This is what it means to be a Firefly.
Taken from FireflyHouse.org:
Firefly is a network comprised of several interconnected parts: The Firefly House (church), The Firefly Academy (school), Online Communities, Meetups, Covens, Houses, and our network resources.
To take membership and tradition-based classes online with Firefly, folks must first create an account and apply online. We have found over the years that a willingness to complete an application, ability to meet the requirements of the application, the involvement of students in our online forums while waiting for the application to be approved, and the ability to communicate effectively through written word are all aspects of the application process that tell us when folks will and will not be a good fit for our program.
Firefly Tradition
Purpose
The purpose of The Firefly Academy is to promote the exploration of one's individual path through spiritual empowerment, creative spiritual expression, and inidivual magickal experiences.
Ideology
The practice and beliefs presented are Firefly Eclectic Wicca, which is meant to be a base of study. Each person is encouraged to explore his or her own ideology and adapt this paradigm as he or she sees fit, whether it be nature-based, a meld of several traditions, a blend of more than one religion or belief system, or other. Members of The Firefly Academy are not required to have any specific religious or spiritual affiliation. Respect for all paths is required, and learning about different interfaith and intrafaith paths is encouraged.
Structure
The Firefly Academy core is the TFA Administration Board. Surrounding that, seekers of TFA include students and self-dedicants. Coming in 2009, our first group of Firefly Priests and Priestesses, along with The Firefly House level three members will make up the Outer Court of the Firefly Council of Elders. The Inner Court of the Council will consist of Firefly ordained clergy and The Firefly House level four members.
The Firefly House
The Firefly House is a nature-based church with resources online and in the physical. Online resources include membership classes, ministry, ordination program, forums for community support, prayer circle, and more. The mission of The Firefly House; a nature-based church:
To build community through environmental awareness, education, spirituality, and service.
The Firefly House was founded in January of 2009 as the needs of the community of The Firefly Academy grew beyond what the online school was meant to offer. We saw an opportunity to not only teach people about modern religious practices, but to help them become spiritually mature people.
The Firefly House membership program is designed to help us become more spiritually mature people. Membership in The Firefly House is open to everyone, pending an application has been submitted and approved to take online Firefly classes. TFH Level 1 is Membership, Level 2 is Maturity, Level 3 is Ministry, and Level 4 is Service. Completion of the Level 4 membership class will result in ordination by The Firefly House.
The Firefly Challenge: Because our paths are all so personal and unique, the Firefly challenge is a set of 13 principles with which members of the church strive to vibrate in tune. We are on ever-evolving paths, and it's not our way to require certain standards. Just that these are 13 aspects of life that we make a commitment to work towards on our jouney:
Seek out a deeper or closer connection to the Divine in one's own way.
Observe (or be aware of) the cycles of the Sun and the Moon.
Seek out balance and peace on a daily basis.
Have a strong Will.
Developing a personal sense of ethics and sticking to them.
Seek out life-long learning.
Seek out optimum physical health.
See the simple joys in life.
Be kind and helpful to others.
Take care of Mother Earth.
Serve the community.
Be a responsible member of society.
Become aware of how your actions affect others, accept responsibility for your actions, and seek to embrace/learn from the challenges we face.
For more information about The Firefly House, visit our Student Handbook.
Click here to check out the Firefly Online Community to access TFH resources.
The Firefly Academy
The Firefly Academy is a nature-based school. Classes are mainly offered online, but various Firefly meetups and covens will also offer classes in person. On October 16, 2006, the Academy opened its doors to new students for the first time. The mission of The Firefly Academy; a nature-based school:
To offer online classes, workshop, and information on religion and personal growth, focusing on Wicca, Witchcraft, Paganism, and related topics, but open to all religions.
To offer an online clergy program with requirements for ordination.
To plan and promote online social activities for the community, including chats, rituals, forums, etc.
To provide online community resources, including, but not limited to databases, calendar of events, publications, etc,
The Firefly Academy program is meant to teach folks the basics of a specific religion or practice. Students can take classes, pursue initiation in the Firefly tradition, and then move on to pursue ordination in the Firefly House through the Firefly Academy program. Classes range from Wicca, Paganism, and Natural Magick to many divination techniques, systems of magick, and more. For more information about The Firefly Academy, visit our Student Handbook. To apply to take classes online, create an account and apply online.
