Code Of Ethics And Conduct

General Principles and Spiritual Practices

Church of Sacred Sacraments is committed to honoring and advancing Ancestral Indigenous Native Earth–Based Honoring Cultures, Religions, Sacred Rituals, Healing Sacraments and Indigenous Humanitarian Codes of Ethics and Conduct that protect Mother Earth and her living beings from abuses of all kinds.

Church of Sacred Sacraments accepts all natural organic plants, fungi, and their constituents as Healing Sacraments. These sacraments have been used for thousands of years and are central to our established religious beliefs and sacred ceremonies. These include: a. Manna (Psilocybe fungi), peyote and ayahuasca – the significant Sacraments (Eucharists) for this religious organization. b. Any other significant Religious Sacrament (Amanita muscaria, Peyote, Cannabis, St. Peter’s Cactus, Ayahuasca, Iboga, etc.) that has been found to benefit the spiritual health and welfare of recipients.

Spiritual Facilitating Leaders (Medicine Man/Woman) of Church of Sacred Sacraments may be known by a variety of sacred callings, such as: Chasta, Clergy, Curandera, Doctor, Elder, Mara’akame, Reverend, Roadman, Sacred Prayer Pipe Carrier, Water Pourer, Shaman, Ceremonial Leader, Minister, etc. Those who are guided by Great Spirit and who are experienced in some Ancestral Spiritual Empowering and/or Mystical practices and who act to facilitate the spiritual practices of others are honored with these titles.

A Medicine Person (Spiritual and Ceremonial Leader) need not claim exclusive or definitive knowledge of his or her practice, since wisdom and competencies are frequently developed over years of observation and experience, but must be approved to do this work by the leadership of COSS. Responsibility to assure that those who act as COSS Medicine people (Spiritual and Ceremonial Leaders) are trained, responsible and have the wisdom and integrity to conduct ceremonies and those who choose to work with sacraments rests with the branch leadership.

Even though one of COSS purposes is to administer Sacrament Ceremonies, an COSS Medicine Person or Indigenous Ceremonial Leader is free to choose not to administer a sacred sacrament during any particular Ceremony.

Church of Sacred Sacrements respects all empowerment and healing modalities; including: Indigenous Spiritual Ceremonies, allopathic medicines, naturopathic and integrative complimentary medicines. COSS Honors the fundamental Hippocratic principle of “Do No Harm to the Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and/or Physical Being” of any of our Earthly relations. It recognizes that each healing and empowering modality is intended to promote the optimal health and well–being of the participant. It believes that all forms of care can be incorporated into empowerment and/or healing for all of our relations, in a complementary and integrated manner.

Church of Sacred Sacraments makes absolutely no claims about being in authority or having the ability to conduct saving ordinances. COSS is part of an Ancestral Spiritual Earth Based Healing and Empowering International Collective that serves individuals and the wider community whenever and wherever an COSS member resides.

COSS is committed to growth by attraction through service rather than door to door proselytizing. We do not attempt to convert people, rather attract members through our services, one of which is the service of photographing and releasing beautiful and rare images of Manna to the public, freely as often as possible. COSS services do not only revolve around offering Sacraments and Ceremonies. They include many responsibilities such as implementing strategies that will help to neutralize some of the unintended, or collateral damages caused by the drug war. The public’s view of Sacraments has been damaged and we serve to also help heal that damage in various ways.

All Ceremonies of North, Central and South America, such as but not limited to Birth, Breath, Holy Anointing, Marriage, Passing Over, Prayer Pipe, Sacrament, Spirit Dance, Sun Dance, Sweat Lodge, Earth Connecting Ceremonies, Vision Quests, and all spiritual ceremonies of any land, practiced at any time, and by any ethnic group may include or facilitate extreme mental, emotional and physical transformations. Therefore, when a member chooses to participate in any Ancestral Religious, Spiritual, or Scientific Ceremony with the assistance of an COSS Medicine Person or Spiritual Leader, both take on special responsibilities and understandings. Both members and facilitating leaders should be aware of their responsibilities and those of the people they are working with.

