to develop in a harmonious and integrated fashion, love must be counterbalanced by knowledge. The polarity between love (heart) and knowledge (mind) is not a rivalry. These two opposites are like the genders: they are differentiated to create not strife but dynamism. Left to its own, devotion becomes sentimental and even fanatical, while knowledge becomes dry and pedantic. When the two are connected and integrated, knowledge - which after all arises from a love of truth - begins to feed and delight the heart, which in its turn warms and stimulates the energy for further exploration. A 17th century Englishman named John Pordage expressed this truth by saying that the essence of the Esoteric Faith Practitioner’s path could be symbolized by the image of an eye in a flaming heart.  We believe the awakened heart is not enough, awakened intelligence is also needed.

A major theme of Esoteric Faith is:

We must search for meaning for true spiritual liberation and illumination to be achieved.

We believe spiritual illumination can be obtained if it is nurtured by a lifelong program of prayer, study, and meditation, along with the inevitable rigors of trying to lead a decent and ethical life. We believe Our Great Purpose as thinking conscious human beings (different from all other creatures on this planet) is to link heaven and earth, creation to creator. We believe each of us is a microcosm of the universe and we can come to know ourselves by contemplating the grand scheme of things, and visa versa. In other words, the cosmos or grand scheme gets pleasure in getting to know itself and us when we both unite as seekers of the Divine.

At the Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church We Believe that:

1.) The transformative, direct spiritual experience of the Ever Present Origin of All Reality (whether it be called God, Allah, Buddha, the Higher Power et al) is the core essence of all religion as well as religion's single most powerful resource and tool for personal spiritual transformation. This requires looking within - within oneself and one's faith system. This is why we designate our church Esoteric, because esoteric means "inner", referring to the inner path of spiritual transformation, the "within" place that scripture and ancient religious texts have said we must look.

2.) The transformative, direct spiritual experience of the Ever Present Origin of All Reality (whether it be called God, Allah, Buddha, the Higher Power et al) as the core essence of religion is always freely and directly available to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

3.) The main goal of all religions is basically the same (the transformative, direct spiritual experience of the Ever Present Origin of All Reality (whether it be called God, Allah, Buddha, the Higher Power et al) and only the paths to getting there are different.

4.) It is both logical and spiritually enlightened to seek out the most useful and effective spiritual wisdom concerning the expansion of one's transformative, direct spiritual experience of the Ever Present Origin of All Reality (whether it be called God, Allah, Buddha, the Higher Power et al).

5.) We are non-denominational and designate our church Interfaith because we believe one religion or one religious perspective alone does not have all the answers and all current religions might be partial or complementary views of the infinite wholeness and unfathomable Mysteries.  

6.) The deep personal spiritual transformation that comes from the direct spiritual experience also happens to be the most effective source for social and global healing and transformation.

7.) It is up to the individual to be the final authority in honestly seeking out that which is spiritually true. Our church does not have a Pope or final ecclesiastical "authority" because our highest belief is that all final spiritual truth and authority is determined and held by the individual with the assistance of the Divine Presence within them. We further believe that complete, individual free will in spiritual matters is the prime spiritual directive of the universe. We do not recognize anyone in our church who has been exclusively appointed by the Divine or that has an exclusive claim to divine leadership or special or exclusive spiritual revelation, that must or should be held as a new or final truth for all of our other church members to abide by in their personal spiritual matters and choices. Our church believes that the combined group’s spiritual wisdom and the maturity of our membership and the already existing spiritual validity tests from all of the spiritual heritage of mankind, is fully sufficient for both the individual and our church to optimally decide how to evolve and grow in the optimal spiritual way.

To help a member of our church make spiritual their own final determinations of spiritual truth for themselves we provide extensive cross cultural and cross denominational spiritual information on how to best connect with the highest self and/or Divine Presence already within themselves and then how to know they are hearing its most authentic spiritual guidance as well as manifesting the fruits of authentic spiritual growth. To further help the individual have the most life affirming spiritual information to use in their decisions, we also provide extensive cross cultural and cross denominational spiritual information, principles, creeds, codes of conduct, position papers, discussions etc., on all maters and issues of spirituality or living a spiritually principled life in the secular world.

