NAIC Authorized Member Agreement
Native American Indigenous Church Authorized Participant Membership Approval and Agreement Details
Updated: June 8th. 2023: Supercedes all previous versions.
The A.P.M. is the foundational level of N.A.I.C. Membership recognition and registration. These A.P.M. Membership Approval and Agreement details shall also be additional rules applying to all subsequent N.A.I.C. Membership Levels, including but not limited to A.F.M. & L.C.H.T.
The Native American Indigenous Church {from now on “N.A.I.C.”} is a self-governing ecclesiastical jurisdiction that has as its purpose the furtherance of Native American, Natural, and relevant scripture-based health concepts referred to as Spiritual, Traditional Native American, Indigenous, Earth-Based, or Natural Medicine including but not limited to N.A.I.C. proprietary SomaVeda Integrated Traditional Therapies®, {from now on “Traditional Native Medicine”}. The N.A.I.C., an I.R.S. compliant 508(c)(1)(A) FBO Religious/ Church organization and State of Florida Chartered Not for Profit Religious/ Church corporation in good standing operates under its own Constitution and by-laws {from now on “Documents”} which provides that the N.A.I.C. and its members and Licensed-licentiate practitioners {from now on “Licensees} may only communicate with and share information or N.A.I.C. concepts with individuals who agree to the terms and conditions in this Agreement. This document is the N.A.I.C. Authorized Participant Member Admission Agreement {from now on “A.P.M.A.”}. We will refer to you as an Authorized Participant Member {from now on {“A.P.M.”}, defined as an individual seeking to learn and participate in Traditional Native Medicine concepts with commissioned and other authorized N.A.I.C. members. When we use the term Parties {from now on “Parties”}, we collectively refer to the N.A.I.C., A.P.M., Basic, Full, and Authorized Commissioned status unless otherwise noted.
Consideration: One of the primary missions of the N.A.I.C. is to further Spiritual, Sacred, Family, Traditional Native American, and Indigenous Medicines and healing traditions. In exchange for assisting the N.A.I.C. in this endeavor by participating with the N.A.I.C. as an Authorized Participant Member, the N.A.I.C. offers to accept membership enrollment for a suggested donation of $14.95 minimum. In exchange for being accepted as a member and or receiving these considerations, the Communicant-applicant attests and agrees that they meet the Conditions set forth below and further agrees to abide by all such terms and conditions as outlined in the A.P.M.A. and the Documents.
Conditions of Acceptance: Acceptance of an individual as an Authorized Participant Member (A.P.M.) does not require that they hold any specific belief – religious or otherwise – or change any religious or other affiliation held now or in the future. N.A.I.C. does not discriminate in any fashion based on race, religion, country of origin, tribal affiliation (or lack thereof), or sexual orientation N.A.I.C.-A.P.M. status is available only to individuals that:
1. Seek admission solely on their behalf or in the interest of others in their care, for the sole purpose of self-improvement, through communicating with the N.A.I.C. or sharing and interacting with the N.A.I.C. and other members and Licensees in private ecclesiastical association; and who agree that all interaction with the N.A.I.C. and its Licensees is deemed to have occurred within the N.A.I.C. personal jurisdiction and are subject to this Agreement, regardless of how or where any form of interaction occurs, whether by telephone, Internet, in-person, or otherwise.
2. Agree that this A.P.M.A., together with the Documents, form the entire Agreement between the Parties; supersedes any previous agreements, whether written or oral, and may not be changed or amended except upon the understanding and signature of the Parties; and that no agreement between any other person, agency, Licentiate and Authorized Participant shall invalidate or supersede any portion of the A.P.M.A. or Documents.
