The Awakening Together Constitution was signed by the Member Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors at a meeting in the “Sister’s House” at The Abbey in Cañon City, Colorado on September 21, 2013.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CONSTITUTION
The Foundation for the Holy Spirit Inc.
D.B.A., Awakening Together
OPENING DECLARATION
We declare and establish this Constitution to preserve and secure the principles of our assembly and to govern the body in accordance with our founding guidance.
ARTICLE I – NAME AND LOCATION
The Foundation for the Holy Spirit Inc.
Doing Business As Awakening Together.
1048 W. Stallion Dr., Pueblo West, CO 81007
ARTICLE II – MISSION STATEMENT
The Foundation for the Holy Spirit is committed to helping individuals become Self-reliant with inner spiritual wisdom by providing a ministry, which consists of spiritual teaching, counseling, internet programs and worship services, worldwide like-minded fellowship and other resources and services beneficial to that mission.
ARTICLE III – PURPOSE STATEMENT
As Awakening Together, the Foundation is an assembly of equals joined in common purpose: Awakening to one true Self. Within an appearance of many faiths, many cultures and many symbols, we seek to discern one truth and to rest in its embrace.
ARTICLE IV – CORE VALUES
1. We trust everyone is led by unique inner guidance to one experience, called awakening, which is realization of one true Self.
We live this value by supporting one another on different paths of awakening.
2. We realize everyone is equal and no one has been given spiritual intuition that is an authority over the spiritual intuition of others.
We live this value by listening to each other, respecting each other, and allowing each one to be where he/she is.
3. We accept one true Self, which is one Presence or Being, non-dual, without beginning or end, and absolutely changeless.
We live this value by practicing letting go of the belief in the individual self as who we are.
4. We affirm one true Self as the only truth.
We live this value by embracing what is helpful on the path of awakening without idolizing any spiritual doctrine as truth.
5. We accept all forms as temporary appearances permitted through enduring awareness of Self.
We live this value by honoring all appearances and all experiences while continually reflecting on changeless truth.
ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIP COVENANT
All those who wish to join in assembly as members agree to the following covenant:
As a member of Awakening Together, I profess a heart-felt desire to realize one universal truth. I willingly join this assembly of equals committed to discernment and awakening. I accept the assembly’s purpose as my purpose and its core values as my core values. I agree to:
~ Support each member of this assembly on the paths of awakening they feel called to follow.
~ Listen to each member of this assembly, respect each member of this assembly and allow each member to be where he/she is on the divine path of awakening.
~ Practice letting go of the belief that I am a specific and separate individual apart from the whole.
~ Embrace that which my inner wisdom says is helpful to awakening without idolizing any scripture, teaching or teacher as truth itself.
~ Honor all appearances and all experiences as guided by my inner wisdom while continually reflecting on that wisdom and/or changeless truth.
ARTICLE VI – MINISTER ORDINATION
Whereas The Foundation for the Holy Spirit Inc. (DBA Awakening Together) is one assembly of equals joined in common purpose, whereas each member of the assembly is led by inner guidance radiating from God, whereas discernment of one truth is our joined purpose, we choose to ordain ministers of the assembly as Awakening Together ministers whenever a member feels the calling to be a minister-servant of the one true Self through Awakening Together and whenever that member meets specific criteria as set forth in the Awakening Together Minister Ordination and Licensing Policy and Procedure.
The assembly’s purpose for ordaining Awakening Together ministers is to ensure the discernment of this assembly’s ministers remains pure without confusing the teachings of Awakening Together with teachings from other traditions, theologies or ideologies that may not be wholly aligned with our purpose and values. There is no limit to the number of ordained ministers permitted in our assembly.
An Awakening Together minister shall be a founding member (a member who signed this constitution) or a member of good standing for at least two years called from within to be a servant of the one true Self through Awakening Together and dedicated to support members on the path of awakening to one true Self. Ministers shall have the authority to conduct worship services according to the Awakening Together Worship Service Policy and Procedure, lead special assemblies according to the Awakening Together Special Assemblies Policy and Procedure and administer sacraments according to the Awakening Together Sacraments of Grace Policy and Procedure. Ministers shall be active servants with Awakening Together according to the Awakening Together Minister Ordination and Licensing Policy and Procedure. Ordination shall be suspended for any minister who does not meet the criteria for maintaining ordination as set forth in the Minister Ordination and Licensing Policy and Procedure; however that minister shall be permitted to maintain membership in the assembly if he/she feels called to maintain his/her membership.
ARTICLE VII – WORSHIP SERVICES
Whereas The Foundation for the Holy Spirit Inc. (DBA Awakening Together) is an assembly of equals joined in common purpose, whereas discernment of one truth is our joined purpose, we shall associate together in regularly scheduled worship services as set forth in the Awakening Together Worship Services Policy and Procedure. The assembly shall hold a minimum of one worship service per week led by an ordained minister or, if an ordained minister is not available, by a licensed minister.
ARTICLE VIII – GOVERNANCE
Whereas The Foundation for the Holy Spirit Inc. (DBA Awakening Together) is one assembly of equals, whereas each member of the assembly is led by inner guidance radiating from God, whereas through this constitution and the membership covenant we adopt one purpose and shared core values as our shared religious principles and our assembly’s highest governance principles, we choose to adopt a two-tiered board governance structure in trust that the decisions and guidance of these two boards represents the Will of God as spoken through member-servant leaders.
