They are not considered as official representatives of E.G.C. The Novitiate Initiate members of any degree who have been accorded Lay membership in E.G.C. may undergo a period of Novitiate training under the supervision of a Bishop, to prepare them for ordination as Priest, Priestess or Deacon. Such Initiate members may participate in the celebration of the Gnostic Mass as Novice Priests, Priestesses and Deacons. Novice status is not formally recognized by the Order, and is not included in the Order's records. The Laity Lay Membership in E.G.C. is conferred by the ceremony of confirmation, which must be preceded by the ceremony of baptism. The Patriarch may, from time to time, modify or waive the ceremonial requirements for Lay membership in E.G.C. Baptism is open to any person of at least the age of 11 years, but does not, in itself, confer Lay Membership.
Confirmation is open to any person who has been baptized and who has attained the age of puberty.
Baptism and confirmation are public ceremonies. Bishops in Amity Bishops from affiliated or distant branches of the Gnostic Church with or without an historical connection with O.T.O. may affiliate with O.T.O. upon mutual recognition. Theodor Reuss published a German variant in 1918. Private celebrations of the Gnostic Mass may be held for initiates of higher degrees as well. For public celebrations of the Gnostic Mass, at least one of the three principal celebrating officers must be a Clerical member of E.G.C. with recognized status as Priest, Priestess, Bishop, or Auxiliary Bishop.