FAQ and Article Updates

Old wrote: If you've joined and want to start studying follow the guidelines here. Posting "I want a Master" will not get your anywhere as we first like to give you some background training and get to know you.

The first requirement for advancement, after submitting a valid Jedi Application, is that you study and complete the Initiate Programme. This is a comprehensive set of studies that include works on metaphysics, comparative religious studies, personal development and concepts relating to Jediism. Click on the link marked “Studies”, then "Initiates" in the Menu at the top of the page to be directed to the instructions and content of the Programme.

If you are studying the Initiate Programme and already have the status of "Temple Member", you are considered to hold the rank of 'Novice'. Please contact Jestor, once you have posted on Exercise 4, Lesson 1, The Hero's Adventure, so he may make this change on your account as it is not an automatic process.

Each student should post their work in the forum called Journals in the New Members section. Start a new thread and call it something like “John Smith's Journal”. All your work should be posted as a reply to this topic. Please make sure your username and the word ‘Journal’ are in your journal's title.

Please respect the privacy of other people's journals and do not post in them unless specifically requested to do so. Teaching Masters are those holding the rank of Knight and above. They may wish to post in your journal to offer guidance or to help with your training.

All of the above will allow Teaching Masters to develop an understanding of your beliefs, ideas, philosophy, needs and also to generally get to know you. The next step after completion of the Initiate Programme is Apprenticeship. Not all Initiates can be taught however, which is why you should take great care when completing the Initiate Programme. Showing patience and initiative in your studies is what will attract potential Teaching Masters.

Occasionally the right Teaching Master for you will be unavailable. If this is the case Initiates may be given tasks in that 'waiting' period and should consider additional self-study and engaging in deeper philosophical discussions in the forum.

Current wrote: If you've joined and want to start studying follow the guidelines here. Posting "I want a Master" will not get your anywhere as we first like to give you some background training and get to know you.

The first requirement for advancement, after submitting a valid Jedi Application, is that you study and complete the Initiate Programme (IP). This is a comprehensive set of studies that include works on metaphysics, comparative religious studies, personal development and concepts relating to Jediism. The IP can be found under the "My TOTJO" drop-down menu then "Studies", or at the bottom left of each page under "Learning".

If you are studying the Initiate Programme and already have the status of "Temple Member", you are considered to hold the rank of 'Novice'. Please contact Jestor once you have posted your first lesson so he may make this change on your account as it is not an automatic process.

Each student should post their work in the forum called Journals in the New Members section. Start a new thread and call it something like “John Smith's Journal”. All your work should be posted as a reply to this topic. Please make sure your username and the word ‘Journal’ are in your journal's title.

Please respect the privacy of other people's journals and do not post in them unless specifically requested to do so. Knights and above may post in your journal to offer guidance or to help with your training.

All of the above will allow Knights to develop an understanding of your beliefs, ideas, philosophy, needs and also to generally get to know you. The next step after completion of the Initiate Programme is Apprenticeship.

Occasionally the right Teaching Master for you will be unavailable so not all Initiates will immediately be taught. If this is the case Initiates may be given tasks in this 'waiting' period and should consider additional self-study and engaging in conversations in the forum. Showing patience and initiative in your studies is what will attract potential Teaching Masters.

1. What is the Clergy?

What clergy are not: Our clergy are not mental healthcare professionals, they are guides, and if a member is feeling particularly emotionally distressed then they should seek the appropriate clinical help.

The clergy is the area of the Temple that deals with the spritiual well-being of the community as a whole. The clergy are not spiritual authorities, but they are entrusted with helping guide people along their Jedi journeys.

As a non-profit religious organisation TotJO has the ability to licence and ordain ministers to serve in a clerical capacity. All Ministers can officiate weddings and conduct other religious ceremonies. Both licenses and ordinations are Legal in every state in the USA and may be in foreign countries (check with your local civil authorities for guidelines).

To become a Minister of the Force you must be Licensed or Ordained by TotJO; it is not a Certificate that makes you a minister but our records on file.

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2. What is the Synod?

The Synod is a clerical body that oversees the broad functions of the Clergy. The Synod like the Council - but subject to the decisions of the Council - facilitates, administrates and organises the Clergy by providing direction and implementing changes and updates.

The members of the Synod consist of the three Pastors (Alexandre Orion, Akkarin, V-Tog), the Secretary for the Clergy (Rosalyn J) and the Secretary for the Synod (Cabur Senaar).

