The ATC Degrees of Priesthood

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church operates on a degree system. Whereas most traditions have three or fewer degrees or levels of attainment for clergy, the ATC system has five degrees, one for each point of the pentacle. These are: Postulant, First Degree, Second Degree, Third Degree, and Fourth Degree or Eldership. There is also a Fifth Degree; more on this later.

Postulant represents a dedication to the Goddess and the God, and a commitment to study for the clergy and a public ministry within Wicca.

First Degree represents the attainment of a beginning degree of knowledge of Wiccan ways in a broad and general sense; an overview of the larger picture of what constitutes priest/ess/hood within the ATC tradition.

Second Degree represents the attainment of more detailed and complex knowledge of the functions of priest/ess/hood, and the ability and knowledge necessary to begin teaching others under the guidance of a third degree teacher.

Third Degree represents attainment of full clergy status, and indicates the achievement of a high degree of proficiency in ministerial as well as magical fields, including pastoral counseling, ritual construction, and general conduct of a church congregation. Third Degree may confer all degrees and ordinations according to the Ordains of the tradition, and may lead a church congregation. Third Degree requires the ongoing pursuit of a Great Work approved by the Council of Elders. Should the Great Work which was selected be abandoned, after a year and a day passes with no new approved Great Work, the candidate returns to Second Degree until the situation is rectified.

Eldership has no set qualifications, no prescribed course of study. The ATC Rite of Eldering is a formal recognition of the honor and respect already being bestowed on the individual informally by the local or national Pagan community. Eldership or Fourth Degree is bestowed without having been sought, being earned through years of wise and honorable community service. Generally speaking, Elders have passed their Saturn return.

There is also a Fifth Degree which is not a conferred or recognized degree: we attain Fifth Degree upon our death and re-entry into the Cauldron of Rebirth. This is a symbolic degree and passage no one seeks, yet everyone attains.

Requirements for an ATC Postulant

(student) to reach 1st degree initiation:

Before First Degree Initiation, the postulant must have:

  1. basic knowledge of and dedication to the Wiccan path;
  2. know the ATC’s focus and know that it matches their own;
  3. know and respect ritual etiquette;
  4. understand the mechanics of casting a circle and calling the quarters;
  5. know the basic correspondences to the quarters (the tools,
    colors, elements, etc);
  6. basics of energy working (solitary or group experience);
  7. know and understand the three fold law;
  8. started a Book of Shadows;
  9. attend other Wiccan groups open circles and/or festivals;
  10. attend at least one major festival;
  11. know the basic God and Goddess names and mythology in their chosen
    pantheon;
  12. know the names and meanings of the 8 Sabbats;
  13. copied the Seeker and First Degree Ordains;
  14. submit a list of books on the craft that they have read;
  15. made their own white robe;
  16. read at least 3 books from the 1st level book list.

First Degree:

  1. Must have already entered into a postulantcy or degree training program of an ATC or other Wiccan tradition and/or must be self-dedicated and have substantial experience in leading a group ritual or circle acceptable to the Council of Elders of the ATC and be well versed in the traditional knowledge required for priesthood as commonly understood in the religion of Wicca. Formal training shall be on a regular scheduled basis and for not less than a year and a day minimum, or as long as the teacher or initiate counselor deems necessary. A candidate for cross-initiation may not be recognized above the level attained in their originating tradition without appropriate additional training.
  2. The candidate must have performed significant service to/for the Community at large, its members, and the Gods. Some examples could be: donating blood regularly, working on Tabernacle (or other Pagan-dedicated) land, organizing multiple events for the Pagan community, teaching classes for Pagans, etc. Must be a significant contribution to the betterment of the community or the religion, as judged by the initiate counselor.
  3. Must be willing to dedicate self to continued service of the type to resemble the Tabernacle’s concept of service, with the specifics to be decided by the individual after discussion with the initiate counselor.
  4. The individual should be vouched for by a Priestess or Priest of the Tabernacle, or by two other Pagans known to the Council of Elders, in writing. See the Ordains for more detailed information regarding the ATC tradition.
  5. The following checklist should be used to judge the experience and knowledge of a postulant or first level candidate:
    1. Facility with meditation,
    2. Knowledge of basic circle symbolism, including:
      1. The Quarters and Quarter Calls of the ATC tradition;
      2. Altar dressing of the ATC tradition;
      3. Robing and cords of the ATC tradition;
      4. Circle protocol and etiquette of the ATC tradition.
    3. Knowledge of the sacred elements.
    4. Knowledge of the ATC tradition totems, sigils and glyphs.
    5. Knowledge of the history and philosophy of ATC tradition Wicca.
    6. Knowledge of the ATC tradition and their particular congregation pantheon.
    7. Knowledge of the greater and lesser sabbats, their mythology and meaning.
    8. Introductory knowledge of the Healing Arts.
    9. General knowledge of the power of symbols and symbolism in Wicca.
    10. Ability to cast a basic circle creating sacred space, and conduct a basic moon ritual.
    11. Knowledge of and skill at one or more forms of divination.
    12. Knowledge and an understanding of the ATC Ordains, and be living them in daily life.
    13. Knowledge of and adherence to the Ground Rules of the
      ATC.
    14. Have served the proper time as a postulant, or been initiated to first level in another tradition.
    15. Be completely free of substance and alcohol abuse.
    16. Demonstrate a self-sufficient and personally responsible lifestyle consistently.
    17. Have copied the appropriate sections of the Ordains and shown them to their teacher.

