View source for Doctrinal Edict of 2861

== Overview ==
In the wake of the ongoing success of [[Operation Holy Shroud]], [[ROM]]'s comprehensive efforts at crippling the technological recovery of the [[Great House]]s to ensure ComStar's prophesied supremacy, Karpov turned his eye towards resolving internal matters.<ref name=CS-30>''ComStar'', pp. 30-31 "The Consolidations Years - ComStar Strikes"</ref>

By the late [[2850]]'s the Order's efforts to expand the [[HPG]] network had placed increasing strain upon the [[Terra]]n and the First Circuit stations, dramatically slowing transmission times. The expansion also triggered an increasing fragmentation in ComStar's organizational structure and management style at many of the newer stations near the [[Periphery]], diluting the lines of communication and control between the Primus and the Order's lower ranks, with the intent of many of the changes and doctrinal edicts imposed by Karpov becoming garbled, if not lost entirely.<ref name=CS-30/>

Karpov's response was by first expanding the First Circuit to ten stations in [[2857]], adding [[Arcturus]], [[Oriente]], [[Altair]] and [[Capella]], fixing the capacity issue while ensuring room for future growth. It also had the further benefit of allowing Karpov to strengthen his hold on the political First Circuit, the Order's ruling council, by installing agreeable supporters to command those stations. With regards the proliferation of management schemes, Karpov issued the Doctrinal Edict of 2861 which formalized the three-tiered structure of [[Precentor]]s, [[Adept]]s and [[Acolyte]]s, making official the structure established in the time of Karpov's predecessors [[Jerome Blake]] and [[Conrad Toyama]].<ref name=CS-30/>

The Edict also formalized the process for naming a Primus, with the current holder choosing his or her successor who was then confirmed by the First Circuit, again effectively making the previous ad hoc procedure official. Karpov's efforts had the desired effect, the rigid structure helping to ensure the Primus was able to communicate directly with even the lowest-ranking members of the Order and cement his control over ComStar.<ref name=CS-30/> So successful was the three-tier structure that it survived until the [[ComStar Schism]] with the recognizing of the unofficial [[Demi-Precentor]] rank by Primus [[Sharilar Mori]].<ref name=CS-81>''ComStar'', p. 81 "Organization - Rank Structure"</ref>