Create A Church

I know I'm a member of TotJO but I want to create a jediism church but i want to use the doctirine from TotJO and I want this church to be a part of TotJO - the church will be called Church of the United Jedi - plus I want to ask my fellow jedi (UK or foreign) to help out with this - the website and the creation plus to gain buildings in the UK and other countries to do meetings and sermons in - I want the TotJO logo but with a 21 point star in the middle of the 16 point star. This is an idea so far - please tell me what you think about this idea.

Hi JJ.

First question: why?

tzb wrote: Hi JJ.

First question: why?

1) To give all Jedi extended knowledge
2) So that we could learn from other Jedi more
3) To get new members to learn our ways
4) Meetings @ about 2-3 times a week
5) And plus most Jedi dont study the D.octirine and the IP so in the buildings a Jedi School plus I'm going to develop 2 new programmes for this church called the Novice/Padawan Program (NP/PP) and add a rank named Padawan to the churches ranks

Hello, JJ --

Here is what I would suggest :

Just wait a while for that - perhaps a couple of years. Our membership will be growing, and with that growth will come the capacity to do things like that. During that time, work through the IP - not just to get it done, but really get into the resources therein. The cornerstone of anything in Jedi-ism is "self-knowledge". Let that be our primary attention.

There are other inconveniences that come with divisive structures within structures. We hope to strengthen the Temple (which is the 'people', not buildings and other external effects). Architecture does have its symbolic value, but for now we need to be discovering what we are symbolising.

Let's keep our doctrine simple and to a minimum. 'Doctrine' is essentially telling people what to believe, what is true and right. Jedi would best be guided toward finding this our for themselves. We tend to profess more 'orthopraxy' than orthodoxy in the TotJO. We fall short quite often, but we're on a pretty reliable foundation already ...

We can talk about this if you would like. Come and talk to me (PM me) ...

Enthusiasm is good, we like enthusiasm, and you are obviously enthusiastic, but at the same time we like to keep it down to earth so that ideas don't get lost into themselves. You are welcome to start a Jedi Order yourself (outside of TotJO), but if you want to be affiliated with us in some way, or to become a TotJO 'Chapter' then we have some general guidelines that we ask people to follow.

The first and most important one is that we generally ask people to be at least the rank of Knight of higher before they take on positions of responsibility like this. There are a couple of reasons: first is that we like to get to know the person before they do anything for us, but it also gives them time to get to know us. Teaching the Doctrine and IP is good, but we need to ensure that you have an understanding of it yourself too, as well as knowing how to teach it to others.

A second reason for being Knight is time and commitment... wanting to start a Temple now is great, but will you still want to be running it in two or three years time? This Temple, TotJO, is in it's 9th year, but in all honesty we have to assume that it will quite possibly be around for the next 10 or even 20. Being a Knight shows a level of commitment to something, a level of commitment also required of your own chapter. If you want to help others by running your own chapter today then you will want to do it in a years or two years time, if you don't... then it was a good thing you waited.

JJ,

I understand where you are coming from; I too want to minister to others in a Jedi-based faith. My advice to you is to take the time to go through the IP, and really put all of your effort into completing it. I am about half-way through it, and I can tell you that I am definitely growing, and learning more about not only Jediism, but also about myself, and what I have to offer to the community. Because of my work on the IP, I have become a much better writer; I have found it is becoming easier to sort out the thoughts swimming in my head, and get them onto paper in coherent sentences; I am starting to delve into what I believe, and why; and I have come to learn that this place is more than just a website based on a fictional religion, it has become a place where I can truly be me, and really flesh out who "me" really is!

Hello JJ,

Thank you for your post...as Akkarin says, we like enthusiasm and pro-activeness!

It strikes me from reading your OP that you aren't just talking about physical buildings - you mention a website as the first step, as though you are talking about wanting an Church as a general concept rather than just a location. You also mention that you hope to obtain buildings both in the UK and overseas, which also leads me to think that you are looking to set up an overarching Church rather than just one single Chapter or place of worship...

I just want to check - you do realise that TOTJO is a Church, yes?

We don't need a new/separate website to host a TOTJO Church, as we already have one right here...you're in it at this very moment!

Physical buildings is another issue entirely and one that has been discussed many times by various people. I would follow Akkarin's advice...concentrate on becoming a Knight of TOTJO first (and also an Ordained Minister if you want to develop the Church/religious side of things) and then we can help you to set up a Chapter.

A new invention, you say? It rotates on an axis and allows for easier locomotion of heavy loads? A wheel you say? Madness!



J/K

I myself share similar goals and if you go back to the beginning of my time here I thin you'
ll find at the time I was very much exactly as you are now. They even(thanks Jestor) gave me the same advice and I'm glad I waited. Its worth patience on this one, trust me. Things develop on their own over time. Keep following that star and that will be the way your ship is sailing.

V-Tog wrote: Hello JJ,

Thank you for your post...as Akkarin says, we like enthusiasm and pro-activeness!

It strikes me from reading your OP that you aren't just talking about physical buildings - you mention a website as the first step, as though you are talking about wanting an Church as a general concept rather than just a location. You also mention that you hope to obtain buildings both in the UK and overseas, which also leads me to think that you are looking to set up an overarching Church rather than just one single Chapter or place of worship...

I just want to check - you do realise that TOTJO is a Church, yes?

We don't need a new/separate website to host a TOTJO Church, as we already have one right here...you're in it at this very moment!

Physical buildings is another issue entirely and one that has been discussed many times by various people. I would follow Akkarin's advice...concentrate on becoming a Knight of TOTJO first (and also an Ordained Minister if you want to develop the Church/religious side of things) and then we can help you to set up a Chapter.

yes I do know that TotJO is a church - and thanks for the advice Akkarin ame V-Tog.

Although I am "one to talk" so-to-speak (I help run an offline Jedi Order, just so you understand why I say this), here's some things I have issue with on your idea:

1) If you want to run an offline church that is affiliated with ToTJO, I personally believe you need to exceed what Alexandre and Akkarin have said. Don't just run through the IP- get your ordination through here after taking their seminary program. (looks like V-Tog said the same thing)

2) Make sure it's offline, not online, do you know how ridiculous the number of Jedi Websites are getting? Take a look at Facebook, tons of people that want to run their own Jedi Orders because they don't want to do the work at another group. Let's stop adding more voices, it's getting ridiculous. Stick to the primary websites (ToTJO, ToTJF, IJRS, JAO, FA, etc, etc, etc), work with them and build our community with what we've got.

3) If you are trying to create another website, and you don't want to take the advice of the first two, why not try to create your own doctrine, your own program and see if it flies. Afterwards, if it doesn't work out, you'll probably understand more why I'm pushing the first two.