Second Degree:

Second Degree will begin assisting with the teaching of 1st. degree Coven members. The candidate shall have read appropriate materials from the prescribed reading list for second degree attainment.

Candidates shall demonstrate familiarity with the following:

  1. Degree Requirements/Ordains and Bylaws.
  2. Circle Etiquette and Wiccan Ethics.
  3. The Psychology of Leadership, Leadership Skills and Teaching Methods.
  4. Be adept at one form of divination and have familiarity with at least one other.
  5. Ritual Writing – shall have written a complete ritual for a Sabbat celebration, healing or holiday, and be familiar with the other Redbook liturgy of the ATC, and be able to perform the ATC Full Moon liturgy from memory.
  6. Be familiar with all of the Sacraments and their administration.
  7. Be adept at writing and leading Guided Meditations
  8. Know the types of Magic and theories behind magical workings: finish working from list given at 1st
  9. Have a basic knowledge of Herbalism and have a competentcy at at least one healing art.
  10. Have a demonstrated facility with:
    1. Group Sharing.
    2. Handling Criticism Constructively and Profiting from It.
    3. Dealing with Difficult People in Your Congregation.
    4. High Level Energy Working and Grounding.
    5. How to Effectively Organize and Manage an Open Circle.
    6. Dealing effectively with non-Pagans (neighbors, the public, officials etc.): both privately and publicly.
    7. Basic Jungian Psychology.
    8. Basic Counseling Skills.
    9. Ministering to and serving others in the larger community.
    10. Initiations: understanding theory and the effects on initiator and initiate.
    11. Great Work Goals – have established a basic goal and plan to reach it for the Great Work commitment required for third degree.
    12. Great Work Goals – have established a basic goal and plan to reach it for the Great Work commitment required for third degree.

Third Degree:

Third Degree will assist with the teaching of 1st and 2nd Level coven members. The candidate shall have read (or re-read) appropriate materials from the prescribed reading list for third level attainment. There is no fixed time period after which 3rd degree is appropriate. This shall depend upon the progress of the candidate, and shall be not less than one full year and a day from elevation to 2nd degree.

Candidates shall demonstrate a real facility with the following:

  1. Degree Requirements, Etiquette and Ethics, and the Ordains and Bylaws, and shall have copied all of the Ordains and exhibit the copy to their teacher or initiator.
  2. Shall have performed the ATC Full Moon liturgy in public prior to attaining second level.
  3. Setting a Personal Focus and Practical Goals, and shall have developed a Great Work. Shall have continuously demonstrated a self-sufficient and personally responsible lifestyle throughout their training at all levels.
  4. Leadership and Organization of Core Group / Group Dynamics.
  5. Participated effectively in training of 1st and 2nd degree trainees.
  6. Handling and Working with People / Personality Types, both within and without the church.
  7. Familiarity with the creation of a church group’s legal existence:
    1. Establishing an organizational entity or corporation.
    2. Obtaining a federal TIN.
    3. Opening a church checking account.
    4. Required record keeping: financial and journal of activities.
    5. Coming under the ATC Group Exemption Letter and its obligations.
  8. Funding and finances of a church congregation:
    1. Long range considerations.
    2. Budgeting and projections.
    3. Conservative or liberal methods.
    4. Event planning for success.
  9. Making Contact:
    Creating rapport with:

    1. Government.
    2. The police.
    3. Other clergy and other faith groups.
    4. The media.
  10. The Religion Editor: Creating positive coverage proactively, not reactively; how to react to bad media; when to be interviewed and when not to be interviewed.
  11. Dealing with Bias and Prejudice; the Civil Rights Act of 1964; what you alone can do; when to call in help; when to call on your elected representatives; when to bring in (and when not to bring in) the authorities, such as the police, the FBI, the state Human Rights Commission and the U.S. Justice Dept. and Civil Rights Division.

ELDERSHIP:

Eldership has no set qualifications, no prescribed course of study. The ATC Rite of Eldering is a formal recognition by the church of the honor and respect already being bestowed on the individual informally by the local or national Pagan community. Eldership or Fourth Degree is bestowed without having been sought, being earned through years of wise, ethical and honorable service to the community . Generally speaking, Elders have passed their Saturn return.

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