The assembly’s purpose for maintaining a two-tiered board governance structure is to ensure the governing discernment of this assembly remains pure without confusing the values of the Awakening Together assembly with the personal values of individual leaders and to ensure the Awakening Together purpose and values remain in the highest position of consideration during all organization-level decision making including decisions made in the management of the day-to-day affairs of the corporation.
The Board of Directors shall consist of at least three member-servant leaders and no more than seven member-servant leaders. Persons serving on the Board of Directors shall be known as directors. The Chairman of the Board shall be an Awakening Together Minister. The Board of Directors shall be administered as set forth in the Bylaws of The Foundation for the Holy Spirit Inc. The primary purpose of the Board of Directors is to oversee the Member Board to ensure the Awakening Together purpose and values remain in the highest position of consideration in all organization-level decision making including decisions made in the management of day-to-day affairs.
The Member Board shall consist of at least five member-servant leaders and no more than twelve member-servant leaders who are charter members or members of good standing for at least two years. Persons serving on the Member Board shall be known as trustees. The Member Board is subordinate to the Board of Directors. The Member Board shall be administered as set forth in the assembly’s bylaws and in the Leadership and Governance Policy and Procedure. The primary purpose of the Member Board is to manage the assembly’s day-to-day affairs in accordance with the Awakening Together purpose and values.
No person shall serve on the Board of Directors and the Member Board simultaneously.
The Board of Directors and Member Board authority over the Foundation’s governing documents (Articles of Incorporation, this Constitution, the Foundation’s Bylaws and Awakening Together Policy and Procedures) shall be as stated in articles IX through XIII of this constitution.
ARTICLE IX – BYLAW AUTHORITY
The Bylaws of The Foundation for the Holy Spirit Inc. presents the terms for legal administration of the Foundation. The Bylaws represent the Foundation’s legal operation as pertains to:
~ Administration of the Board of Directors
~ Administration of the Foundation’s officers
~ Administration of Member Board
~ Hiring and administration of the Foundation’s employees
~ Member rights
~ Execution of instruments, deposits and funds
~ Tax exempt status
~ Conflict of Interest Policy, which governs all directors, officers and trustees
The Bylaws of the Foundation are subordinate only to the Articles of Incorporation and this constitution.
ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS AND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
Except as may otherwise be specified under provisions of law, the Foundation’s Bylaws or the Articles of Incorporation may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation adopted by resolution by the approval of the Board of Directors by a majority vote at any regular or special Board meeting when a quorum is present.
The Member Board may make recommendations to the Board of Directors requesting a change to the Foundation’s Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Member Board at any regular or special meeting when a quorum is present.
ARTICLE XI – POLICY & PROCEDURE AUTHORITY
The purpose of the Awakening Together policies and procedures is to provide standardization in daily operations of the assembly. The Policies and Procedures provide clarity when dealing with issues and activities that are critical to the spiritual and ethical operation of the assembly. The Policies and Procedures represent the assembly’s legal operation and are subordinate only to the Articles of Incorporation, this Constitution, and the Bylaws of the Foundation.
ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENTS TO THE POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Except as may otherwise be specified under provisions of law, the assembly’s Policies and Procedures may be altered, amended or repealed and new Policies and Procedures adopted by the approval of the Board of Directors by a majority vote at any regular or special Board meeting when a quorum is present.
The Member Board may make recommendations to the Board of Directors requesting a change to the assembly’s Policies and Procedures by a majority vote of the Member Board at any regular or special meeting when a quorum is present.
ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Except as may otherwise be specified under provisions of law, this Constitution may be altered, amended or repealed and a new Constitution adopted by resolution by the approval of the Board of Directors by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at any regular or special Board meeting when a quorum is present.
The Member Board may make recommendations to the Board of Directors requesting a change to this Constitution by a three-quarter (3/4) majority vote of the Member Board at any regular or special meeting when a quorum is present.
THE FOUNDATION FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT INC.
RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY CHARTER
On this 21 day of September, 2013 we the undersigned, having recognized shared spiritual purpose and shared core values as just cause to form a unique spiritual assembly according to our rights under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution do hereby declare our assembly a religious assembly that is protected by said First Amendment.
Moreover, this assembly through the authority invested in it by the Holy Spirit, which is a Christian term synonymous with inner spiritual wisdom, true discernment and the inspiration that comes from said wisdom and discernment, shall have the right to associate as one assembly using technology provided by the unfolding of God through humankind. This assembly shall also have the right to ordain ministers, who have authority to conduct worship services, lead special assemblies and administer sacraments as called upon by the membership including but not limited to baptism, matrimony, counseling through present awareness, and funerals/memorial services.
Furthermore, this assembly shall be governed by consistent wisdom radiating from God as revealed through many scriptures and teachers throughout history and human culture and in accordance with the purpose, core values, covenant and constitution which we do hereby adopt by the affixing of our signatures to this document.
AGREED TO AS OUR FORMAL AND LEGAL CONSTITUTION BY THE DIRECTORS, THE FOUNDATION FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
| Philip Frisk, Chairman-Minister |
| Norma V. L. Clarke, Vice Chairman |
| Jacquelyn P. Eckert, Secretary |
| Raena Avalon, Treasurer |
ALSO AGREED TO BY THE TRUSTEES, MEMBER BOARD:
| Regina Dawn Akers, President-Minister |
| H. David Fishman, Vice President-Minister |
| M. Lyn Johnson, Online Gathering Room Director |
| Thomas Conway |
| Jason McCormick |
| Andreaya Nyki Dobson |
| David Hemphill |
