Rules for Branches

Please read over all of the information below very carefully.

If a chartered Grove desires, or if two or more Groves form in close proximity, they may form a local Church of the Spiral Tree Branch, with their own name. This then becomes the public body that holds open meetings and services, is listed in CST publications and electronic media, advertises in the Yellow Pages, etc. with the original Grove or Groves taking a less public position, and no longer expected to hold open meetings, if applicable. The original Grove or Groves may be disbanded in favor of and absorbed into the Branch, in which case all assets will go to the Branch. The Grove or Groves may also be kept going separately, each paying the required yearly fee.

Charters: In order to form a Branch, at least five paid CST members representing one or more chartered Groves must apply to the BOD for a charter as an Incipient Branch. Upon receipt of a qualifying Incipient Branch application, along with application fees, the BOD will issue an Incipient Branch charter. In order to be granted a full Branch Charter, an Incipient Branch must have been meeting at least monthly for at least one year and submitting quarterly activity and financial reports. The year-long Incipient status is to ensure that the Branch is fully committed and has long-term goals. Granting of an incipient or full Branch Charter is by approval of the BOD.

Administration: The local Grove, or group of Groves, will form a Grove Council, Branch Council, or other administrative body to operate the Branch. Members of such an administrative body must all be active members of CST, and should include at least one Elder or High Priest/ess; i.e., a person with a 3rd Degree ranking or equivalent from an established tradition. One of these Council members shall be designated the Branch Steward, and they shall serve as contact and liaison to CST's central headquarters and the BOD in all matters of administration and/or corporate needs and concerns relative to their particular Branch or Incipient Branch.

Governance: The governance of groups shall be by Stewards, Directors or Councils. Should the group be authorized to open a bank or checking account, there shall be three approved signatories on the account. Chartering and serving as administrators or officers of groups is open only to paid members of CST.

Membership: A Branch shall maintain a minimum of five paid CST members. It may have other members who may or may not be paid CST members, but any officers in the Branch, including the Branch Steward, must be paid CST members. Membership in CST does not automatically confer membership in any local Grove or Branch.

Reports/Financial Accountability: Each Branch, whether Incipient or full status, must submit quarterly reports of its activities and financial status to CST's Board of Directors (BOD) at least two weeks prior to each meeting of the BOD. Due dates for reports are April 30 (for January-March period), July 31 (for April-June period), October 31 (for July-September period), and January 31 (for October-December period). Failure to submit such reports for two successive quarters shall be grounds for investigation and suspension of the Branch's Charter.

Group Exemption: Branches chartered by the BOD shall be legal Subordinate Organizations of CST as incorporated under the laws of the United States, and shall be eligible to be covered under CST's group exemption. Branches do not have the power to incur debt in the name of Church of the Spiral Tree.

Financial Accountability: Branches must submit a quarterly financial statement to CST's Board of Directors (BOD). Failure to do so for two successive quarters shall be grounds for investigation and suspension of the Branch's Charter.

Innovation: The BOD and Clergy of CST do not wish to impose any doctrinal constraints upon Branches the requirement that their activities be in accord with the purpose of the Corporation as stated in the Preamble and Article III of the bylaws. We in fact encourage creativity and innovation on the part of all local groups in the lawful pursuit of the goals of CST.

Protecting People's Life Work Within the Church: In order for members to be willing to devote their lives, assets and resources to the church, each individual and group shall have as much autonomy and freedom of action and expression as possible.

Disbanding a Branch: The CST BOD may accept and note the disbanding of a Branch or Incipient Branch upon written notification from that Branch's administrative body and the return of all Branch materials issued by the CST BOD. In such case, all assets including equipment, supplies, and remaining monies provided by the CST BOD to the said Branch are to be returned to a designated CST BOD member(s). Assets including monies acquired through Branch fundraisers, direct donations to the specific Branch, and items purchased with Branch funds shall be divided by mutual agreement or by arbitration by the existing officers of the Branch. If there are no existing Branch officers left during or after the disbanding of the Branch, then fair and orderly distribution of Branch assets will be assigned to the CST BOD or their designated representative(s). The records and materials of the Branch will go into the BOD's "inactive" branch file, where they will remain until or unless the Branch may be reactivated. If no one reactivates an inactive branch within three years, it will be declared "discorporate" and filed accordingly. Incipient Branch charters will lapse automatically after one year from the date of their last quarterly report.