Online Communities
Beyond taking classes, students, friends, and Fireflies have the opportunity to participate in many online communities. These online communities include forums, databases of information, social activities, online rituals, and more. Firefly Lounge, TFH Member Lounge, Mystical Forest, Earth-Friendly Living, Pagan Parenting, Asatru, Celtic, Christian Witchcraft, Dianic, Druidry, Gay Witchcraft, Native American, Paganism, Witchcraft, World Religions, and Wicca. We are always open to new communities, provided that there is interest and a community delegate willing to organize activities.
Click here to check out the Firefly Online Community to access TFH resources.
Firefly Meetups
The Firefly House sponsors meetups all over the world. Firefly Meetups are not just open to The Firefly House members, but an outlet for Pagans, Wiccan, Witches, and other like minds to converge in your area. For example, when we started it our UK meetup, there were not any Pagan or Wiccan Meetups within 50 miles of Portsmouth, but around 100 people (on Meetup.com alone) looking for such a group. We gave it to them!
Firefly meetups can have a wide range of programming, including but not limited to, coffee chats, dinner gatherings, movie nights, divination shares, workshop opportunities, open rituals, etc. If you need any help at all with programming an event, our administrative staff will be more than happy to assist you.
If you would like to host a Meetup in your area, let me know, and we can discuss it. Here are the minimum qualifications before Firefly will sponsor your Meetup:
Complete the TFH Membership Level 2 class and sign a level 2 covenant **OR** complete Wicca 3 through The Firefly Academy or a local Firefly group
Develop a mission statement and have a developed sense of spiritual goals
Scout out possible venues
Complete an application
Pass a background check
Be approved by the The Firefly House Board of Directors
A Firefly sponsored Meetup should:
List The Firefly House as the sponsor in the Meetup description, though you do not have to promote or discuss TFH at any events.
Meet at least once or twice per month.
Meet in an accessible place that will accommodate the activity.
File a monthly report
Meetup Organizers that seek to take their Meetup to Firefly Circle or Coven status should structure their activities accordingly:
Month 1 - Introductory Meet and Greet
Month 2 - Social Meetup
Month 3 - Social Meetup
Month 4 - Guest Speaker on a specific topic
Month 5 - Class or workshop on a specific topic
Month 6 - Group Open Ritual for full moon or sabbats
Click here to check out the complete list of Firefly-sponsored Meetups.
Firefly Covens
As the membership of The Firefly House develops, our Meetups may progress to become covens, circles, or formal study groups. To move into this stage, a Firefly Meetup should:
The Meetup Organizer should complete TFH Membership Level 3 class and sign the level 3 covenant **OR** complete TFA Spiral Priesthood requirements
Hold a meetup for 6 months, meeting monthly goals for program structure
Submit a proposal for the next year, including open circles, field trips, classes, etc.
Scout out one or more venues that can accommodate indoor rituals, outdoor rituals, a small class, a large class, and Meetups
This group should may also hold open circles, other programming, and offer limited clergy services to the community. This is a membership and training program, a coven in which classes can be held, and the end result of participating in this group can be priesthood and/or ordination. Not all folks involved have to pursue membership, training, and ordination, but the goal is to make it an option. The Meetup continues when the coven is formed, in order to continue to build community support.
To prepare to take the group to House level, the circle's year before becoming a House should be structured accordingly:
Two open rituals in the first six months
Six (monthly) open rituals in the last six months
Twelve Meetups (meetings, social, or educational activities)
One community activity (such as a yard sale, art show, Pagan Pride Day, or group participating in a city or regional blood drive, walk-a-thon, or other activity) that is organized by the circle.
Click here to check out the complete list of Firefly covens.
Firefly Houses
As the membership of The Firefly House develops, covens and meetups will become a community in need of a dedicated space. Firefly is in the business of meeting needs. Some of us will be called by the divine to launch churches. We seek to help as many people as possible and provide resources for our membership and community as possible. This might include deepening the commitments by our coven members, establishing a church membership locally, launching small groups, providing clergy services, a sanctuary, library, spiritual store, multi-purpose space, and more.
