FAQs about the CES
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Articles on the ancient Egyptian Religion
Frequently Asked Questions
about the Church of the Eternal Source
Frequently asked questions about the CES
When was Church of the Eternal Source established?
How many priests are in the CES?
Is there an age requirement to be a member, initiate or priest/ess of the CES?
Do you perform Egyptian ritual exactly as it was done in Egypt in the ancient times?
Are members of both genders and are all sexual orientations and diverse ethnic backgrounds allowed?
Is there a hierarchy and how is it composed?
Why do you choose a “Federation of temples?”
What is the group's traditional focus?
Do you ever host open circle/rituals?
Does the Church of the Eternal Source charge dues? If so, how much? And what sort of things does this money cover?
Are identities of members kept confidential?
Is anyone in the temple a licensed/ordained member of the clergy?
Are there any prohibitions against our being a part of other groups/circles/covens or networking groups while I am a member of the CES?
What is the temples view on sexual imagery in rituals?
Do any rituals involve bondage, fear tactics, or belittling of members?
When was Church of the Eternal Source established?
The CES started festivals in 1963 in Los Angeles, and became incorporated in 1971. The CES is the oldest Egyptian/Kemetic organization in existence.
How many priests are in the CES?
The CES has ordained 14 priests and priestesses but due to death or retirement of the some of the priest/esses there are currently about 5 active in the clergy.
Is there an age requirement to be a member, initiate or priest/ess of the CES?
The CES encourages and supports study in the ancient religion of Egypt, however you must be 18 years of age or older to become a member, an initiate of a member temple, or a priest/ess of the CES. Those under the age of 18 are also encouraged in their studies and may become members as long as they have written permission from both of their parents.
Do you perform Egyptian ritual exactly as it was done in Egypt in the ancient times?
So far as is practicable, yes. But no one can be sure to be exactly authentic because the Egyptians did not leave complete records of rituals—only hymns, spells and components of many rituals. The primary purpose of any religion is to meet the current spiritual needs of its practitioners and in our daily work we use those elements of ancient practice which most directly accomplish this. Priests and Priestesses in private approach the authentic practice as closely as anyone possibly can.
Are members of both genders and are all sexual orientations and diverse ethnic backgrounds allowed?
The CES does not discriminate due to gender, sexual orientations or ethnic background.
Is there a hierarchy and how is it composed?
The incorporated CES has a board of directors, voted on by the Council of Priests, which itself is composed of all of the active priests and priestesses of the CES. Each temple within the CES has it’s own individual system.
Why do you choose a “Federation of temples?”
In ancient Egypt most temples were dedicated to a different set of gods and goddesses, and while their daily ritual and general priesthood were similar, they did have very different festivals and major rituals unique to that temple. In addition smaller shrines and chapels were generally not administered to by a select priesthood but of the general public or group of individuals of like interests. That is why we selected a federation; each temple goes about its own administration and composition while adhering to general Egyptian ethics and affiliation with the CES.
What is the group's traditional focus?
The CES is first and foremost is an attempt to reconstruct as close as possible given this day and age, the ancient Egyptian Temple Tradition as well as personal worship of the Egyptian gods and goddesses. One of CES’s purposes is to maintain Ma’at in the world (order and balance within a person, society and the universe). The CES is also a teaching/working church and covers all the ancient Egyptian traditions that we have information on.
The CES is not eclectic Wiccan nor is it Hermeticism. One of the major differences is that in ancient Egypt the priests acted as a representative of the ruler and when there was no ruler, he acted for the people. In the CES the priests represent themselves and/or all mankind. A complete reconstruction is not possible for some of the ancient Egyptian traditions due to a current lack of information.
Do you ever host open circle/rituals?
Each temple can hold open rituals if they so choose and many have.
Does the Church of the Eternal Source charge dues? If so, how much? And what sort of things does this money cover?
Donations are always welcomed. Persons who wish to join the CES as members need to pay a one time membership fee of $ 5. Money contributed goes to maintain the websites, supplies, handouts, and costs for rituals and festivals.
Are identities of members kept confidential?
When filling out a membership form the individual has choices of what he wants to keep confidential. It is expected that each individual within the CES keep the identities of the other members confidential, and will only reveal them to others after talking to the member and getting their permission.
Is anyone in the temple a licensed/ordained member of the clergy?
Currently for the state of Oregon in which the CES is incorporated the priests and priestesses are. A priest of priestess outside of Oregon will need to check their state laws if being ordained by an incorporated church in Oregon applies to their state.
Are there any prohibitions against our being a part of other groups/circles/covens or networking groups while I am a member of the CES?
No. The CES recognizes that some of the people may be eclectic wiccans/witches or belong to another pagan group such as the FOI, Hermeticism or Kemetic Orthodoxy and may want to either incorporate some of the material into their own system or perhaps practice the Egyptian Magical Traditions as a separate tradition as well as practicing with a coven or a group.
What is the policy on minors at rituals or members?
You have to be 18 years of age or older to become a member of the CES or attend any festivals or rituals.
Is alcohol, tobacco, or drugs used in rituals? How? How often? How would they feel if you abstained?
Tobacco was never used in rituals and is forbidden. If at regular meetings, smoking of tobacco is asked to be limited to outdoors only or at the discretion of the regional temple. As far as our information on ancient Egyptian rituals goes, drugs were not used in the majority of them and therefore they are not allowed.
In most temple rituals, offerings of food and drink do occur, and the participants eat and drink these offerings during or after the ritual. Occasionally some wine may be consumed during a ritual, but only enough to allow a taste, not a cup per person. Those who don't drink wine can bring apple cider or water and we will bless and consecrate that and offer it to the god/desses as well. Drunkenness and drug use in any ritual or meeting is not tolerated.
What is the temples view on sexual imagery in rituals?
As far as can be determined, any form of sex did not occur in the temples except in the temples of Hathor and Min, and perhaps Bast. Some sexual imagery was used (Osiris/Isis for example); it is up to the individual temple. If a priest or priestess does not have a temple but a small group, it would be up to them.
Do any rituals involve bondage, fear tactics, or belittling of members?
None of the above is used or tolerated. Bondage is not used at any time including initiations (except perhaps in an Osiris initiation). People's fears vary and will be taken into consideration (for example, initiation into the priesthood of Osiris invariably meant the initiate spent some time in a dark place, but that will be addressed if the initiate has a fear of closed dark places.