Suspending Charters: The CST BOD reserves the right to suspend the charter of a Branch for the following reasons:

• To investigate problems brought to the BOD's attention that indicate conflict with the stated CST mission, bylaws, or policies, or with local, state or federal laws;

• If the quarterly reports (or lack thereof) from that Branch fail to indicate its continuing function;

• If reports for two successive quarters are not submitted;

• If the annual renewal fee of $35 is not paid by February 28.

A Branch whose charter has been suspended will be regarded as an inactive branch, and its charter may be reinstated if the Branch can resolve its problems to the satisfaction of the BOD. If this does not happen within a year and a day, the suspended Branch will be declared "discorporate." This action may be appealed to the BOD, whose decision will be final.

Revoking Charters: The BOD reserves the right to revoke a Branch's charter for reasons including but not limited to:

• The conduct of the Branch at its meetings and public functions or in its public statements is found to be incompatible with the purposes of the Corporation as stated in Article III of the Bylaws, or contrary to the laws of the country or state of residence of the Branch;

• The conduct or statements of the Branch in its meetings and public functions or in its public statements, in the judgment of the BOD, reflects unacceptable discredit on CST, its purposes, members and Clergy; or

• The BOD has reason to believe upon investigation that the chartered Branch is not truly functioning as a Branch in that the contact person does not respond to queries, show evidence of membership or the holding of regular meetings or other evidence that the chartered Branch is, indeed, functioning as a viable organizational unit of CST.

Removing Group From CST: In case of irreconcilable conflict with CST, the directors of a Branch, subject to contractual agreement, have the option of removing their organization from CST while retaining its name, function, independent corporate status (if any) and assets. In such a case, that organization would forfeit the coverage of CST's group 501(c)(3) exemption, insurance, and any other privileges of affiliation with CST.

If there is a dispute between the BOD and a Branch, or among Directors or other partners in a Branch, and if any of these parties are not satisfied with a decision of the BOD, they may seek binding arbitration by a mutually-agreed-upon party or parties, pursuant to CST's conflict resolution procedure.

Assets: All Assets of a chartered Branch provided by CST BOD including equipment, supplies and remaining monies will be returned to a designated CST BOD member upon dissolution of that Branch, whether by disbanding or by revocation of their charter. Assets acquired specifically by the designated Branch to include all equipment, supplies, and monies will be retained by that group or distributed or reassigned by the existing officers of the Branch in the case of disbanding of that Branch. If there are no existing officers left, then the CST BOD will assume responsibility for the fair distribution of the assets.

Should a group which has removed itself from CST be disbanded at any time up to a year after leaving CST, any remaining assets will revert to CST Central.

Reactivating a Branch: If within three years, at least two members of the original Branch and at least one other active member of CST are willing to resume Branch activities and regular meetings, an inactive Branch or Incipient Branch may be reactivated under its original name and charter. If there is a dispute among the members of the original Branch over the group's reactivation, the BOD may request that the name of the Branch be changed, and a new charter issued under the new name, while still recognizing the legal continuity of that Branch or incipient Branch insofar as dating its inception from the original application.

If a Branch's charter is suspended, the Branch will have three months to address and resolve the issues that resulted in that action to the satisfaction of the BOD. If this can be accomplished, their charter will be reinstated and returned after their current quarterly report is approved.

If a Branch's charter has been revoked by the BOD, there is no further appeal. The re-establishment of a CST Branch in that area will require starting all over, with a new application, under a different name and with a new administrative body.