8.) We believe that no one individual spiritual perspective or church created ecclesial statement of spiritual principle or conscience will completely define or limit the possible future spiritual evolution of that spiritual perspective, principle or statement of conscience or, the future spiritual development of the church. We believe that it will be this way because we are in the process of evolution and the ultimate mysteries and infinite, absoluteness of the Ever Present Origin will never be fully knowable to finite minds. Humility toward the unknowable aspects of the Divine Mystery will always exist in any authentic spirituality and it is healthy for this to be openly recognized in our church. Because of these forever unknowable aspects of the Divine Mystery, all of our efforts to know and define it always will be at best, partial and incomplete. They always will be ever expanding and evolving spiritual metaphors, myths and constructive scaffolding that serves only to help us better grasp the spiritual realities of the absolute truth, beauty and goodness of the Infinite. Our spiritual metaphors, myths and scaffolding will evolve and continually be released, remade and upgraded with each major step we make in achieving greater understandings of new aspects of the previously unknown Divine Mystery. As a church and as members of our spiritual community, we further pledge to not let our spiritual metaphors, myths and scaffolding separate us from the hearts and souls of the members of other spiritualities nor be the cause of intolerance or mental or physical violence toward their spirituality or their spiritual metaphors, myths and scaffolding.

 We further believe that members of an open source esoteric interfaith integrally-informed spirituality should try to:

1.) Integrate the life affirming wisdom of male and female spirituality.

2.) Integrate the life affirming wisdom of rational science with the most universal and

     inclusive values and wisdom of spirituality.

3.) Integrate the many life affirming, post-postmodern and prior era spiritual and

     philosophical ideals and principles of our spirituality into their lives.

V. Government

The ecclesiastical government of the church shall be conducted in accordance with the By-Laws of the Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church (the Church Order) as the Church Order shall so adopt or revise. The ruling council of this church, as defined in the Church By-Laws, shall constitute the Church Order and shall have all powers over the temporalities of this church as the Church Order and relevant state law may prescribe. The priest(s) or priestess(es), if there be one or more, and any persons elected to the office of Elder according to the Church Order must be members of the church. The corporate functions related to an office shall cease on the vacating of the office, but a vacancy in the office of the Priest(s) or Priestess(es) shall in no way affect the board of Church Order.

VI. Nonprofit Status and Liquidation

A. Manner in Which Held
All real and personal property shall be held exclusively in furtherance of the purposes of this church as the charter member church of the Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church and in furtherance of the principles of doctrine and ecclesiastical government outlined in these Articles of Incorporation, consistent with the Church Order.

B. In the Event of Dissolution
In the event of the disbanding of this church and the dissolution of this corporation, the church’s remaining assets, if any, after the payment of its debts and expenses, shall be conveyed as the board of Church Order may propose and as the affirmative vote of a majority of the members shall determine, subject to each of the following:
1. The Church Order must approve the disbanding of this church and the dissolution of this corporation;
2. The Church Order shall consult with the membership in formulating recommendations for the proposal for property distribution.
3. By majority vote, the Church Order shall determine the distribution of the assets of the corporation.
4. All remaining assets must be distributed only to one or more organizations which qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Code.

C. In the Event of Consensual Division
In the event that a majority of the members of this church consensually agree to divide this church, with the consent of the Church Order, into two (2) or more member churches of the Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church, all real and personal property of this corporation shall remain the property of the Corporation and be distributed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph B of Article VII of these Articles of Incorporation

D. In the Event of Irreconcilable Division
In the event that the Church Order determines that an irreconcilable division (schism) has occurred within this church, the confessing members of this church who, according to the exclusive determination of the Church Order, remain true to the purposes of this church as a member church of the Interfaith Esoteric Fellowship Church and the principles of doctrine and ecclesiastical government, shall be the lawful congregation of this church and shall have the exclusive right to hold and enjoy the real and personal property of this church. Nothing in this Article shall prevent the Church Order from determining, in keeping with the scriptural injunction of I Corinthians 6, that more than one group of confessing members of this church are each a lawful congregation and from dividing the real and personal property between the groups of members as the Church Order may determine.