For Leaders

A1) INSPIRATION AND CHANGE. Efforts should be made to ensure that Spiritual Practices are always inspired and conducted in ways that respect the common good, with due regard for public safety, health, and order. Medicine People shall use special care in assisting the direction of energies of those whom they serve, as well as their own energies, in responsible ways that reflect a loving and respectful regard for all life.

A2) EXISTING CONDITIONS. Disclosures previous to ceremony shall include, at a minimum, discussion of any elements of the ceremony that could reasonably be seen as presenting physical or psychological risks. In particular, first time Authorized Participants must be advised that American Native Ceremonies can be difficult and dramatically transforming.

A3) WATCHFULNESS. The Medicine People will monitor the Health and Safety of participants during the ceremony and the few hours of vulnerability that may follow a ceremony carefully and with reasonable preparations. They will also insure that all those who participate in ceremony or personal counseling where controlled substances are present are members of COSS. If the person in question does not have a valid membership card, the leaders/medicine people will verify the standing of the person in questions with the main office of COSS before allowing them to participate.

A4) INCLUSIVENESS. COSS ceremonies are to be conducted in the spirit of service. Medicine People accommodate Members and Authorized Participants without regard to race, religious affiliations, gender, cultural background, financial status, and/or political affiliations.

A5) VULNERABILITY. COSS Medicine People are aware during ceremony that Members and Authorized Participants may be especially open to suggestion. Medicine People pledge to protect participants and not to allow anyone to use that vulnerability in ways that harm themselves or others.

For COSS Members

B1) PREPARATION AND SAFETY. Each participant in COSS ceremonies must agree to comply with all directions or instructions concerning the safety and well-being of all in attendance, from one-hour prior, during, and three hours after ceremonies being conducted by an COSS Medicine Person.

B2) LIFE CHANGES. Often, the increased awareness gained from Ceremonies will catalyze a desire in the participants’ lives for personal and social change. In most cases, these changes should only be made after deep introspection and consideration as to how they will affect the other beings connected to the participant

B3) EXISTING CONDITIONS. Members agree to disclose to the Spiritual Leaders any previous conditions prior to any ceremony that might be affected in any way during a ceremony, including, at a minimum, discussion of any concerns as to how those conditions could be reasonably be seen as presenting physical or psychological risks. COSS Members also agree to disclose to the COSS Spiritual Leaders any previous conditions they are aware of in other participants that might affect a ceremony.

B4) WATCHFULNESS. Members agree to assist the Medicine People in monitoring the Health and Safety of all participants during the ceremony and the few hours of vulnerability that may follow a ceremony.

B5) CONSENT OF PARTICIPANT. The autonomy and dignity of each Member and/or Authorized Participant are to be respected and preserved by Church of Sacred Sacraments Medicine People and Indigenous Ceremonial Leaders. Participation in any COSS Ceremony must be voluntary and based on prior disclosure and consent given by each participant while in an ordinary rational state of consciousness.

For COSS Leaders and Members

C1) RESPECT. Free Church of Sacred Sacraments Leaders and Members agree to conduct themselves in ways that cultivate awareness, empathy, and wisdom for all Members during ceremonies. COSS Members also agree to respect, empower and continually support the COSS Medicine People and Indigenous Ceremonial Leaders as they serve the COSS Community.

C2) LIMITATIONS. Limits on the behaviors between COSS Members and COSS Medicine People and Ceremonial Leaders are to be made clear and agreed upon in advance of any Ceremony.

C3) MINORS. Those under 18 years old will not be admitted to ceremonies where controlled substances are present unless all of the following requirements are fulfilled. A) The medicine person gives specific permission for their attendance, B) A parent or legal guardian attends with them and takes full responsibility for their care and well-being, C) The minor person is a member of Church of Sacred Sacraments, and D) A document stating these things is signed by all affected parties.

