By Laws

Bylaws of the Church of New Enchantment Revised and Adopted: March 2020

Here are the complete bylaws with all additions woven in:

BYLAWS OF THE CHURCH OF NEW ENCHANTMENT Revised and Adopted: March 2025

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this religious organization shall be The Church of New Enchantment, hereafter referred to as the "Church."

ARTICLE II – SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION AND PURPOSE

Section 1. Core Identity: The Church is a virtual-first, spiritually independent, interfaith religious organization rooted in Esoteric Universalism, combining sacred wisdom, mystical traditions, and interreligious values. We honor the Divine through practices of energy healing, sacred rituals, contemplative teachings, and personal spiritual development.

Section 2. Religious Mission: The Church exists to:

Provide sacred education, rituals, and guidance through a universal and progressive spiritual lens
Honor multiple sacred traditions (including Christian mysticism, Gnostic philosophy, Wiccan and nature-based rituals, metaphysical healing, and more)
Serve spiritual seekers with compassionate guidance through spiritual counseling, energetic readings, and divinatory insight
Create a sanctuary for the sacred feminine and masculine principles in balance
Celebrate the cycles of nature, the wisdom of angels and sacred beings, and personal gnosis as pathways to Divine understanding
Promote holistic wellness as an inseparable dimension of spiritual health, integrating sacred herbalism, natural medicine, and whole-person care into all aspects of ministry

Section 3. Public Ministry and Activity: The Church maintains an ongoing public ministry via:

Weekly recorded sermons accessible to the public 24/7
A public-facing website with doctrinal writings, published works, teachings, and videos
A Sacred Spiritual Apothecary, maintained as an active ministry resource comprising 100+ documented sacred herbs, botanicals, essential oils, nutritional supplements, and holistic wellness compounds. A significant portion of Church ministry funding is allocated to the ongoing acquisition, study, and ceremonial application of these materials. All herbs, supplements, and wellness products are procured for documented religious and ministerial purposes including: sacred ceremony and prayer rituals, energetic and spiritual cleansing rites, research into the spiritual and healing properties of plant medicine, and the coaching of Church members toward holistic wellness in alignment with our faith tradition. The Church holds the theological conviction that herbs, botanicals, and natural supplements carry inherent spiritual power and divine purpose, and their study and use constitute core religious practice within the Church of New Enchantment.
CNE Seminary Courses, offering free and certificate-based spiritual education
Published books and religious writings (including Amazon Kindle publications)
A strong and consistent presence across major social media platforms
Email-based community building and member updates
Offering spiritual counseling and readings with strict ethical confidentiality

ARTICLE III – VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL PRESENCE

Section 1. Headquarters: The Church's principal virtual headquarters is located at: 8911 North Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 4200 #1050, Austin, TX 78759. This is the designated address for mail, contact, and legal correspondence.

Section 2. Worship and Community Engagement: While the Church is primarily virtual, it fulfills legal standards for an established place of worship by:

Operating a consistent ministry with sermons, religious instruction, and religious services
Hosting a website as a hub for teaching, spiritual support, and interaction
Serving an international congregation and enrolled student body
Providing regular opportunities for engagement through spiritual services and educational programming

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Eligibility: Membership is open to all individuals who resonate with the Church's spiritual path and who affirm its core teachings and ethical standards.

Section 2. Enrollment: Membership is obtained through voluntary sign-up via the Church's official website or direct communication, with opportunities for deeper engagement through courses and spiritual services.

Section 3. Rights and Responsibilities: Members are entitled to spiritual resources, counseling, access to course materials, and participation in Church community events. Members are encouraged to respect one another, maintain confidentiality, and act in accordance with the Church's "no harm" ethical foundation.

Section 4. Termination: Membership may be ended by personal resignation or at the discretion of Church leadership if actions or behavior violate the spiritual and ethical values of the Church.

ARTICLE V – LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

Section 1. Founding Leadership: The Church was founded and is led by:

Lead Minister: Dr. Peter Sousa
Vice-Lead Minister: S. Roxanne Ramirez
Secretary / Director: Bridgette Matheny

They oversee doctrine, ministry, programs, financial decisions, and all Church operations.

Section 2. Clergy and Seminary Graduates: Volunteer ministers and certified clergy through the CNE Seminary may assist with rituals, teachings, and member support. They do not receive compensation unless specified in writing.

Section 3. Future Expansion: A governing council may be established at the discretion of the Lead Minister as the Church grows in size and scope.

ARTICLE VI – SPIRITUAL SERVICES AND SACRED DUTIES

The Church provides:

Spiritual counseling and psychic readings
Sacred rituals and rites
Divination and prophetic consultation
Energy healing practices such as Reiki, crystal healing, and spiritual cleansing
Holistic wellness coaching integrating spiritual herbalism, nutritional guidance, and natural remedy protocols rooted in our faith tradition

These are core religious functions. All services are treated with confidentiality and are considered spiritual care in alignment with our faith tradition.

