Event cancellations at local bodies due to COVID-19 will reduce revenue, but not rent and other fixed expenses. Many local bodies already operate on extremely tight margins and struggle to pay their bills even during normal times. All members are encouraged to continue to financially support their local bodies, even if there are no events to attend for a while. Please help keep your local body open!
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2020/03/support-your-local-body-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
Coronavirus policy
To all local bodies within U.S. Grand Lodge: For all official gatherings, please observe all guidance issued by the CDC, and by state or local health authorities, pertaining to sanitation, hygiene, and event attendance related to the new Coronavirus.
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2020/03/coronavirus-policy/
Spring 2020 gatherings cancelled
Out of an abundance of caution regarding the developing COVID-19 situation, U.S. Grand Lodge has decided to cancel its scheduled national gatherings this spring, specifically Advanced Initiator Training, Kaaba Colloquium, and the Electoral College meeting. The Electoral College meeting will be held online according to standard Electoral College procedures.
For more information regarding COVID-19, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (cdc.gov/nCoV).
U.S. Grand Lodge also recommends that local bodies monitor their local situations, and cancel local gatherings if appropriate, e.g., if schools close in their area or official advisories are issued.
U.S. Grand Lodge will continue to monitor the national situation, and will reschedule the canceled events when it is prudent to do so.
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2020/03/spring-2020-gatherings-cancelled/
Registration open for USGL Lover Triad Convocation
A convocation of the Lover Triad of United States Grand Lodge will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, August 14-16 2020. Registration for the convocation is now open. See this site for more information.
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2019/12/registration-open-for-usgl-lover-triad-convocation/
Ombudsman office renamed to Ombuds
The office formerly known as the U.S. Grand Lodge Ombudsman has been renamed to Ombuds. The purpose of this office remains as described on the U.S.G.L. Government Contacts page:
The office of the U.S. Grand Lodge Ombuds serves as an official liaison between the general membership of O.T.O. within the United States and the various governing and administrative bodies of U.S. Grand Lodge. This office facilitates communication between members, officers, and governing and administrative bodies, assisting with resolution of problems and grievances.
There are two officers in this office, one male and one female. Any member is welcome to contact either or both of these officers as they see fit. Email sent to ombuds@oto-usa.org will be forwarded to both officers.
The email addresses of the female and male Ombuds officers are ombuds_f@oto-usa.org and ombuds_m@oto-usa.org respectively.
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2019/12/ombudsman-office-renamed-to-ombuds/
Annual report for fiscal year 2018 published
The U.S. Grand Lodge annual report for fiscal year 2018 has been published. This and all prior annual reports since 2006 are available here.
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2019/09/annual-report-for-fiscal-year-2018-published/
Deacon-Sacerdote policy
During his keynote address at NOTOCON in August 2019, the Grand Master Sabazius announced a new office in Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica within U.S. Grand Lodge: the Deacon-Sacerdote. A set of policy clarifications pertaining to this office has now been issued. Note that this office and the policies pertaining to it are specific to U.S. Grand Lodge.
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2019/08/deacon-sacerdote-policy/
New EGC status announced: Deacon-Sacerdote
In his keynote address at NOTOCON XII, the Grand Master Sabazius announced a new clerical status in Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, the Deacon-Sacerdote. See his blog post on the topic for details. In brief, an ordained Deacon who has been initiated as a Knight of East and West may serve as a Deacon-Sacerdote, giving them the authority to confer baptism, confirmation, marriage, and other sacraments under the supervision of their Bishop.
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2019/08/new-egc-status-announced-deacon-sacerdote/
Registration open for NOTOCON XII
Registration is open for the twelfth biennial National O.T.O. Conference, NOTOCON XII, being held August 2-4 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Register and reserve your room today! Speakers and FAQs will be posted soon, so please stay tuned.
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2019/04/registration-open-for-notocon-xii/
Fentanyl
We have always been strong advocates for personal choice in terms of one’s own private affairs, in accordance with the precepts of Liber Oz. HOWEVER, there is now a nationwide epidemic of deaths due to unsupervised use of a specific drug (the synthetic opioid known as Fentanyl), or mixtures containing this drug. This epidemic has already tragically claimed the lives of several Order members. The extremely dangerous nature of this drug is now widely-known; therefore, knowingly and illegally providing this drug to another Order member will be considered by us to be willingly putting the lives of your Brothers and Sisters in grave danger. Those who do so will, accordingly, be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from membership.
Permanent link to this article: https://oto-usa.org/2019/03/fentanyl/