Overview
The High Priest of Cervitas is one of Six key figures who sit upon the Council of Six, the leaders of the church who ultimately lead the ministers and represent the faith and spirituality of The Concord. They control the movement of Church resources and personnel, sit in judgement over the adjudication and implementation of Church law, and guide the faithful with their judgement.
Election
The High Priest of Cervitas is elected during the Autumn Summit. While the Constitution allows for all priests to vote in the election of a High Priest, motions passed by the Church limit voting to only those who have the Divine Lore Cervitas.
Elections for High Priest, when due to a term expiring, are a motion sheet that is placed on the Church board at the beginning of summit, and removed at the beginning of First Blessing (6pm on the first night of Summit).
Any individual with Divine Lore Cervitas may nominate themselves for the position by writing their name on the sheet and voting for themselves. Any number of individuals may run for the position, even if the initial motion sheet fills up. The individual with the most votes will be announced at First Blessing and immediately take up the roles and responsibilities of the office.
Elections prompted by any other reason (e.g. death, retirement, or resignation) will be conducted in the same manner, however the motion sheet will be placed on the board at the next available opportunity and removed one hour before the next Council of Six session. The individual with the most votes will be announced at that Council of Six session and immediately take up the roles and responsibilities of the office. Where this occurs following the final Council of Six session of a Summit, the position will remain vacant and will be elected by the first method at the following Summit.
Term
High Priests serve a term of two years, including the Summit where they are elected. They may immediately stand for re-election after this term if they wish. There is no term limit.
Powers and Responsibilities
The powers of a High Priest are broadly split into two categories; those they hold outside the Council of Six, and those they hold within it.
Outside of The Council of Six, the High Priest of Cervitas holds the following powers:
Arbiter of Balance: The High Priest of Cervitas is given the task of being the tiebreaker in both the Senate and the Church wherever it would be relevant. If a Senate vote should come to a tie, and there is no potential casting vote, and the High Priest is present, they may take to the floor in order to break the tie. As such, they are always considered to have Right of Address in the Senate. Likewise, if there is a church motion or vote which is tied, the side which the High Priest voted for is successful. In the unlikely event that they did not vote, during the declaration they must declare a casting vote.
The Council's Veto:
Voice of the Church: High Priests, when votor any Emergency Senaie session that occurs after the final Council of Six session of the Summit, tng on motions on the board other than Elections, may add 7 votes to their total.
Within the Council of Six, High Priests have the following Powers and Responsibilities:
The Sphere's Voice: High Priests lack the right of abstention, as such, they are legally required to vote whenever it is possible for them to do so within Council of Six Sessions.
True Member: High Priests have the 'True Right to Speak' within the Council of Six, and all must be present for the Council to begin.
True Right to Speak: High Priests may speak at any time during the Council of Six, and may compel others (who do not have the true right to speak) to cease speaking. To do so, the High Priest need only express that they are utilizing their True Right to Speak to silence whoever is speaking. If every other sitting High Priests elects to overturn this decision, the individual may continue to speak, but otherwise their right to address the assembly is revoked.
Vote: High Priests are permitted one vote per motion within the Council of Six.
Business of the Church: During each Council of Six, each High Priest is permitted to raise a single motion. During their motion, which is allocated a maximum of 20 minutes, it is the responsibility of the High Priest to determine when the motion should come to a vote, and if at any time they wish to withdraw their motion. If a vote has not been completed by twenty minutes, the motion is considered to have failed.
Executor: If a motion passes that require a significant amount of work outside of the Council of Six meeting, such as purchasing the required materials for a Consignment, the High Priest who raised the motion is designated as the Executor of that motion. If there are any resources granted to such a motion they are given to the Executor of that motion. It is up to the Council of Six if excess funds are to be returned after the motion is complete.
Curtailment: A High Priest may call for a vote of Curtailment once per Council of Six session - this does not constitute their single motion and may be done even if they have already had their time. This is a vote that, if passed, ends the current Council of Six session.
Recess: Each High Priest is permitted to call a five-minute recess once per session. These recesses may be chained together for a longer recess.
Past Holders
| High Priest | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Gwynn ap Eirik | Autumn 226 - Incumbent |
| Esen Del Panoply Del Cervitas | Autumn 225 - Autumn 226 |
| Esen Del Panoply Del Cervitas | Summer 224 - Autumn 225 |
| Hadvar of the Vale | Winter 224 - Summer 224 (ceded) |
| Halig of Alfwens Wall | Summer 221 - Summer 223 (dec.) |