Universal Gnostic Church News: New Bishop

[ecosophia]

I'm delighted to announce that Claire Schosser has completed the course of study assigned to prospective ordinandas in the Universal Gnostic Church. As she received ex offico episcopal consecration in the UGC lineage when she became an Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America in 2019, and has since also qualified as a priestess in the Gnostic Celtic Church (a descendant of the UGC), I have formally confirmed her status as a priestess and bishop of the UGC. So there are now two of us.

I've known Claire for well over a decade now; she joined AODA back when I was still its Grand Archdruid; she was also a student of the Dolmen Arch system when I was teaching it personally as a correspondence course, and worked her way straight through that rather challenging course to the highest degree of Gwyddon Rhydd (Free Loremaster). I am very pleased to be able to confer on her this additional rank -- and the responsibilities that go with it.

Please join me in congratulating Bishop Claire!

Comments

[ecosophia]

I want to make a passing comment here, if I may.

I feel no particular call to the ministry. I accepted ordination and consecration in the UGC not because I wanted to become a priest and a bishop, nor because I felt it was appropriate for me to do the work of those offices, but (a) because it was an ex officio requiremnt of becoming an archdruid in AODA and (b) because I had an uncomfortable sense, even then, that I might well end up as the only person willing and able to invest the work to keep the tradition alive.

In other words, just as I handed over AODA, the Druidical Order of the Golden Dawn, and the Order of Spiritual Alchemy to others, and turned the Dolmen Arch, the Modern Order of Essenes, and the Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose into independent traditions with no hierarchical leaders, I'm looking forward to seeing new leadership take over the Universal Gnostic Church so I can focus on the work that matters most to me. Claire's elevation has therefore cheered me up no end. Especially now that I no longer have Sara to manage the secretarial end of things, as she did so capably for so many years, my notional headship of these traditions is a burden I'm quite eager to lay down. Once there are a few more bishops, that'll be the next logical step.

(BTW, with that in mind, is there anyone with graphic arts skills who's willing to design certificates for ordination to the priesthood/priestesshood and consecration to the UGC episcopacy? I have several people patiently waiting for certificates now, and my attempts in that direction have been frankly ugly.)

Symbols on certificate

[emily07]

Dear JMG,
What kind of general idea do you have for the certifcations? Regarding Symbols and the technical side (Like Are you looking for someone who letters these things and sends it, Ort Are you looking for a template etc.)

Re: Symbols on certificate

[ecosophia]

I'm looking for a template, and it would probably be a good idea to find someone with a less antiquated and finicky printer than mine. ;-)

With regard to symbols, that's part of the problem -- if the UGC had symbols in Matthew Shaw's day, John never mentioned them, and he never used any. I suppose Bishop Claire and I could create or choose something, as the current consistory of bishops, but that's not really my strong suit.

Re: Symbols on certificate

[emily07]

Dear JMG,
I didn´t check on the screened comments mail-part so only got this message after new-year. Apologies. I hope you have found in on of the other two offers what you were looking for - I feel like I´m not the person to do this job.
Or to heavily misquote the Maitre d´ of La Frenai in WOH - "One day JMG I will be of help - [...] but this is not that day."
Best wishes for 2025!
Emily07

[prayergardens]

I have no actual design or artistic skills but, out of necessity for my own projects, am at least an intermediate user of the Canva design website and can do something that is not terrible.

If you get a more talented offer, you should take it, but if you need something done that is passable, if a little cookie cutter, I can help.

[ecosophia]

Thank you! I may well take you up on that.

[open_space]

I have free most of today and could put together something on my drawing tablet and share it by end of day for others to edit. Let me know if I should and if there are any details.

[jprussell]

I can put together a draft to send your way to see what you think. If you have any idea of what the text should say, let me know, otherwise, I can either take a stab at it or just do something with Lorem Ipsum text.

Cheers,
Jeff

[ecosophia]

The text is quite simple. For a newly consecrated bishop, it reads as follows:

Certificate of Consecration to the Apostolic Episcopate
On (date), at (place), in the name and under the authority of the Universal Gnostic Church, I (or we) did properly consecrate to the episcopate
(name)
As an independent bishop of the Gnosis after the order of Melchizedek.
(signature line)

For a newly ordained priest or priestess:

Certificate of Ordination to the Priesthood/Priestesshood
On (date), at (place), in the name and under the authority of the Universal Gnostic Church, I (or we) did properly ordain
(name)
As a priest/priestess of the Gnosis after the order of Melchizedek.
(signature line)

For a priest/priestess or bishop who has already been ordained or consecrated and whose status is being recognized by the UGC:

Certificate of Recognition
In the name and under the authority of the Universal Gnostic Church, and in acknowledgment of his/her prior ordination/consecration, I (or we) do hereby recognize
(name)
as a (priest/priestess/bishop) of the Gnosis after the order of Melchizedek.
(signature line) (date)

[slclaire]

If I knew anything about designing anything I'd offer to do it, but I don't. My bardic skills run to music rather than art.

[(Anonymous)]

What is the work that matters most to you?

—Princess Cutekitten

[ecosophia]

Writing books, doing my own personal practices, and living my life. I'm not really cut out to be a public figure.

[open_space]

You've gotten a response, but if there is help still needed I ended up taking vacation from work next week. I could create a decorative motif as a frame for the text and send it over to whoever will put it together to be added on their software. If that is desired or helpful of course.