The Covenant of Iambe

The following covenant may be used in membership, annual renewal, ordination, or communal worship. It is intentionally shorter than the full canon.

The Covenant

I will not shame the sorrow for its tears,

Nor crown myself with needless weight or fears.

I’ll make some mirth instead of merely take,

And welcome strangers for the table’s sake.

I’ll mock the crown before I mock the wound,

And mend the cup when harm has entered round.

I’ll keep one loaf for those I’ll never know,

And give some joy where no repayment flows.

No laugh is owed; no feast excuses harm.

No wealth is holy held for private charm.

I’ll gather often, question without fear,

And leave one burden lighter while I’m here.

The Eight-Line Rule

Grieve honestly.

Laugh freely.

Feast together.

Welcome generously.

Mock arrogance.

Harm no one for sport.

Give joy away.

Save some for tomorrow.

The Founding Charge

The Church of Iambe exists to cultivate a religious life in which mirth, fellowship, hospitality, art, celebration, charity, and stewardship reinforce one another. Its mission is not to prove that every enjoyable thing is sacred. Its mission is to practice forms of joy worthy of being called sacred.

The test is not whether an activity can be given a clever religious description after the fact. The test is whether the Church actually organized, taught, governed, conducted, documented, and experienced it as part of a coherent religious life.

Thus the Church may laugh loudly without becoming frivolous, invest carefully without becoming greedy, grieve deeply without becoming hopeless, and celebrate richly without confusing private appetite with communal purpose.

Final Benediction

Let sorrow speak, then give the laugh its turn.

Let tables fill, yet save the seed we earn.

Make room for strangers, mock the swollen crown,

And leave one burden lighter when we’re down.