Leadership and Clergy Roles in ACF

Spirit of The Vine.

Ancestral Traditions

ACF is blessed with dedicated leaders who serve the community both spiritually and organizationally. Unlike a corporate retreat business, our leadership is structured like a church – we have clergy and elders who guide our religious activities, as well as a board that oversees our non-profit governance. Below are the key leadership roles and their responsibilities:

Spiritual Leader (Director): This is the head clergy of ACF – essentially the minister or pastor of our church. The Spiritual Leader provides overall spiritual guidance, vision, and pastoral care for the fellowship. They lead Ayahuasca ceremonies or appoint qualified facilitators to do so, ensuring that each ceremony is conducted safely and in alignment with ACF’s sacred traditions. They also handle much of the day-to-day management of the organization (hence the title Director) – coordinating events, supervising other staff or volunteers, and implementing programs that further our mission​. The Spiritual Leader is often the primary teacher for the community, offering teachings or reflections on our faith during integration circles or classes. They are accountable to the Board of Directors and are typically appointed or approved by the Board​. In summary, this person wears many hats: head ceremonialist, spiritual counselor, and operational director, all rolled into one, devoted to serving the congregation.

Traditional Elders: Our Traditional Elders are the revered guides and wisdom-keepers at the heart of the Ayahuasca Community Fellowship. They come from a rich diversity of spiritual and Indigenous lineages – including Shipibo, Quechua, and many other traditions – reflecting the multi-tribal heritage that ACF honors. Among these elders are Indigenous shamans (such as pajés, taitas, and ayahuasqueros) and medicine workers who carry ancestral knowledge, as well as non-Indigenous yet deeply experienced ceremonial leaders who uphold the same sacred teachings. Each elder, regardless of background, is respected for their lifelong dedication to the path of plant medicine and the sacred wisdom it carries.

In ACF’s ayahuasca ceremonies, the Traditional Elders take the lead as spiritual anchors for all participants. They guide each ceremony with compassion and authority – opening the space with prayer, setting intentions, and invoking protection for the journey ahead. Throughout the ceremony, these elders “hold space” for healing by chanting sacred songs, offering prayers, and maintaining a safe, sacred atmosphere. Their presence ensures the authenticity and integrity of our spiritual practices: the rituals, music, and prayers remain true to their origins, and every step of the ceremony is carried out in a reverent way. With their guidance, participants are gently led through profound experiences with ayahuasca, knowing that the process is being overseen by wisdom and experience. In this way, our elders safeguard both the physical well-being of everyone present and the spiritual purity of the ceremony itself.

Beyond the ceremonial circle, ACF’s Traditional Elders serve as beloved mentors and spiritual guides within the community. They dedicate time to nurture the fellowship’s members in everyday life, helping individuals integrate their experiences and grow on their spiritual path. Some of the ways our elders support the community include:

Mentorship: Offering one-on-one guidance to members, sharing insights from their own journeys and helping others navigate personal healing and transformation.

Prayer Circles & Rituals: Leading regular prayer circles, meditations, and other community rituals, which sustain our fellowship’s spiritual connection outside of formal ceremonies.

Personal Counsel: Being available for counsel and emotional support, listening to community members’ concerns or visions, and providing comfort and wisdom in times of need.

Preserving Traditions: Teaching and preserving ACF’s spiritual traditions – from sacred songs and stories to ritual etiquette – ensuring that the essence of these practices is never lost as the community grows.

Through these roles, the elders foster a sense of family and continuity in ACF. They help newer members feel welcome and grounded, and they keep the flame of our sacred traditions burning brightly year-round. Their guidance extends far beyond ceremony nights, touching every aspect of fellowship life with prayerful intention and time-honored wisdom.

True to ACF’s inclusive, interfaith approach, we welcome elders from all backgrounds who feel called to our sacred work and align with the fellowship’s spiritual mission. This means our circle of Traditional Elders is not limited to one culture or creed – it is enriched by many. Whether an elder comes from a remote Amazonian village or from a different corner of the world, what matters is their commitment to spiritual integrity, healing, and unity. By embracing elders of diverse faiths and lineages, ACF creates a rich tapestry of sacred traditions woven together in mutual respect. This interfaith openness allows wisdom from various paths – Indigenous, Eastern, Western, and beyond – to resonate in our fellowship. It also ensures that anyone who joins us in ceremony experiences a spirit of welcome and universal reverence. All elders in ACF stand on common ground in their devotion to the Ayahuasca sacrament and the uplifting of humanity. This unity in diversity is a hallmark of our community, fostering an environment where all can pray, heal, and learn together under the guidance of compassionate elder teachers.

