Covenant of the Goddess

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Covenant of the Goddess logo

The Covenant of the Goddess (sometimes abbreviated CoG) is one of the oldest and largest cross-traditional groups among Wiccans. It was incorporated on October 31, 1975 (Samhain or Halloween),^[1] as a non-profit religious organisation in California and has grown to become an international organisation, and is currently composed of over one hundred Wiccan covens,^[2] plus solitary elders and associates. The aim of the group is to increase co-operation Witches and to secure for Witches and covens the legal protection enjoyed by members of other religions.^[3] Member covens must generally focus theology and ritual, etc., around the worship of the Goddess and the Old Gods (or the Goddess alone), which is general practice within Wicca.^[4] The group, which maintains strict autonomy for all members, operates largely by consensus.

1 Activities
2 Code of Ethics
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Activities

At each Sabbat the group publishes a newsletter for members. The newsletter is available free to member covens, but those who are solitary or non-members are only added to the list after submitting a 'suitable tax-deductible gift'.

Representatives of Covenant of the Goddess attended the Parliament of the World's Religions in Cape Town, South Africa in 1999.^[5]

CoG was involved in the campaign to have the Department of Veterans Affairs recognize the pentacle as suitable for headstone markers; see also Sgt. Patrick Stewart. On April 23, 2007, the VA added the pentacle to the list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on VA-issued headstones, markers, and plaques.^[6]

The group organizes and sponsors an annual festival called "Merry Meet",^[7] held in conjunction with the annual business meeting. Representatives from all the member Covens congregate and decide on relevant issues affecting the organization, and Wiccans in general. The business meeting is called the "Grand Council", and is run in a consensus format. There are also workshops, vendors and shopping. As is common with many Wiccan festivals, there are also community rituals and spiritual connections, which play a large part in the festival.

The group created and administers several religious emblem programs for youth and adults working with youth organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA. The programs are "Over the Moon" for ages 8-11, "Hart and Crescent" for ages 12-18, and the Distinguished Youth Service Award for adults working with youth CoG program description. The Boy Scouts of America have refused to recognize the programs and its members cannot wear it officially on their uniform.

[edit] Code of Ethics

The group operates by a Code of Ethics, which all members (covens or solitary) are expected to understand and follow:

An ye harm none, do as ye will.

Since our religion and the arts and practices peculiar to it are the gift of the Goddess, membership and training in a local coven or tradition are bestowed free, as gifts, and only on those persons who are deemed worthy to receive them. However, a coven may expect each of its members to bear a fair share of its ordinary operating expenses.

All persons have the right to charge reasonable fees for the services by which they earn a living, so long as our religion is not thereby exploited.

Every person associated with this Covenant shall respect the autonomy and sovereignty of each coven, as well as the right of each coven to oversee the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical development of its members and students in its own way, and shall exercise reasonable caution against infringing upon that right in any way.

All persons associated with this Covenant shall respect the traditional secrecy of our religion.

Members of this Covenant should ever keep in mind the underlying unity of our religion as well as the diversity of its manifestations.

These ethics shall be understood and interpreted in light of one another, and especially in light of the traditional laws of our religion.^[8]