ARTICLE VII – FINANCES AND ETHICS

Section 1. Income: The Church is supported by:

Voluntary member donations
Spiritual services offered via PayPal and other platforms
Sale of religious writings, eBooks, and related content
Contributions, grants, and crowdfunding

Section 2. Compensation: The Lead Minister may receive income for spiritual services and administrative work. All income received aligns with ministerial duties.

Section 3. Compliance: The Church complies with IRS guidelines for religious organizations. We are tax-exempt by default as a 501(c)(3) religious body under U.S. law and are not required to file annual IRS forms unless otherwise incorporated and subject to state-specific requirements.

Section 4. Government Separation: The Church maintains independence from secular government oversight and chooses not to participate in public insurance programs such as Social Security for ministers, in accordance with spiritual principles.

Section 5. Ministry Expenditures: A meaningful and documented portion of the Church's annual budget is designated toward the procurement of herbs, botanicals, nutritional supplements, wellness compounds, and research materials necessary for active ministry, ceremonial use, member wellness coaching, and the development of published spiritual wellness literature. These expenditures are considered essential ministry costs and are maintained as part of the Church's ongoing religious, educational, and publishing mission.

ARTICLE VIII – RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND SEMINARY

Section 1. Seminary Purpose: The CNE Seminary offers religious education and ordination rooted in Esoteric Universalism and sacred practice.

Section 2. Degrees and Certificates: All certificates and titles conferred are for religious and spiritual purposes only and are not to be considered secular academic credentials.

Section 3. Course Offerings Include:

Angelic Reiki
Sacred Herbalism
Divine Medical Astrology
Spiritual Divination
Ministerial Training and Ordination
Holistic Spiritual Wellness and Sacred Plant Medicine

ARTICLE IX – PUBLICATIONS, MEDIA, AND RESEARCH

The Church actively publishes original works including:

Weekly sermons and reflections
Kindle books and spiritual guides
Public teachings on YouTube, podcasts, and social platforms
A Sacred Spiritual Apothecary resource library

The Church is additionally engaged in an ongoing research and publishing initiative dedicated to the intersection of spiritual herbalism, holistic wellness, and sacred living. This initiative includes the active development and publication of a series of works designed to provide accessible, spiritually grounded guidance on everyday wellness for our congregation and the broader public. Research for this series includes the active procurement and study of herbs, supplements, and botanical compounds as primary source material, consistent with our theological belief that plant medicine holds spiritual significance and healing power. All related expenses incurred in this research — including the purchase of herbal products, nutritional supplements, reference materials, and wellness supplies — constitute documented ministry and publishing expenses of the Church.

ARTICLE X – HOLISTIC WELLNESS MINISTRY

Section 1. Mission of Holistic Wellness: The Church of New Enchantment is committed to serving its members and the public as a holistic wellness and spiritual church. We affirm that true spiritual health encompasses the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — and that physical wellness and sacred practice are inseparable in our faith tradition.

Section 2. Spiritual Herbalism as Core Doctrine: The Church holds as a central theological principle the doctrine of Spiritual Herbalism — the belief that herbs, plants, nutritional supplements, and natural compounds are imbued with divine energy and spiritual power. Their use in ceremony, prayer, ritual, and daily wellness practice is considered an act of worship and a sacred ministerial duty. This doctrine is woven throughout our teaching, counseling, and published works.

Section 3. Ministry Applications: Holistic wellness ministry activities of the Church include, but are not limited to:

Procurement and ceremonial use of sacred herbs, botanicals, essential oils, and supplements in prayer rituals and spiritual rites
Research into the spiritual, energetic, and healing properties of natural plant medicine and nutritional compounds
Coaching and guiding Church members toward holistic wellness through spiritually informed supplement and herbal protocols
Development and publication of literature, guides, and educational resources on spiritual herbalism and sacred wellness for public benefit
Maintenance of the Church's Sacred Spiritual Apothecary as an active, funded ministry resource

Section 4. Research and Publishing Expenditures: The Church designates a meaningful portion of its annual ministry budget toward the procurement of herbal, botanical, and supplement materials necessary for active research, ceremonial use, and the development of published wellness literature. These expenditures are considered essential ministry costs, documented and maintained as part of the Church's ongoing religious and publishing mission.

ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS AND GOVERNANCE

Amendments to these bylaws may be made by the Lead and Vice-Lead Minister, with notice to members via Church channels at least two weeks in advance. Major changes shall be communicated transparently.

ARTICLE XII – CLOSING STATEMENT

The Church of New Enchantment is a living spiritual body that honors ancient wisdom and modern insight. We provide an inclusive, esoteric pathway to the Divine for all who seek sacred connection and healing. Our structure, teachings, and operations reflect an authentic and legally protected faith-based community in the United States. Central to our identity is a commitment to holistic spiritual wellness — honoring the sacred power of plants, herbs, and natural medicine as divine gifts, and serving our members and the world through research, education, ceremony, and compassionate spiritual care.

That's the full document ready to copy. A couple of things worth knowing — I'm not a lawyer, so if you ever need these bylaws to do heavy lifting (like for a bank account, formal 501c3 application, or legal dispute), it would be worth having an attorney who works with religious organizations give it a quick review. But for your internal purposes and documentation, this is solid.