The goal is to create a space that will exist after you have left the group or after you die. Your permanent space options need to be leased or mortgaged property that can be transferred to the group leader that takes over after you step down. If you are capable of purchasing a house that can legally house a church, that is just fine, but you need to have a plan how you could leave in the end and the group not loose its space. We are building pagan community here like none other. We need to create groups that transcend our own existence. We are doing some of the hard work, so that the people who come after us will have stability.
The future depends on us, and we will make it a good one.
To move into this stage, a Firefly Coven should:
The Coven Leader should complete the TFH Membership Level 4 class and sign the level 4 covenant **OR** complete TFA Clergy requirements and the TFH Membership Level 1 class and sign the level 1 covenant.
Lead a coven for at least one year, following the desired group structure listed in the previous application.
Decide what kind space you will likely establish. Will you bring in money every month to lease a space? Or will you save money over the next five years in order to put a down payment on a space?
Scout out one or more venues that can be a permanent space for the group.
Submit a detailed plan for ministry and personal growth within the group.
Submit a detailed, monthly fundraising plan for the next 12 months.
Submit a rough monthly fundraising proposal for the four years after this one, for a total five-year fundraising plan.
Submit a detailed, monthly expenditure plan for the next 12 months.
Submit a rough monthly expenditure plan for the four years after this one, for a total five-year expenditure plan.
Incorporate your chapter in your home state.
For overseas chapters, see below. We won’t do this just yet.
Register with the IRS for an Employment Identification Number.
For overseas chapters, see below. We won’t do this just yet.
Establish a bank account for your chapter.
This can be completed after TFH has obtained an IRS group exemption letter, which should be sometime in 2010.
In the U.S., you will need to take a copy of your articles of incorporation, Employer Identification Number, and group exemption letter (after you join the TFH group exemption).
For overseas chapters, please inquire at your local bank what documentation you need to open a bank account for your chapter.
Our organization’s overseas chapters should legally be structured as close to non-profit entities in their countries as possible. They are not applicable to joining our group exemption. Regardless, if you are outside of the United States, please take this time to find out as much about launching a church or starting a non-profit in your country. Do what I did. Use the web, talk to people. Look at the websites of people that are doing something similar to see if they list any legal registrations. It has taken me two years to fully understand what we need to do as a church. This without
In 2014, The Firefly House will apply for IRS tax-exempt status as a non-profit organization. Churches are not required to apply for exemption, but automatically receive it. However, we are given no paperwork that states this fact. To get the paper, we have to apply like everyone else. The IRS is reformatting its application process to include an online option, which is $200 to apply for group exemptions, where it was $850 last year. We are waiting for this online option to become available in order to save a few extra hundred dollars. Regardless, your group money and your personal money needs to be kept seperate.
To prepare to launch a Firefly House, your group should do the following for five years:
Year One
Keep all of your Firefly funds separate.
Keep detailed records of all of the money that comes in and goes out, as well as submit a financial report including your financial records on January 1st of each year.
Hold at least four group meetings per month.
Hold at least 6 closed, coven-only rituals.
Sit down with your coven members and evaluate their progress personally and with their coven requirements working up to initiation to the next level.
Hold at least two membership level 1 classes in person, and bring new members into the church.
Raise 1/5 of your fundraising goal.
Year Two
In addition to aligning yourself with Year One:
If you came in on the TFA clergy track, complete the TFH membership level 2 (with waived fees).
Hold at least two membership level 2 classes in person, and bring new members into the church.
Establish a church board of directors.
Raise an additional 1/5 of your fundraising goal.
Year Three
In addition to aligning yourself with Year Two:
If you came in on the TFA clergy track, complete the TFH membership level 3 (with waived fees).
Hold at least two membership level 3 classes in person, and bring new members into the church.
Bring at least one person into the 2nd degree of your coven, if you have one.
Raise an additional 1/5 of your fundraising goal.
Year Four
In addition to aligning yourself with Year Three:
If you came in on the TFA clergy track, complete the TFH membership level 4 (with waived fees).
Hold at least two membership level 4 classes in person, and bring new members into the church.
Raise an additional 1/5 of your fundraising goal.
Year Five
In addition to aligning yourself with Year Four:
Raise an additional 1/5 of your fundraising goal.
Bring at least one person into the 3rd degree of your coven, if you have one.
Establish your permanent space, if you have not already.
The above five year plan is tentative, and will be adapted as our current prospective Houses evolve into their own entities.
Click here to check out the complete list of Firefly Houses.
