The following are the bylaws established by the Grand Grove of the Ancient Order of Druids in America.
Article I
This body shall be known and hailed by the name of the Grand Grove of the Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA).
Article II
The Grand Grove shall have jurisdiction over all Groves, Nemetons, Home Circles and members of the Ancient Order of Druids in America and over Groves, Nemetons, and Home Circles chartered by itself and members initiated under its auspices in all other countries bearing lawful authority derived from the Ancient and Archaeological Order of Druids. In the event of extraordinary circumstances, see Article XI.
Article III
The Grand Grove shall consist of its four elected officers, who shall be its sole voting members and shall have such rights and responsibilities as detailed below, and the appointed officers of the Grand Grove and all qualifying former Archdruids of the Ancient Order of Druids in America, who shall have a voice but no vote. The Grand Grove shall be the sole judge of the qualifications of its members.
Article IV
Meetings of the Grand Grove shall take place in such place, time, and manner as the Grand Grove shall from time to time provide. The Grand Grove may meet by conference call, electronic mail, or by any other means it may deem appropriate.
Article V
The elected officers of the Grand Grove shall be the Grand Archdruid or Archdruid of Earth; the Archdruid of Water; the Archdruid of Fire; and the Archdruid of Air. Archdruids shall be elected, when a vacancy occurs, by the remaining currently serving Archdruids, and shall serve for life, except in case of advancement to another position within the Grand Grove, resignation, or removal. A unanimous vote of all currently serving Archdruids shall be necessary to elect a candidate to fill a vacant position, and a unanimous vote of all currently serving Archdruids, except the one subject to removal, shall be necessary to remove an Archdruid from his or her position. An Archdruid who resigns his office shall retain the title and rank of Archdruid and shall qualify for a nonvoting membership in Grand Grove, while one who is removed shall forfeit that title and rank and shall not so qualify.
Article VI
The Grand Archdruid shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Grand Grove and shall exercise general supervision over the Ancient Order of Druids of America. They shall preside over meetings of the Grand Grove, issue charters for Groves and Nemetons of the Order to qualified members, and nominate appointed officers to the Grand Grove. Their decision in all points not provided for in these bylaws shall be final unless reversed by a unanimous vote of the other three Archdruids.
Article VII
The Archdruids of Water, Fire, and Air shall serve as the Board of Trustees of the Ancient Order of Druids in America. Archdruids shall take on duties to ensure the effective functioning of AODA as befitting their skills, including, but not limited to supervision of the study program, the mentoring program, finances and accounts, administrative work, and overseeing the Gnostic Celtic Church.
In the absence or incapacity of the Grand Archdruid, the Archdruid of Water will preside; in the absence or incapacity of both the Grand Archdruid and the Archdruid of Water, the Archdruid of Fire will preside; in the absence or incapacity of the Grand Archdruid and the Archdruids of Water and Fire, the Archdruid of Air will preside.
Article VIII
The appointed officers of the Grand Grove shall be the Pendragon, Almoner, and Herald. The appointed officers shall be nominated by the Grand Archdruid and confirmed by a unanimous vote of the Grand Grove, and shall serve for a three-year term, renewable by the Grand Grove. They will work on projects as assigned by the Grand Grove. Traditionally, these positions have included inner communications, outer communications, and grove management. Appointed officers shall report annually on the affairs of their offices to the Grand Grove and shall make such other reports as the Grand Grove may request from time to time.
The Grand Grove can also appoint additional members to serve as volunteers within the AODA. All volunteers will abide by the same ethical standards.
Archdruids, appointed officers, and volunteers are official representatives of AODA. As such, they are expected to conduct themselves in a manner fitting of their offices (as described in our ethics statement). Any appointed officer or volunteer who does not abide by our ethical standards can be removed by a unanimous vote of the archdruids.
Article IX
The Grand Grove shall establish such committees as it may from time to time find necessary or convenient and may charge such committees with such duties as it sees fit, provided that all such committees shall be under the supervision of the Grand Grove and shall report to all four Archdruids of the Order. The Grand Grove shall establish such regulations for Groves, Nemetons, Home Circles, and individual members as it may from time to time find necessary or convenient.
