Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the Church of Our Earth, including our mission, membership, values, and ways to participate in the community.
-
Church Of Our Earth is an earth-centered religious organization dedicated to helping people reconnect with nature, community, and the sacred. Our faith draws upon seasonal cycles, direct spiritual experience, personal responsibility, and reverence for the natural world.
-
Yes. Church Of Our Earth will always offer free membership. We believe that being part of our church, community and spiritual path should never depend on someone’s ability to pay.
We also offer optional Supporting Memberships at $20, $40, and $300 per month, with discounted annual payment options at higher levels.
Supporting Members receive additional benefits depending on their level, including monthly intention-setting circles, seasonal tea bags, access to Full Moon Fire Pits, monthly microdosing yoga classes and, at the higher levels, brief individual sessions with Donna.
These memberships help us cover the real costs of gatherings and programming while allowing us to keep basic Church Of Our Earth membership completely free.
-
Yes. Church Of Our Earth is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization. We are organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes and function as a church with established beliefs, clergy, religious services, educational programming, and an active membership community.
-
Church Of Our Earth currently has more than 600 members across 32 states.
-
Absolutely.
Church Of Our Earth welcomes members from throughout the United States. Many of our educational programs, seasonal celebrations, and community gatherings are offered online, allowing members to participate regardless of where they live.
-
We are one church with members throughout the United States. A long range goal is to have branches in every state.
-
Church Of Our Earth operates as a federally recognized nonprofit religious organization. Our religious practices are grounded in sincerely held religious beliefs and are conducted pursuant to our understanding of the protections afforded to religious exercise under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Our legal framework is informed by Supreme Court precedent recognizing religious liberty protections for sacramental use of entheogenic substances in appropriate circumstances.
-
No. Everything we do is based upon our sincerely held religious beliefs. We operate openly as a church.
-
No. Religious organizations are free to have members throughout the country.
-
We believe that human beings are part of, not separate from,nature. We believe spiritual growth comes through relationship with the Earth, honest self-examination, community, service, and direct spiritual experience.
-
No. Psilocybin mushrooms are a sacrament, not an object of worship. Like bread and wine in other faith traditions, a sacrament is a means of participating in a religious practice.
-
No. Membership is never conditioned upon consuming a sacrament.
-
Yes. People come from many different spiritual backgrounds. We do not require members to abandon their previous beliefs.
-
Yes. Certain religious ceremonies are conducted by approved ministers in accordance with church policies and religious practices.
-
No. Only ministers specifically authorized by Church Of Our Earth may conduct church ceremonies.
-
Our ministers receive education in ethics, boundaries, informed consent, religious practice, safety, and pastoral care before they are considered for ceremonial leadership.
-
Yes. Safety is a fundamental religious value. Every participant is screened before participating in church ceremonies.
-
No. Church Of Our Earth is a religious organization, not a medical clinic or psychotherapy practice.
-
No. We do not practice medicine or psychotherapy.
-
Membership begins with learning about our beliefs, completing a membership application, and agreeing to our community standards.
-
Yes. Adults may join individually, and families are welcome to participate in many aspects of church life.
-
No. Church Of Our Earth is not a retail business.
-
Like every church, donations support our religious mission, educational programming, community outreach, clergy training, and operational expenses.
-
Quite a lot. Members participate in educational classes, seasonal celebrations, community service, grief support, discussion groups, nature walks, end-of-life education, book studies, and spiritual development.
-
We observe the Wheel of the Year, lunar celebrations, and other nature-centered religious observances.
-
Yes. Members frequently volunteer in education, hospitality, outreach, administration, and community events.