Northern California Local Council
History
Witches from Northern California played major roles in the formation of the Covenant of the Goddess. CoG gained legal existence as a non-profit corporation on November 1, 1975. NCLC was formed one week later (under its original name, Bay Area Local Council).
What We Do
The programs of our Local Council are driven by our members’ interests. Currently our priorities include the local Pagan community, interfaith, and support for the Covenant as a whole. Many members have additional projects that NCLC gives attention to.
Supporting the Covenant
NCLC members attend Grand Council, participate in the Governing Board, serve as national officers and interfaith representatives, volunteer for committees, represent CoG at public events, and have organized Merrymeets and Leadership Institutes in the past.
Strengthening Community
NCLC cooperates with other Pagan and earth-centered groups, especially those that organize public events.
Interfaith
NCLC has a long history of participation in local interfaith councils and in national and international interfaith organizations. We see many benefits from this. We combine resources with other groups for causes where we have substantial agreement. Interfaith work provides opportunities to educate others about our worldview and the outlooks of earth-centered religions in general without proselytizing. Personal relationships formed by volunteering our time and skills toward a common purpose can be a bulwark against bigotry. Interfaith page
Non-Discrimination
NCLC is in accord with CoG’s Non-Discrimination Policy. We invite ethical, Goddess-worshipping covens and Witches residing within our region to apply for membership in NCLC, and through NCLC, to the Covenant of the Goddess.
NCLC is open to Witches, including those who do not self-identify as Wiccan, those who practice established traditions and those who do not, the formally initiated and those who arrived on the Path by another way, hierarchical and egalitarian covens, Witches who choose to be public and Witches who guard their privacy.
Meetings
NCLC holds business meetings on weekends in November, January, March, May, July, and September. All NCLC members are welcome to attend. Guests may attend by prior arrangement. Membership meetings are teleconferenced and occasionally are hybrid (virtual and in-person). Apart from elections, which are decided by vote, NCLC strives to make decisions by consensus.
To remain in good standing, each member must either attend two meetings each year or attend a single meeting and assign their proxy to the Local Council for another meeting. Covens may be represented at meetings by any coven member or members they choose.