Article X
AODA understands Druidry as a path of nature spirituality and inner transformation founded on personal experience rather than dogmatic belief. It welcomes adults of all national origins, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and affiliations with other Druidic and spiritual traditions. It promotes tolerance and respect towards our fellow humans and all life. Those who commit hate crimes or belong to hate groups, who commit unnecessary violent acts (e.g., acts not in defense of self or others) toward humans or the rest of the natural world, or who have been convicted of crimes that demonstrate disregard for the well-being of others (human or non-human) do not align with the overall ethics of the organization. We also do not tolerate the harassment of any member or members of the AODA by any other member or members. The Grand Grove reserves the right to review and revoke the membership of any member who fails to align with its overall ethics and/or who demonstrates a pattern of repeated harassment of any member or members of the organization.
For more on our ethics, please see our ethics statement.
Article XI- Continuity and Local Autonomy in Extraordinary Circumstances
Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to ensure the continuity, safety, and lawful operation of the Ancient Order of Druids in America and its Groves, Nemetons, Home Circles, and members in the event of extraordinary circumstances that materially disrupt international communication, governance, or legal compliance.
Section 2. Extraordinary circumstances defined. Extraordinary circumstances shall include, but are not limited to, war, declared national emergencies, significant geopolitical conflict, sanctions, restrictions on international communication or financial transfers, severe climate-related disasters or environmental collapse, the large-scale breakdown of infrastructure or civil institutions, the collapse or prolonged disruption of industrial or technological systems, or other conditions under which the exercise of centralized international jurisdiction would pose legal, ethical, practical, or safety risks to the Order or its members.
Section 3. Temporary Delegation and Devolution of Authority.
a. In the event of extraordinary circumstances as defined in Section 2, the Grand Grove affirms that the preservation of the Order’s spiritual, ethical, and communal continuity shall take precedence over centralized administration.
b. When able, the Grand Grove may recognize or affirm the temporary exercise of administrative and operational authority by Grand Grove members in local or regional settings, including outside of the United States of America, to the extent permitted by local law and conditions, for the purpose of maintaining continuity of the Order.
c. Where such recognition is not practical, or where communication with the Grand Grove or its overseas members is disrupted, restricted, or rendered impossible, the duly recognized leadership of any Adept is authorized to assume full local administrative and operational authority necessary to sustain the work of the Order within their community.
d. The assumption of authority under this Article shall be understood as a protective and provisional measure taken in good faith, and shall not be construed as secession, schism, or repudiation of the Grand Grove or of the Ancient Order of Druids in America.
e. No body acting under this Article shall be required to demonstrate prior authorization where such authorization cannot reasonably be obtained.
Section 4. Scope and Limits of Delegated Authority.
a. Local bodies exercising delegated authority under this Article shall continue to uphold the spiritual principles, ethical standards, bylaws, and core traditions of the Ancient Order of Druids in America.
b. No local body shall be required to receive direction from, report to, or represent itself as governed by a foreign authority where doing so would conflict with applicable law or pose a risk to its members or leaders.
c. Delegated authority under this Article shall not be construed as severance from the Order, but as a temporary and protective measure to preserve continuity.
Section 5. Communication and Reporting.
Where lawful and safe, local leadership may maintain communication with the Grand Grove. Where such communication is not lawful, safe, or practical, the absence of communication shall not be construed as disobedience, abandonment, or grounds for disciplinary action.
Section 6. Restoration of Normal Governance.
Upon the resolution of extraordinary circumstances, and when lawful and practical conditions permit, the Grand Grove may resume normal jurisdiction and coordination with local bodies and local Grand Grove members in accordance with these bylaws.
Section 7. Compliance with Law.
Nothing in this Article shall be interpreted to require any officer, leader, or member to act in violation of the laws of the jurisdiction in which they reside or operate.
Article XII
These Bylaws may be amended at any time by unanimous vote of the Grand Grove.
