The Church

The Church has existed since before recorded history. Indeed, church documents are in most cases the sole source of historic records for anything prior to the last millennia. The presence and influence of the Church over the centuries have been integral and essential to the progress of Midian. It was the Church that led people from the violence and superstition of the Dark Ages into a renaissance of faith and knowledge that are the foundation of modern Midian society.

For centuries, the Church held complete control over the succession of kings and selection of barons. Since the establishment of the republic nearly a century ago, the Church has not formally engaged in government and holds no power in mundane affairs.

Theology

The Church teaches that God the Creator crafted the world in perfect form, and then created humans with Free Will. The Deceiver corrupted the world and convinced humans they were just animals, slaves to their impulses rather than masters of their will. The Church teaches that the path to "freedom" or "salvation" for corrupted humans is to differentiate their divine will from this animal will, embrace their divine will (which includes reason) and then pursue that will. This knowledge of one’s divine purpose is referred to as gnosis and is often described as a supernatural experience.

Church teachings emphasize the importance of individual understanding, and promote education as a means of attaining worldly knowledge as well as spiritual knowledge. All believers are urged to “study and pray,” and the understanding of one individual is not regarded as greater or less than that of another. This emphasis on education led to the Church establishing schools throughout Midian early in its history. The Church is still the primary source of education in childhood, and its methods were adapted for use in the trade and professional schools (managed by their respective guilds) in Midian.

Clerical Order

The Clerical Order consists of those who have received Holy Orders and are ordained members of the Church clergy. They are commonly referred to as “priests,” though the title of Priest is only one of their ranks (see below).

Some clerical duties and offices are elected and temporary. Elected offices are determined by a democratic vote of the entire order. Each office has a term limit. Elected leaders are limited to two consecutive terms in a particular office, but may subsequently serve in other elected or appointed offices.

Non-elected offices are subject entirely to determination and appointments of a deacon, bishop or archbishop. Additionally, bishops and deacons may establish ad hoc duties or offices that are either elected or appointed.

Clerical Rank

Rank Lvl	Points	Title	Type
0	0	Acolyte or Cleric	Non-elected.
1	5	Priest	Non-elected.
2	10	Deacon	Elected. Three-year term.
3	15	Bishop	Elected. Six-year term. There is at least one bishop per barony.
4	20	Archbishop	Elected. Nine-year term. There can be only one.

Scholarly Order

The Order of Church Scholars (known as “the College”) are non-ordained members of the Church. They are dedicated to the study of various arts and sciences, enjoying many of the same benefits as ordained clergy. Church scholars also have the support and approval of the Church (subject to some restrictions) to publish their findings not only among other scholars but also the general public. Restrictions on subject matter may be decided by a deacon or bishop, with the possibility of appeal to and final determination by the Archbishop. On rare occasions responsible scholars have been allowed to study “forbidden subjects,” though their findings are generally not published or otherwise released outside the College. Many scholars find the financial support and other benefits of College membership worth the price of possible censorship.

Membership in the Order of Scholars is entirely voluntary, and each scholar is free to choose their own course of study. Some scholars may pursue a particular course of study, directed by or sponsored through the patronage of Church officers or other individuals. A large number of Church scholars were educated by the Church in their youth. Not unlike the Territorial Rangers, a fair number of orphans and foster children are found among the College membership.

Scholarly Rank

There is only one “rank” within the College: the title of Master is accorded to those who have achieved advanced education in particular subjects. Individuals must be nominated for Master rank by a previous Master of their associated discipline, and approval is subject to a consensus vote of the entire College. Each Master rank awarded is a 1-point Perk.

Disciplines and Associated Skills

All individuals of Master rank will necessarily be quite skilled in Research and Writing. Most will be at least adequate in Public Speaking, as lecturing and debate are an ordinary function of the College. Some Masters are fluent in a number of languages, but it is hardly a common trait. Mastery of certain subjects may necessitate a fluency in a particular language (for example, advanced study of Theology requires fluency in Latin). Few individuals hold more than one Master rank, as it can take decades to not only achieve the level of study expected but also to gain the approval of enough peers to assure approval.

Discipline	Associated Skills
Master of Arts	Connoisseur (Literature), Connoisseur (Visual Arts), History, Philosophy, Law, Literature, Musical Composition, Theology.
Master of Sciences	Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Naturalist, Physics, Physiology.
Master of Engineering	Architecture, Carpentry, Engineer (Civil), Engineer (Clockwork), Engineer (Combat), Expert Skill (Hydrology), Masonry, Metallurgy.