To view the Synod Charter please click here.

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3. What is the Seminary?

The Seminary is the section of TotJO that deals with the Clerical Training Programme. To join the Clergy you should first contact a Pastor. You will then be interviewed by one or more members of the Synod and, if successful, invited to join the Seminary.

There is a difference in the kind of training done for the Clerical Training Programme in the Seminary compared to the training done for the Degree Scheme. The degree training is there to help individuals and members with their own understanding of the Jedi path as it applies to them. The seminary training is there to provide assistance and to further expand another individual's understanding of their Jedi path.

Training consists of a series of exercises that require your understanding of various topics including: relevant terms such as “liturgy”, the duties of a member of the Clergy, legality, empathy and role-play situations.

Upon completion of the Clerical Training Programme your work will be reviewed by the Synod and, if your work meets the expectations required of a member of our Clergy, you will be interviewed by the Synod which, if successful, will promote you.

There is a requirement of having reached the rank of Initiate and being at least 16 years of age prior to being admitted into the Seminary (our clergy training area).

If you would like a certificate detailing your Minister's Licence, these may be sent, for a small fee, by post.

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4. What is Confiding/Confession?

Confiding is the word we at the Temple give for "confession". Jedi do not have sin, confiding is a private and confidential conversation between the Confider (the person speaking to the Minister) and the Confidant (the Minister providing the service).

If a member is struggling spiritually, or they need someone to talk to, or they need some guidance then that is what the clergy are there for.

Please be aware that while all Clergy Persons at the Temple are trustworthy people and can be approached for help, only those who have been ordained are bound by the Oath of the Confidant; Licensed Ministers, temporary or not, are not bound by this oath.

Past acts are confidential, however Ministers have a duty to report future acts to relevant authorities if they believe you are a danger to yourself or another.

Not all countries recognise Confiding's confidentiality, if a crime is admitted during Confiding then it is possible that, if required to in a court of law, the minister will have to give details of what was said. Please check local civil laws on the issue, or ask the minister prior to Confiding whether this applies.

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5. What are the Clerical Ranks? What are their roles?

Temporary Minister

A person given a Temporary Licence for a one-time-only event (such as conducting a marriage ceremony).
Can be revoked.

Licensed Minister

Has all of the abilities of a Deacon but cannot take confession under the seal recognized by law.
Available to any TotJO rank of Initiate or higher.
Can be revoked.
Carries the title of Rev. (but not OCP as a suffix to their name).

Deacon

The first "rank" of Ordained Ministers.
Can take confession under the seal recognised by law.
Can conduct liturgical ceremonies.
Is responsible for the moral support of the community.
Available to any TotJO rank of Knight or higher. Cannot be revoked. Carries the title of Rev. as well as OCP as a suffix to their name.

Priest

Generally the same as the Deacon although may share in a greater responsibility for the support of the community.
Can take confession under the seal recognised by law.
Can conduct liturgical ceremonies.
Is responsible for the moral support of the community.
Available to any TotJO rank of Knight or higher.
Cannot be revoked.
Carries the title of Rev. as well as OCP as a suffix to their name.

Bishop

Can ordain other ministers.
Can take confession under the seal recognised by law.
Can conduct liturgical ceremonies.
Is responsible for the moral support of the community.
Available to any TotJO rank of Knight or higher.
Cannot be revoked.
Carries the title of Rev. as well as OCP as a suffix to their name.

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6. What are Temporary Licences?

If you wish to officiate a ceremony as a Temporary Jedi Minister without going through the seminary training then we are able to grant a Temporary Minister Licence for that occasion.

Contact any of the Pastors and explain that you wish to apply for a Temporary Licence to be a Temporary Minister for a special occasion. You will need to be specific on what sort of documents we will need to provide should we agree to give you a Temporary Minister's Licence. Please supply as much information as you can to support this application.

Your application will be discussed and you may be asked additional questions related to your case.

Licenses are Legal in every state in the USA and may be in foreign countries (check with your local civil authorities for guidelines).

It is our records on file, not a certificate, which makes one a minister.

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7. Don't our titles sound Catholic?

The names we give our clerical titles are shared amongst many different denominations of Christianity, but we have chosen them mainly because they are both familiar to most members which helps them to identify the respective roles of each member of the clergy.