What It Takes To Be A Sister of Perpetual Indulgence
Most often the Sisters are seen out having a good time, looking fabulous and enjoying ourselves. However, what is not often seen is the great deal of work that each Sister does. Similarly, we are often associated with fundraising.  While we do a great amount of fundraising, that is not our primary mission, and our work spans a lot of other areas.

Along with fundraising, being a Sister is first and forermost a ministry.  It is a vocation to which many are attracted, but fewer are truly called to become.  We raise awareness, educate, challenge, entertain, and place our personal egoes 'on hold'.  We organize, plan and throw events, some of which are very large and complex.  Ours is a "ministry of presence". The Sisters frequently act as educators, addressing persons both in groups and one-on-one.   If you've ever been to one of our bingo games or any other event that is hosted by the Sisters, you have seen us in our role as MC and hostess. When we laugh and tease with you at a bar, it is to be open to everyone and break down barriers.  We want to know if you have questions, or are practicing safe sex, or if you simply want to talk about something buried by societal shame.  We want to joke and laugh and accept you (and we are not after your boyfriend).  Being a Sister requires a lot of different skills and an investment in time, energy and money.

In evaluating a potential new member, we look at a number of things. We look for drive, passion and commitment; emotional and social maturity, a desire to perform community service; the ability to handle many tasks with grace; honesty and a genuine character; good people skills and the ability to interact with others in a meaningful way. However, having the drive and skills is not enough.  Becoming a member of the order is not a matter of simply fulfilling a set of tasks.  Any vocation and desire to become a Sister is ultimately decided on by the Fully Professed members. A new member must be able to mesh with the Order and should add to the group dynamic, not detract from it.

We are more than just another community service organization: we are Sisters. As with our more traditional counterparts, nearly all of us felt a genuine calling to do this work. There is room for a lot of fun in the Order, but we take our callings and our vows very seriously. The majority of Sisters consider this a lifelong vocation; the path may twist and turn, the outer manifestation may change, but the commitment to service never waivers. Being a Sister can be one of the most challenging and demanding things you can ever do but it also offers some rich and enlightening rewards.


Becoming A Sister of Perpetual Indulgence
If you are interested in joining the Order, we recommend that you attend our events, observe Sisters in action and engage them in conversation. Reading about being a Sister on a website pales in comparison to watching a Sister at work or hearing her individual story. Getting a better idea of who we are and what we do will help you to decide if this is the path for you. And getting to know the Sisters can serve you well as you move through the process. 

Your path towards Sisterhood starts with a conversation with the Mistress Of Novices . During this conversation, the Novice Mistress will assess your motivations for approaching the Order and try to determine if you will be a good fit. If she believes that you have potential, you will be asked to attend one of our general membership meetings. At that time you can declare your Aspirancy. If she feels that you are not a good fit for the Order, do not be discouraged; the desire to do community service is an admirable one and San Francisco offers a lot of opportunities to do so.

There are four steps to becoming a Sister and the entire process takes at least one year.

Aspirant
Aspirancy begins when you declare your intent to join at one of our general membership meetings. It lasts for at least four months; during this time you should be developing relationships with the Sisters, participating in our events and watching how we work and operate. At this stage you are not a member and have no rights within the Order. If we both decide that you are a good fit, you will need to get the Novice Mistress' recommendation and select two Fully Professed Members to be your sponsors (we call them your Big Sisters). The Membership then votes on your elevation; if you get a majority vote you are elevated to Postulant.

Postulant
As a Postulant, you are a Member of the Order although you still have no rights. In addition to continuing to further your relationships within the Order, you are required to attend all of our meetings, most of our events and you must devote the time to learning the history of the Order.  Your Postulancy outfit is The Sin Sity Sisters tradition 'Wednesday Adams' wig, dress, and low heeled MaryJane style shoe. Postulancy last for at least six months. Near the end of that time, if we still agree that you are a good fit, you will need to find a Fully Professed Member to be your main sponsor (your Mother). With the Novice Mistress' recommendation and the sponsorship of your Mother, you will be brought up for elevation. Should you get the two-thirds vote required, you will be elevated to Novice.

Novice Sister (White Veil)
The Novitiate begins to manifest the outward appearance of a Sister. A Novice wears the whiteface and wimple, although she is only allowed to wear a pure white veil. Despite this, the general public still perceives you to be a Sister and your interactions will radically change. The Novitiate lasts for at least six months. During this time you are a member without rights, you must attend every meeting.  With your Mother's help, you must also plan, organize and successfully complete a Novice Project, which is an event or some significant service to the order. Once you complete the requirements and have the Novice Mistress' and your Mother's support, you may ask to be elevated to Fully Professed status. As with the other steps, you will be voted upon by the membership; should you receive the three-fourths vote required, you will be elevated to Black Veil.

Fully Professed (Black Veil)
Although this is the last step in the formal process of becoming a Sister, it is the first step towards being a Sister. As a Fully Professed Member of the Order, you have all of the rights and privileges of a Member: you may vote, represent the Order and manifest as you feel called to do so. Fully Professed Members also may hold office and help shape the direction and development of the Order. Our Fully Professed Members serve the Order in many different roles; taken as a whole, they make the Order what it is.

Still interested in becoming a Sister? Start by getting in touch with our Mistress Of Novices.