Organization and Policies

1. The Church and all subsequent ministries exist as a supportive entity for the spiritual growth of the individual and community.

2. The spiritual aim of the is Church is Gnosis with the self and Gnosis with God.

3. Gnosis is defined as the knowledge and the subsequent changes of being that are the direct result of this relationship.

4. Gnosticism is therefore defined as anything (regardless of tradition) that supports and encourages the full process of Gnosis.

5. The UCoA maintains an inclusive definition of God. God transcends, contains, and interpenetrates all things, and has been revealed and realized as Unity, Duality, and Multiplicity. The UCoA recognizes the validity of all revelations of God without being bound by any one.

6. The UCoA is an umbrella ministry containing six school variations. The Church is open to an expansion of these six schools as the need arises.

7. Each school variation acts as a thematic umbrella ministry to a variety of religious and spiritual paths which fit the themes of each school.

8. Each individual ministry is an autonomous entity, and can never be told how to practice or what do believe.

9. However, each ministry is required to support and encourage all other ministries within the UCoA in the spirit of Universal friendship.

10. The UCoA retains the right to accept or reject the affiliation of any individual or group.

11. However, the UCoA does not retain the right to excommunication. Since the relationship with self and God is of such a personal nature, no one has the right to comment on the validity of that relationship except the individual.

12. The Ministers (or its equivalent) of the UCoA will have all legal rights and privileges accorded to a religious minister within the context of a given state or country. This includes the conduct of marriages, funerals, etc. This does not include those rites and liturgies that are restricted by a given tradition, if (and only if) the individual minister is called to that traditional form of ministry.

13. The Priests (or its equivalent) of the UCoA  will have all legal rights and privileges accorded to a priest within the context of a given state or country. This includes the privileges of the level of Minister as well as those rights and privileges given to the Priest of a given tradition.

14. The Bishop (or its equivalent) of the UCoA will have all legal rights and privileges accorded to a bishop within the context of a given state or country. This includes all previous rights and privileges as well as the right to ordain a Minister, Priest, or Bishop. These rights are only bound by the tradition of dedication.

15. The Presiding Bishop (or its equivalent) of the UCoA maintains all previous rights and privileges. The Presiding Bishop further takes up the responsibility of authority for the UCoA. Final decisions on structure and policy are made by the Presiding Bishop. Furthermore, all candidates for ordination must be approved by the Presiding Bishop.

16. All further organization of the UCoA (save the organization and rights of the individual and the clergy) is subject to evolution and change as needed.