Priesthood of All God Temple

The Temple of the All God uses a simple structure in its priesthood.

• Grand Clerics
• High Priests
• Priests
• Acolytes

The priesthood is not limited to any one gender or race but for one to progress between tiers they need to enter the Path of Priesthood and undergo the appropriate training by the Faithful that runs the surrounding temples as well as the central temple.

Path of Priesthood

In order to become part of the priesthood in the Temple of the All God, one has to undergo training. The entry point is at any age. However, anyone younger than seventeen arcs will be a helper and it is from seventeen arcs that aspirants to priests and priestesses will enter formal training.

Hierarchy and training structure:

1. Junior acolyte - Seventeen arcs minimum entry age; no need for prior knowledge of Immortals, religion and such; receive training of two to three arcs after which a minor ceremony of ranking up happens; during this time junior acolytes cannot perform rites on their own; they run help performing smaller tasks eg preparation of altars and rite places, scribing texts etc.; juniors devote themselves to every Immortal to breed acceptance and understanding.
2. Senior acolyte - Receive training for one to two arcs; they are allowed to perform minor rites, but under supervision; at this point are encouraged to choose an Immortal they want to devote themselves to and learn as much about them as they can; at the end of this training period a test is given to the seniors - general knowledge of Immortals, general knowledge of rites, specific knowledge of their chosen Immortal and rites relating to those; this test is overseen by a committee of priests and high priests each representing one Immortal worshipped on the grounds; this test assures that when an acolyte moves to the rank of a priest they can step in to do rites outside of their field of focus if necessary; when a senior acolyte passes, there is a small ceremony that appoints a senior acolyte to a priest. (Test rules: each presiding committee member is allowed to ask up to 3 questions about their Immortal to the Senior. Primary Immortal representative in the committee can quiz the candidate however much they like until they’re satisfied. Member of the committee are generally not known to the candidate prior to their test to avoid rumours and allegations of bribery and such).
3. Priest - There are two ways how one can become a priest:
   1. Be trained up
   2. Already be a priest but demonstrate the following skills:
      1. Knowledge in chosen primary Immortal and substantial knowledge in the rest (much like the senior acolyte test but with less celebrations and formalities around); priests are allowed to perform all rituals; they offer guidance to acolytes and helpers as well as citizenry and they partake in teaching; you might find traveling priests around Ne’haer but those aren’t part of this hierarchy nor the Faith and sometimes they are looked at with caution by the more radical Faith members who fear that traveling priests would preach something that would go against the word of the Faith.
4. High priest - One can ascend to a high priest either by random nomination from another high priest, an appointment from grand cleric, or apply for it if the high priest for particular Immortal has deceased or left (general priests don’t leave unless they are relocating from Ne’haer area and even that is rare); whatever the source, the candidate has to have a good standing with the Faith and the community but also have known deeds to demonstrate their suitability; if more there are more than one candidate for the same Immortal regardless the age of the candidates, it goes to vote by rest of high priests and to be approved by the Grand clerics
5. Grand cleric - Nominated from the row of high priests and voted into position by priests; high priests are withdrawn from this vote to avoid favoritism.

All those in priesthood do compulsory volunteering around Ne’haer to spread good faith in religion.

Defrocking

When those in the priesthood are revealed to worship limited Immortals they receive one warning. Their activities within the temples are restricted for a period of time, and they are under supervision. If this individual is caught once more worshipping limited Immortals, they are defrocked.

When caught worshipping forbidden Immortal, those in the priesthood are defrocked immediately and removed from their position in the temples as well as the Faith.

However, for every accusation, there is a process if the accused wishes to undergo it. If the accused caught redhanded this procedure cannot be triggered.

"Pier and Pre Judgement" for Defrocking procedures:

The name for this procedure is but symbolic. If the accused wishes to mount a defence against an accusation a hall in the Temple of the All God turns into a judgement hall. Grand Clerics preside the trial. The accuser explains the reason for their accusation and displays evidence. Neither side is allowed lawyers or others to speak for them.

When the Grand Clerics have been given enough information a short debate amongst themselves takes place before a verdict is delivered.

It is rare for these procedures to happen and even rarer for the accussed to be acquitted of a crime.