Decentralized Worship and Governance
The worship of the Powers, once unified under
The Golden Empire, has become highly decentralized since its fall. While
The Covenant remains an overarching framework connecting the temples and their clergy, it functions more as a confederation than a singular, hierarchical institution. Each temple and order largely governs itself, with autonomy over its own doctrines, rituals, and internal affairs.
Certain kingdoms, such as
Aeritain and
Floren, maintain more structured state churches, offering greater cohesion and organization to their religious institutions. These centralized churches exert some degree of oversight within their respective realms, ensuring consistency in worship and governance. However, outside of these kingdoms, especially in the more distant colonies, the authority of any central religious body is tenuous at best. In practice, most temples operate independently, with only nominal acknowledgment of Royal Covenant supremacy. The absence of meaningful oversight or material support from the homeland has left these colonial temples to develop their own localized practices and governance.
Religious Doctrine and Governance
Despite this decentralization, religious doctrine is set and changed at Great Councils, ensuring some amount of cohesion and consistency between temples. These councils bring together high-ranking clergy from across the lands to debate theological matters, adjust doctrines, and settle larger disputes of faith. The decisions made at these councils serve as guiding principles for
The Covenant as a whole, helping to maintain a shared religious identity even among widely scattered and autonomous temples.
In more structured environments, such as the Royal Covenant of
Aeritain and Grand Étoile in
Floren, Bishops hold significant authority. They are able to set church doctrine, mediate disputes, and collect funds, creating a more unified and consistent religious environment. These institutions operate with clearer hierarchies and oversight, ensuring that religious practice within their jurisdictions aligns with established doctrine and governance.
The Role of the Bishop of The Covenant
The Bishop of
The Covenant, despite the title, is not devoted to any single Power but rather serves as a unifying figure for the broader religious community. Upholding the traditions of the Royal Covenant, the Bishop remains committed to their own chosen deity while presiding over a
Council of Nine, with each seat occupied by a high-ranking
Priest from one of the Powers. This council ensures that decisions reflect the collective will of the various faiths rather than being dictated by a single religious authority.
Decision-Making and Authority
In matters requiring deliberation, the
Council of Nine holds primary voting power. The Bishop generally abstains from voting, only stepping in to cast a deciding vote when the council reaches a deadlock. However, while neutrality is the standard practice, some Bishops,particularly those in
Aeritain, have been known to take a more assertive role, influencing religious governance and policy more directly.
Implications of a Decentralized Faith
The loose structure of
The Covenant creates both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, it allows for greater regional adaptation of religious practices, accommodating local customs and beliefs. On the other, the lack of central oversight can lead to conflicting interpretations of doctrine and, at times, disputes between temples. Without a universally recognized authority to resolve such conflicts, mediation often falls to influential clergy, local rulers, or, in some cases, a Bishop of
The Covenant themselves.
Ultimately,
The Covenant endures not as a rigid institution but as a flexible, evolving body of faith, bound by shared reverence for the Powers rather than strict organizational control. While some regions maintain stronger religious governance, the prevailing reality is one of independence, where faith is shaped as much by local circumstance as by tradition.
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