Charter Constitution of the Congregation of the Silver Hand

CHARTER CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE SILVER HAND Governing the Congregation according to the Precepts of the Holy Church, Order of the Silver Hand, and other lawful authority. By official and joint-episcopal decree of the Council of Bishops

I. Institution

That in union with the Council of Bishops and by their commission that the paladins who consider themselves Knights of the Silver Hand and Church of the Holy Light or aspiring to join the Order of the Silver Hand should hereafter come together  as one to form the polity of the Congregation of the Silver Hand.

That this Congregation recognizes the right wise orthodoxy of the Church and freely acquiesces to the traditional bonds of faith and governance that rest between the Church and the holy order of Paladins, as set forth in the most inspiring example of Archbishop Alonsus Faol and the Saint Uther the Lightbringer. In accordance with the beliefs of this most sacred relationship let it be known that the Church of the Holy Light and its rightful executors, the Council of Bishops, is vested rightly with full power and authority to make, alter and repeal all of the laws, rules and regulations for the administration, discipline and formation of the Order of the Silver Hand; that order being pledged to the defense of the Church and of all believers, or of any organization, chapter or congregant of that same Congregation of the Silver Hand.

  II. Purpose

The mission and codes of action for which said Congregation of the Silver Hand is to gather are the following:

v  The upholding of the Code of the Silver Hand, therefore adopting all purposes therein.

v  The rendering of aid to its constituent orders by means of providing for the formation and training for Knights of the Silver Hand, new and old.

v  The provision of a forum for general petitions from all Knights of the Silver Hand.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The direction of united action as it is relevant to the integrity of the Church and the stability of the Alliance

<h2 style="text-align: center; margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:.25in;text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">III. <span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif""> Polity

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<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The Congregation is to be comprised of all willing and faithful persons who claim the holy honor of Knight of the Silver Hand or wish to aspire to such faithful service.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">Furthermore, the Congregation shall contain certain Knights of great renown and anointed representatives from the larger organizations of the Alliance from within there are known Knights of the Silver Hand, who are to henceforth be known as Peers, and who shall stand in council to act as the voices of their constituent bodies.

<h2 style="text-align: center; text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif""> IV. Order of Gathering

<p style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The administrators of the Congregation are behooved to call to the Congregation to order no less than twice per month and only at a reasonable hour and date.

<h2 style="text-align: center; text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">V. <span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif""> The Offices of the Congregation

G rand K night
<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The Grand Knight is, by all rights and measure, the first among equals to stand at the council of the Congregation. He or she is the leader of the polity and carries the full weight of military, organizational, and political responsibility upon his or her shoulders. The position of Grand Knight is one from which the Peers of the Congregation elect from among the general body of the Congregation itself and is limited to a term of two months, at the end of which the current Grand Knight is ineligible for consecutive reelection.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The duties, rights, and powers of the Grand Knight are limited to:

<p style="margin-left:57.75pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to lead the military forces of the Congregation.

<p style="margin-left:57.75pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to speak publically on behalf of the Congregation.

<p style="margin-left:57.75pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to direct council proceedings.

<p style="margin-left:57.75pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to call Congregational meetings to order.

<p style="margin-left:57.75pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to appoint or dismiss persons to the offices of Congregational Quartermaster, Congregational Chancellor, and Congregational Chaplain.

<p style="margin-left:57.75pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The privilege to speak before the Council of Bishops.

<p style="margin-left:57.75pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The privilege to wear the blue silken sash, garter, and gloves of the Order.

<p style="margin-left:57.75pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The privilege to speak out of procedural function.

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<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">C anon C hancellor of the C ongregation
<p style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The Canon Chancellor of the Congregation of the Silver Hand is the chief educational official of the Congregation and nominally the second most prestigious of all offices within the Congregation. Often an elder paladin of great experience, the Chancellor bears the weight and honor of moving the Congregation forward in expanding its ranks and acts as the figure for which all young aspirants should epitomize in the idea of a proper paladin of the order. The Chancellor holds primary responsibility for the training of aspirant Knights as well as the maintenance of strict doctrinal orthodoxy. Furthermore, should the Grand Knight, and Exarch be rendered unable to perform their duties then the Chancellor shall temporarily take the place of Grand Knight until a new election is called to order.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The duties, rights, and powers of the Chancellor are limited to:

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to establish and maintain a seminary of paladins that shall facilitate the continued training of aspirants.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to uphold and epitomize the Code of the Silver Hand above all others, for he is the face upon which the aspirants derive their learning.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to petition the Council of Bishops for the anointment of an aspirant to the honor of a Paladin of the Order of the Silver Hand.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The privilege to wear the blue silk sash and garter of the Order.