ACF’s Traditional Elders are not only practitioners – they are stewards of culture and ethics in the realm of plant medicine. Entrusted with carrying ancient wisdom, they ensure that the transmission of ayahuasca teachings happens in an ethical, respectful manner. Cultural respect is paramount: our elders honor the source traditions of Ayahuasca and insist on practices that do not exploit or misappropriate Indigenous knowledge. They teach members to approach the medicine with humility and gratitude, and they preserve important protocols (such as asking permission, offering thanks, and giving back to the communities of origin). In every ceremony and gathering, the elders maintain a strict commitment to safety and sacredness. This involves everything from proper preparation of the medicine, to caring for participants’ well-being during intense healing processes, to creating an environment of consent and trust. If any challenges or ethical questions arise, the elders guide the fellowship in handling them with wisdom and integrity, always aligning decisions with ACF’s mission and values.

By acting as cultural and ethical guardians, the Traditional Elders ensure that ACF’s sacred work remains rooted in respect – respect for the plants, for the spirits of the tradition, for the people who come to heal, and for the communities that have carried this knowledge forward. Their stewardship means that as ACF grows and evolves, it never loses sight of the reverence, responsibility, and righteous conduct that must accompany the use of Ayahuasca. In essence, the elders keep us true to our highest principles, so that every ceremony and teaching is offered in purity, love, and alignment with the divine purpose of this medicine.

Ceremony Facilitators: Facilitators are trained individuals authorized by ACF to lead or assist in Ayahuasca ceremonies. They are like the clergy team working under the Spiritual Leader’s direction. A facilitator’s primary responsibility is the safety and well-being of participants during the ceremony. This includes practical duties (like preparing the sacred space, managing the Ayahuasca sacrament dosage, tending to people’s needs during the night, such as guiding someone to the restroom or providing comfort during emotional release) and spiritual duties (singing icaros or spiritual songs, performing cleansing rituals like smudging, and helping guide the energy of the group). Facilitators must be well-versed in ACF’s Code of Ethics and ceremony protocols – they lead by example in showing respect for the medicine and the participants​. All ACF facilitators have undergone extensive apprenticeship or training: they may have sat in many ceremonies, learned from experienced shamans or the Spiritual Leader, and have skills in areas like first aid, compassionate care, and trauma-informed practice. They also commit to ongoing learning and often participate in integration support, helping members process their experiences in the days after ceremony. In short, facilitators are the guardians of the ceremony space, ensuring it remains sacred, safe, and effective for spiritual healing.

Board of Directors: (While not “clergy,” the Board deserves mention in leadership.) The Board is a group of individuals who handle the governance and administrative oversight of ACF as a non-profit church. They are responsible for big-picture decisions, financial integrity, and legal compliance​. The Board hires or approves the Spiritual Leader and supports them by ensuring the organization has the resources and structures needed to function. They typically meet quarterly to review operations, make policies, and plan for the future​. Board members must act in the church’s best interest, exercising due care and loyalty​. While the Board’s role is more behind-the-scenes (they don’t usually lead ceremonies, unless a board member is also a Traditional Elder or facilitator), their leadership is crucial for keeping ACF stable and aligned with its mission. They make sure that ACF remains a true church in practice – not drifting into profit-driven directions – and that we comply with laws while preserving our religious freedom. In essence, if the Spiritual Leader and facilitators tend to hearts and souls, the Board tends to the “body” of the church – its organizational health.

All ACF leaders, whether spiritual or administrative, share a common devotion: service to the community and dedication to ACF’s sacred mission. They meet regularly as needed to stay coordinated – for example, the Spiritual Leader might report to the Board, or the facilitators and Traditional Elders might gather to refine safety protocols or ritual practices. There is an understanding that leadership in ACF is a calling and a responsibility: leaders must consistently model the values of humility, integrity, and love. They are also all bound by the same Code of Ethics and accountability measures as any member (even more so, in fact). If a leader falls short, they are expected to acknowledge and correct it, and the Board can take action (including removal from a role) to uphold our ethical standards​.

ACF’s leadership structure ensures that our church is well-guided on multiple levels – spiritually, communally, and organizationally. We have shepherds for the spirit (like the Spiritual Leader, Traditional Elders, and Facilitators) and stewards for the church as an entity (the Board and officers). Working together, they keep ACF’s light shining brightly and responsibly.

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