3. Arbitration: Agree to N.A.I.C. Church Arbitration exclusively: Agree that the N.A.I.C. Tribunal (Church Arbitration by Board of Elders: B.O.E.) shall be the exclusive jurisdiction and remedy for resolving any conflicts or complaints of any kind- in whatever form – monetarily or otherwise affecting the N.A.I.C. – between the Parties or any N.A.I.C. participants, members, ministers, elders, students and or N.A.I.C. members. Participant/ Communicant further acknowledges that in the event they are dissatisfied with any service, ministry, seminary/ educational program provided by a fellow member, Authorized Minister, commissioned and or Licentiate, that if and in the event the Tribunal finds on behalf of the complainant, the maximum remedy the ecclesiastical process may award in such case is entirely at the discretion of the examining board of N.A.I.C. elders appointed and or elected to hear the issue. In all cases, contents, deliberations, outcomes, member names, or identifying information of either board of examiner members or participants will be private as church-protected communication. All participants will agree to this as a precondition to any hearing or deliberation. Breach of this Non-Disclosure Agreement shall constitute a breach of N.A.I.C. Member agreements. Member participant agrees in advance to a penalty of not less than $100,000.00 due on notice of violation.
4. Agree to remain accountable to the A.P.M.A. and Documents for all interactions with the N.A.I.C., its members, affiliates, and Licentiate whether current or future; and for all periods and incidents arising during or incidental to Participant, Communicate association in any form.
5. Agree that Authorized Participant Member status is active until terminated and that the N.A.I.C. or A.P.M. may terminate such status without notice or cause. Notice of termination by either shall be deemed to have been served when such notice is delivered to the postal or email address of record or by personal delivery from N.A.I.C. Licentiate.
6. Agree that all communication, in any form, between the Parties and Members is “Confessional” (confidential), and A.P.M. shall not share confidential information outside the N.A.I.C. jurisdiction except upon written approval by the N.A.I.C. It is further acknowledged and agreed that if the N.A.I.C. or any Member/ Minister, Authorized Practitioner/ Licentiate becomes aware of information concerning criminal activity, abuse, harm, or danger to an A.P.M. or others, The N.A.I.C. and Licentiate reserve the right and responsibility to report such concern to the proper authorities. Likewise, nothing in the A.P.M. or Documents is intended to disclaim gross negligence or illegal acts by any participant, member, or Licensee. If such is suspected, it must be reported to the N.A.I.C. immediately. The N.A.I.C. shall be responsible for reporting negligent or criminal activity to the appropriate authority; however, the N.A.I.C. reserves the exclusive right to determine, through the ecclesiastical process, whether justification exists to move any action beyond the ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
7. Agree that violations by a visitor that A.P.M. brings into the N.A.I.C. jurisdiction have been deemed a breach by A.P.M. directly.
8. Agree that the N.A.I.C. cannot possibly know if its participants, members, ministers, and or licensees’ training, abilities, or services are suitable for any particular A.P.M. or situation. Therefore, A.P.M. shall disclaim the N.A.I.C. from any responsibility or liability for any services provided to A.P.M. or any responsibility for A.P.M.’s success, failure or satisfaction with any N.A.I.C. Member (Participant, Basic, Full, Commissioned) licensees or services.
9. Covenants and warrants that they have the absolute legal right to enter into this contract agreement and to perform following its terms without violating the rights of others or any applicable law and that they have these same rights to seek services for their minor children or others in their care; and is not and shall not become a party to any other agreement of any kind which conflicts with this Agreement.
10. Agree that the A.P.M.A. and Documents shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and to successors and assigns. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to permit the assignment of any of its rights or obligations.
11. N.A.I.C., A.P.M. Membership materials, cards, documents, and any official N.A.I.C. proof of membership in any form remain the property of N.A.I.C. N.A.I.C. membership materials may not be given away, copied, or reproduced for public distribution. Member materials’ wording, text, or design are Copyrighted, Trademarked, or both. Without N.A.I.C. written authorization, these may not be reproduced or used in any fashion. This rule applies to print and digital media or mediums, including “Social Media” (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). The A.P.M. may not be used to promote practice, service, or ministry. The A.P.M., A.F.M., L.C.H.T. Cards and any documents in support of them issued by N.A.I.C. are to be held privately unless N.A.I.C. permits another use. For example, N.A.I.C. A.F.M. and or L.C.H.T. documents may be copied prominently or publicly in your place of ministry, practice or service, clinic, counseling office, etc. Please get in touch with the N.A.I.C. directly if you have any questions regarding this policy.