C4) CONFIDENTIALITY AND CUSTOMS. Cultural / religious customs and confidentiality of all participants are to be accepted and honored by all COSS members.

C5) ABUSE NOT PROTECTED. COSS has zero tolerance for and abhors any manner of physical and/or sexual abuse of any under aged person, and any abuse and/or exploitation of ANY person in any physical and/or sexual form. The violation of this fundamental Ethic by any member will subject the violator to the full consequences of the Laws of the Land.

C6) SACRAMENTS UNDER DIRECTION OF MEDICINE PEOPLE. Members of Church of Sacred Sacraments agree that any substance admitted into the body may be considered to be a sacrament. Some of those substances have the potential to be harmful if inappropriately used. COSS does not approve of the utilization of any sacrament in a manner that would be likely to cause undue harm to one’s self or to others. Therefore, members agree that “Controlled” substances must be used under the direction of COSS Medicine People (Sacramental Ceremonial Leaders) to be legally protected. This direction extends to their personal private use when not in ceremony or direct contact with the medicine people. Members agree that sacraments/medicines should always be stored in such a way that they are not available to those who are not members or are not under the direction of medicine people. Personal or recreational use of any controlled substances is not encouraged and may remove some legal protections unless such is indicated by the member’s spiritual advisor or medicine person as being part of their spiritual and healing practice. If the leader does make such indication, they share in the legal responsibility for such use.

C7) INCLUSIVENESS. COSS ceremonies are to be conducted in the spirit of service. COSS Members agree to participate in ceremonies respecting all participants and leaders without regard to race, religious affiliations, gender, cultural background, financial status, and/or political affiliations.

C8) LEGAL STANDING. Members and branch leaders including medicine people do not have legal standing to represent or involve Church of Sacred Sacraments (COSS). NO legal actions (including lawsuits, civil actions, and legal complaints, among others) taken by members and leaders can indicate that the church is part of that action. Any situation where legal actions require the involvement of COSS must be handled by COSS and by their legal representatives. Any legal action that includes the term “Church of Sacred Sacraments”, even when the word is part of the name of the branch, must specifically indicate that the action is being taken by the branch and not by the general church or its leaders or members.

Code of Conduct

I commit to living a Sacred Earth–Honoring Lifestyle which Embodies COSS Principles such as: Gratitude, Humility, Faith, Respect, Honor, Charity, and Forgiveness.
I commit to making effort to spend time each day in meditation and prayer, drawing closer to God, the Holy Spirit, THE ALL, and all of creation, Mother Earth, her living beings, such as: the Mountains, Rocks, Trees, Streams, Rivers, Lakes, Water Systems, Oceans, Father Sky, Winged Creatures, all two-leggeds and four-leggeds.
I commit to only use the sacred indigenous medicines and ceremonies to empower my body, mind and spirit and to serve myself and others and thereby create peace and harmony in my relationships.
I commit that I will keep the ceremonies and what is shared there by others sacred, not sharing it outside the circle.

I commit that I will understand my responsibility to financially sustain and support those who bless me. I will remember that medicine people and leaders have lives and families that need their time and they need to provide for them. I will be respectful and generous as they support and assist me.
I understand that being a member of COSS puts me in the position where people may judge the organization by my actions and words. I will not do things that reflect badly on COSS and our other members. I will use public media in a positive and respectful way, not criticizing other members or violating the sacred trusts developed in the Church of Sacred Sacraments(COSS) family circles. This includes social media, interviews and other public forums. If I have criticisms or concerns with another member, I will first attempt to work it out with them directly or through my leaders within COSS .
I will read the Code of Ethics and apply the principles there to my life and actions.
I will never share sacraments with or sell medicines to those who are not members of COSS . I understand that doing so removes my legal protection and exposes me to prosecution.
I agree not to disrespect the medicines and sacraments by using them for any recreational or abusive purposes.

I will never manipulate or take advantage of others emotionally, sexually, mentally, spiritually or physically that are in the open state during and after ceremonies or while using sacramental medicines.