Whoever told them that was absolutely wrong. It was never policy in any of the theocracies to prevent non-SA people from being in the realm, or having estates. Morek even has council-level nobles who are not SA. As someone said, Bowie and Creed are not friends of SA. Bowie cheered on Averoth and Caerwyn when they attacked Astrum in an effort to drive off SA. Creed is an avowed heretic of SA.
It was unofficial policy in Astrum (and still is) that only SA members get lordships. That's not metagaming at all. The realm is a theocrcay devoted to SA. Why would we let just anyone have power?
I became a lord before joining the church
