> I've heard some talk about the Covenant of the Goddess, or something 
> close to that name, what exactly is this?. Is this a "central" group
> for wiccans?

The following is taken from the overview of them from their WWW server:

	http://cog.org/cog/cog_overview.html

The Covenant is an umbrella organization of cooperating autonomous
Witchcraft congregations and individual practitioners with the power to
confer credentials on its qualified clergy. It fosters cooperation and
mutual support among Witches and secures for them the legal protections
enjoyed by members of other religions. The Covenant is non-hierarchical
and governed by consensus. Two-thirds of its clergy are women.

The Covenant is coordinated by a national board of directors. Many of
its activities are conducted at the regional level by local councils.
The Covenant holds an annual national conference open to the Wiccan
community, as well as regional conferences, and publishes a newsletter.
In recent years, the Covenant has taken part in spiritual and
educational conferences, interfaith outreach, large public rituals,
environmental activism, community projects and social action, as well as
efforts to correct negative stereotypes and promote accurate media
portrayals. Its clergy perform legal marriages (handfastings), preside
at funerals and other rituals of life-transition, and provide counseling
to Witches including those in the military and in prisons. The Covenant
also provides for the need of its members and their families with
disaster relief, health insurance, youth awards, sponsorship of college
and university student groups, and legal assistance in instances of
discrimination. 


Disclaimer: I'm not connected with CoG in any way, I just happen to know
            where their WWW server is.. :-)

BB,
Chris
-- 
 Christopher Samuel    Open Software Systems Group    chris@rivers.dra.hmg.gb
 N-115, Defence Research Agency,  St Andrews Road, Great Malvern, England, UK
 "To no man will we sell, or delay, or deny, right or justice" -- Magna Carta