Breach and Default: A breach (also Default) of the A.P.M.A. or Documents shall be defined as any violation of the A.P.M.A. or Documents as interpreted by the definitions intended by this ecclesiastical jurisdiction through its writings that offend jurisdictional standards or one of the Parties, and that remains unresolved after due notice to the offending Party for 30 days (Notice Period); and, that is ruled a breach by a hearing officer or Tribunal of this ecclesiastical jurisdiction after due process.
In the event either of the Parties believes the other is in breach, the offended Party shall give notice to the offending Party of such grievance. If the grievance remains unresolved at the end of the Notice Period, the offended Party may proceed to the N.A.I.C. Board of Elders (B.O.E.), who shall determine if cause exists for legal action. Upon affirmative finding, the (B.O.E.) shall determine the action to be taken – whether mediation, arbitration, or Tribunal action – and shall initiate the legal process. Suppose the hearing officer or Tribunal determines that a breach has occurred. In that case, the offending Party shall compensate the offended Party an amount equal to five hundred U.S. dollars ($500) as a penalty for “breaching” the agreements. The hearing officer or (B.O.E.) shall additionally award the offended Party all other such rulings, decisions, judgments, demands, and dollar amounts deemed proper by such hearing officer or Tribunal to fairly compensate the offended Party for damages or losses resulting from such breach, as a separate award – monetary or otherwise – including all cost related to the legal process. The total of awards will be defined as the “Judgment.” Judgments awarded in the ecclesiastical process may be perfected into the public for enforcement at any County, State, or federal level or through the private process.
Trespass or non-agreement: Interaction with the N.A.I.C. through website access, events, or in-person with Participants, Members, Therapists, Licentiate, or affiliates is intended for A.P.M. that desire to participate, share, and benefit from Indigenous, Traditional Spiritual, Native and or Christian pastoral/ ministerial concepts and education, and who meet the terms and conditions stated herein. If you do not meet the conditions set forth under #1 of the Conditions of Acceptance, or if you do not agree to be accountable to the terms and conditions of this A.P.M.A. or the N.A.I.C. “Articles of Religious Practice, Education and Healthcare” Documents, please do not sign this contractual Agreement as your admission in any form is denied and if you continue you are trespassing. Trespass into the N.A.I.C. jurisdiction is considered willful intent to harm, and you: (1) admit that you have been informed and have accepted the terms and conditions of admission; (2) voluntarily waive any immunity that may be available to you from any outside jurisdiction; (3) agree that if you are representing any other individual, agency, or government that entity empowers you to act as an agent on their behalf, and therefore you agree to bind that entity to the N.A.I.C.jurisdiction just as if they agreed to admission individually or personally; (4) agree that you, personally, and the entity you represent, both admit willful intent to harm and have trespassed on the N.A.I.C. causing damage and shall compensate the N.A.I.C. without challenge for all claims, compensations, and judgments we seek against you individually and collectively.
NAIC ARTICLES OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICE, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE MEMBERSHIP
Acceptance: By offering and accepting these considerations, the Parties acknowledge their acceptance of the Agreement formed by this A.P.M.A. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been consummated when you proceed into member-only areas of the N.A.I.C. website when an N.A.I.C. Representative and A.P.M. have shown their acceptance by affixing their signatures to this documents or when A.P.M. causes their registration information acknowledging review and acceptance to be transmitted to the N.A.I.C. The N.A.I.C. responds with acceptance and award of the Considerations promised herein.