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<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">E xarch of W arden- G uard
<p style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The Exarch of the Warden-Guard is the chief Sergeant-at-Arms of the Congregation of the Silver Hand. He is responsible for organizing the security of all Congregational meetings and acts as the second in command of all Congregation forces called into service under the Grand Knight. If, in the unfortunate circumstance that the Grand Knight and Chancellor are rendered incapable of performing their duties, the Exarch shall temporarily take his or her place as Grand Knight until a new election is called to order.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The duties, rights, and powers of the Exarch are limited to:

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility of organizing Congregational security at council.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility of maintaining the body of Warden-Guards; the official sergeants of the Congregation.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to take command of Congregation forces or proceedings should the Grand Knight be rendered incapable of doing so.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to arrest and hold unruly members of the Congregation.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The privilege to bear all rights, colors, and arms within the Congregational hall.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">C haplain of the C ongregation
<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The Chaplain of the Congregation is the chief spiritual officer of the body of the Order of the Silver Hand and acts as the Congregation’s primary representative to the Council of Bishops. Considered a post of great honor, it is normally reserved for paladins of immense faith, many of which served as priests before answering the call to paladinhood. The Chaplain is the fifth in the line of succession.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The duties, rights, and powers of the Chaplain are limited to:

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to host prayer at all Congregational meetings.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to act as the primary retainer of the orthodoxy of the Congregation; ensuring that members of the Congregation adhere to the principles set forth by the church and directing the efforts of the Congregational Inquisitors.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility of representing the Congregation before the Council of Bishops.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to act as chief recorder of the minutes of all Congregational meetings.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to appoint or dismiss a Congregational Inquisitor.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The privilege to wear the robes of the priesthood, provided the Chaplain was once ordained.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">Q uartermaster of the C ongregation
<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The Quartermaster of the Congregation is the chief supply officer of the Congregation and holds the heavy burden of ensuring that the Congregation’s military forces are well supplied with equipment, foodstuffs, and medical supplies. The Quartermaster is also the third in line of succession should the Grand Knight and Exarch be rendered incapable of performing their duties. In addition to his military duties, the Quartermaster is also tasked with the maintenance of any and all Congregational charities.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The duties, rights, and powers of the Chaplain are limited to:

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility of maintaining the provisions and equipment stores of the Congregation.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility of overseeing all Congregational charities.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to take command of all Congregational forces should the Grand Knight and Exarch of the Warden-Guard be rendered incapable of performing their duties.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to levy tithes and requisitions of funds from member organizations of the Congregation in order to provide for Congregational activities.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The privilege to wear the blue silken sash of the Order.

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<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">C ongregational I nquisitor
<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The Congregational Inquisitor acts as the primary agent of the enforcement of doctrinal and ideological purity within the Congregation and serves at the pleasure of the Chaplain of the Congregation. Although the Inquisitor acts in many ways as a typical Inquisitor of the Church Office of Inquiry, he does not possess the power to detain or arrest any member of the Congregation, but only to question and investigate those who the Chaplain deems suspect of crimes against the Light or the Congregation. The Congregational Inquisitor is the sixth in the line of succession.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The duties, rights, and powers of the Inquisitor are limited to:

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to actively cultivate the orthodox purity of church doctrine within the Congregation.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to receive audience for any inquiries or investigations he may conduct within the Congregation.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">C ongregational C lerk of C ouncil
<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The Congregational Clerk of Council is the chief organizational officer of the Congregation appointed by vote of the Council of Bishops. The Clerk is responsible for the maintenance of the Congregational docket and affairs of order as well as ensuring procedural order during meetings of the Congregational body. The Clerk is the seventh and last in the line of succession.

<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">The duties, rights, and powers of the Clerk are limited to:

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility of maintaining the Congregational Docket.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility of ensuring procedure order during Congregational councils.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The responsibility to appoint or dismiss an Exarch of the Warden-Guard.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to call Congregational meetings to order.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to order the Exarch to remove disruptive members of the Congregation from the council chamber.

<p style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif"">v  The authority to suspend the rules of order.

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===<span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> <span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic">VII. <span style="font-family:"Constantia","serif""> Congregational Rules of Order ===