Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Today, April 10th 2021 we celebrate the 117th year since the writing of the third Chapter of Liber AL vel Legis, in 1904. I can think of no more fitting date on which to announce the initial members of the College of Prelates of The Thelemic Order: Tau Babalon Frater Wynter Sibling Ayin Tau Moses Nahash Frater Hapi Frater Ashtar Frater Cyprian Neith Frater Horus Atreus Frater De Profundis Ad Lucem Tau Persephone These individuals will form the basis of an electoral body which will oversee ordinations and Ecclesiastical matters within the Ecclesia Gnostica Heterodoxa of The Thelemic Order. They do not replace, but supplement the secular leadership of the General Assembly. While they are appointed, all of them were nominated by existing members of The Thelemic Order, and were selected based on submitted nominations detailing their past experience and qualifications. In addressing them, I have outlined how election to the College is not only a mark of respect and trust from their fellow Thelemites but entails responsibility. In accepting nomination, I acknowledge their dedication and understanding that leadership is a matter of willingness to work and serve. Within the Thelemic Order, the rank of Prelate is a lifetime office. Prelates are eligible for nomination to serve a two year term as Pontifex -- that is, Chief Prelate of the Order -- providing leadership within the Heterodox Gnostic Church. This position is one of “first among equals,” a position of leadership and, as the name suggests, “bridge building.” There is no single tradition or lineage that determines eligibility for Prelacy within TTO/EGH, nor does any consecration convey with election to the College. Individuals may value diverse lineages or none at all. Prelates are eligible to receive consecration in lineages available within the initial leadership -- Peterine, Doinelite, Syrian, and several others -- if they have not already received them. These honors convey through existing members of those traditions, and TTO cannot restrict how they are conveyed. But consecration alone does not make someone a leader within TTO. That can, from this point on, be conveyed only through recognition and election by peers. In some organizations, the Episcopate may find that their principal role is to that of gatekeepers, enforcing rules and setting narrow strictures for performance of rituals. The spirit of the Thelemic Order leads directly away from this pattern of behavior. Within TTO, the function of the Prelacy, which functions administratively as our Episcopate, is to ensure that the Church remains open and accepting of new ideas, rather than disqualifying new practices or points of view. Thelema is a syncretic tradition and it is our job to keep the gate open, not to shut it against change. With this in mind, the Thelemic Order exists to provide a place for socially progressive Thelemites, promoting both safety and consent within its practices. The ecclesiastical arm may join with the secular leadership of the Order in ensuring the promotion of basic socially progressive values emanating from the proposition that "Every Star has its own Nature, which is 'Right' for it. We are not to be missionaries, with ideal standards of dress and morals, and such hard-ideas. We are to do what we will, and leave others to do what they will. We are infinitely tolerant, save of intolerance." We encourage Prelates to be proactive in bringing together materials and ideas for the promulgation of Thelema and its practice. Modern Thelema suffers from a paucity of ready to use materials and approaches, which has crippled efforts to build Thelemic communities that speak to the people within. We intend that the College lead in an effort to build a vast storehouse of Thelemic Resources to enrich our Clergy and our overall practice. Our new Prelates form the core of the Leadership of the EGH. Following some final changes made today regarding styles and forms of address, further changes to the EGH will be a matter for decision by this body. The outline of the Organization of the EGH can be found here: https://docs.google.com/.../1M2aN40lO850.../edit... We look to our new Prelates particularly for the training of Clergy. While we applaud and encourage mentorship, both formal and informal, we do not have the system of enforced mentorship that characterizes some other organizations. We feel it is important that clergy can learn from a variety of mentors, inside and outside the Prelacy, rather than creating a system of political patronage in which they are beholden to one for "advancement." To that end, clergy in EGH submit a "Petition for Ordination." The Prelates as a whole and through a focused Ordination Committee, handle the primary review and acceptance or denial of Petitions for Ordination. The goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process. More than simply reviewing and responding to applications for ordination, the College is charged with providing training for clergy working to build expertise in the three qualities on which our priesthood is founded: administration, ritualism and demeanor. I believe our new Prelates have already been involved in training our clergy not just by example, but through demonstration, teaching, and written communication in these qualities. I also have faith in our incoming Prelates in regards to their embrace of our deep commitment to diversity in regards to gender identity, sexuality, and ethnicity. It is a core responsibility of every Prelate to proactively ensure that TTO is welcoming and open to all. At this time, it appears that, regardless of how tirelessly their individual members may work, many existing Thelemic organizations are either small and specialized, or have changed to the point at which they no longer effectively promote the Thelemic current. The Thelemic Order works to build a new structure that is relevant in a new century. Our new Prelates, along with our Clergy, Group Leaders, and Members are the future of Thelema, paving a path not just for TTO but also its eventual scions. Love is the law, love under will. Tau Persephone Pontifex, Ecclesia Gnostica Heterodoxa The Thelemic Order