Bylaws of the Church of Inanna

San Francisco Bay Area

These bylaws provide a minimal framework for a self-governing, elder-led community whose worship and life are oriented toward the Goddess Inanna. Spiritual authority rests with Inanna; organizational leadership rests with the Priestesses (who may identify as any gender), who work toward the aims of our lady as her embodied agents, supporting the membership of the church.

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be Church of Inanna (or as filed): __________________. It is incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of California.

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of the church is to gather to sustain a community of care, ritual, and teaching rooted in Her honor; and to order common life so that this purpose is not contradicted by the church’s decisions or conduct. This includes the redistribution of resources to mitigate needs, creating avenues for redressing inter-community harm, and promoting the material, spiritual, and community wellbeing of our members.

Article III. Self-Governance and Associations

This church governs its own affairs. It may cooperate voluntarily with other religious or charitable bodies that align with its purpose. No affiliation obligates the church to surrender its autonomy.

Article IV. Guiding Sources

The community looks to Mesopotamian and related traditions, historical and modern scholarship, and shared practice as guides—not as a closed canon. Interpretation is the work of the whole community under the Priestesses, who are responsible for teaching and for guarding consistency with the church’s purpose and covenant.

Article V. Membership

Section 1. Membership consists of persons who meet the qualifications below and are recorded on the membership roll. The church decides who may be a member.

Section 2. Qualifications. Members shall:

  1. Affirm participation in the church’s worship of Inanna and its common life;
  2. Complete any orientation or membership process the Priestesses require; and
  3. Commit to the membership covenant, if any.

Section 3. Responsibilities of members are stated in the membership covenant or, absent one, in policies adopted by the Priestesses.

Section 4. Voting. Each member who has reached the age stated in policy (default: twelve years) has one vote on:

  1. Merger or dissolution of the church;
  2. Acquisition of land or buildings, or taking on related debt above a threshold set by policy;
  3. Changes to the constitution or bylaws;
  4. Calling or releasing the coordinating spiritual leader (see Article VII), if such a role exists;
  5. Affirmation and removal of Priestesses (elders).

Proxy voting is not permitted unless required by law.

Section 5. Termination of membership. Membership ends upon death, transfer, voluntary resignation, or dismissal according to a fair process adopted by the Priestesses, with emphasis on reconciliation where possible. Restoration may be offered when circumstances warrant.

Section 6. Meetings. At least one annual meeting shall be held for budget review and other business. Special meetings may be called by the Priestesses. Notice, quorum, and submission of motions follow policies they adopt, consistent with these bylaws.

Article VI. Priestesses (Elders)

Section 1. The church is led by Priestesses, who together hold the office of elder: spiritual oversight, teaching, prayer for the community, and responsibility for its direction. They may delegate practical tasks to members or teams as needed.

No Priestess or Priest has personal ownership of church property or personal liability for the corporation’s debts beyond what the law requires.

Section 2. Qualifications. Priestesses shall be members who exemplify maturity, integrity, and fitness for spiritual leadership, as defined by written standards the church adopts (for example: sound judgment, teachability, care for the community, and consistency with its covenant and purpose).

Section 3. Selection. The Priestesses identify and prepare candidates. When they nominate someone, the nomination is open for a period set by policy (e.g., three months) for questions and concerns. Affirmation requires a high bar (e.g., three-fourths of voting members present at a duly called meeting), unless the church adopts a different supermajority.

Section 4. Removal. A Priestess or Priest may be removed for serious breach of office, doctrine, or trust, after investigation and opportunity for response, along lines such as two or three credible witnesses and congregational vote at a supermajority set by policy. Annual review of fitness for office is encouraged. An individual may step down; remaining Priestesses may unanimously ask someone to step down for non-disciplinary reasons, subject to congregational affirmation where policy requires.

Article VII. Coordinating Spiritual Leader (Optional)

If the church names a coordinating Priestess, Priest, or other title as “first among equals” for preaching, liturgy, or administration, that person is called and released as specified in policy and in Article V, Section 4. The Council of Priestesses retains shared oversight.

Article VIII. Stewards (Optional)

The church may recognize stewards (or deacons) to assist with practical care and service under the Priestesses, selected and affirmed by processes the church adopts.

Article IX. Property and Dissolution

Section 1. The church may own and dispose of property in its name as authorized by membership for major matters per Article V.

Section 2. No private person shall profit from the church’s assets in the course of church business.

Section 3. On dissolution, debts shall be satisfied; remaining assets shall go to one or more non-profit purposes consistent with this church’s mission (e.g., religious or charitable entities), as determined before or at dissolution—not distributed to members.

Article X. Amendments

Amendments may be proposed to the Priestesses. If they adopt a proposed amendment by majority vote, it is submitted to the membership. Approval requires a two-thirds vote of members present at a duly called meeting, unless the church sets a higher bar in its constitution.

Adopted at __________________, this _____ day of ______________, 20.