Priest of Acceptance

"I shall take no wife, no companion but my fellow Acceptants. My earnings shall be those I earned by acts of servitude. All this to guide others to what comes next. May the Second Lives all be appreciated by all, for the centuries upon centuries Sent our Way. This I Accept." A Priest of Acceptance reciting his personal vows.

A Priest of Acceptance (or Pointer) is an active representative of the Way of Acceptance preaching beside the people he vowed to serve. They are appointed to their village or fortified settlement by a Grand-Wayfinder to represent the Way to the locals. Any big city may support a larger number of parishes and their priests, depending on the population.
The Pointer can be accompanied by fellow Acceptants in training, or of the same level. They report to their region's Wayfinder who will decide with a council of Wayfinder what the Priest's party shall accomplish in the name of the Way. Priests have the continuous mission to find funds for the rest of the Way of Acceptance, either by helping coordinate civilian efforts or asking for alms in the name of the Way. Besides that, Priest have no administrative authorities outside the buildings of the Way built for them.
A religious garb, white of color and opened from the side like the Senders of legend, demarks Priests from norma citizens. They take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and depend on the charity of others when the infrastructure provided by the Acceptant powers are insufficient.

Career

Qualifications

Acceptance Priests are adult males (above 14), majoritably Human, and must have been part of the Way for at least four years with distinction. Trained in orration and philosophical debate, they pass a first examination that will validate their priesthood or not. This examnation, the First Pointing can be followed by new examinations if the priest proves effective in his duty.  They are to be registered after the First Point has been accomplished.
Once his vows are said, a typical Priest of Acceptance remains celibate for the rest of his life. They make a promise of peaceful cohexistence to their fellow Acceptants with their promise of celibacy.

Career Progression

After a good time of service and proof of faith in the Way (viapilgrimage, converting non-believers or helpipng the community...), a priest can pass a Second Point examination to reach the seond rank of prest-hood. There are two more points until a Priest can become Wayfinder, and the journey takes about fifteen years minimum.

Payment & Reimbursement

Priest receive a stipend of coins and supplies monthly from their fellow Priests' collects. The amount of the stipend depend on the harshness of their conditions after evaluation of their reports.
Priests may receive honoraria and gifts fromthe populace, but have to give a portion to their own collects. The most noteworthy fact is that a Pointer, however high his rank and skill, can never directly charge any fees for his services. The Wayfinders and their helpers can debate with ocal authorities for special payements or for the building of Acceptance infrastructures, but not much else.

Other Benefits

Priests of Acceptance are highly valued by the Easternite populations for their contributions to society, their social standings.
The most important point to remember howerver is the fact that Acceptants of Priest rank Third POinter or above are exempt of taxes by the local authorities as per the promise between the Eastern Realms and the independent religious organisation. A rule that dates from the Old Word and that the Acceptants do everything to protect and deserve.

Alternative Names

Pointer

Type

Religious

Demand

A single Priest of low rank covers the spiritual needs of seventy citizens on average.