Introduction

I have often been asked what is Pagan clergy? Its a good question on many levels. For those who have been in the “craft” for a long time and are considered Priestesses and Priests how is it different and how is it the same? I remember when all I had to contend with was the 20 or so individuals of my local group. Lady Willo and I taught them, loved them, nurtured them, laughed with them, cried with them, led rituals with them and watched them grow and change as they faced the challenges of growing in the craft.

Our interactions with other groups was good but proscribed by specific boundaries as set out our understanding of the Ordains and Wiccan Law. These Ordains and Wiccan Law are generally accepted and interpreted by individual groups that choose to work together. In Great Britain in 2013 there was a BBC documentary that showed British Traditional Wicca as the fastest growing “religion” in the United Kingdom. We know from the US Census bureau that in the USA individuals self identifying as pagan has grown exponentially and Wicca is the fastest growing 'religion' in the USA as well.

In my own little part of Southern Missouri many people stop by to “check out” this Pagan church that has taken over what was a run down property out in “the county” full of their stories of how our church building was once the post office, then the general store, then a gas station when Lebo was a town; not just an unincorporated part of West Plains, MO. They ask questions, visit out events, and even the neighboring Baptist Church pastor comes and “hangs out” with us here at Wite Rayvn Metaphysical Church.

Many years ago at the Heartland Pagan Festival I was blessed to be able to spend time with a Pagan Church leader from New Orleans, and in a joint radio interview she said something that really stuck with me. She told the story of how after Hurricane Katrina she and her group went out to the African American Cemetery and worked to repair the damage. A few years later, one day when her group was tending the graves one of the people who had relatives buried in the cemetery asked the care taker why those “witches” were on the property and what were they doing to the graves of the dearly departed. The caretakers answer was – "Leave them alone, they are here every month, they are our witches."

In another example, we were blessed through another Arkansas Pagan Church to receive goods, from an organization that gives supplies from major corporations to 501(c)3's for distribution, to have a Home Improvement Giveaway. We gave away over $4000.00 USD of Home improvement supplies to the general community in one small Northern Arkansas town. One particular Christian minister spoke with me at length asking questions and finally said to me that he wished that his own congregation understood charity and service and we exchanged business cards. He asked if he could use our example in a sermon to his people!

So, what does this have to do with the original question of what is Pagan clergy? As Pagan clergy in the 21st century we serve many roles. We still maintain our traditional roles of mentoring, teaching, rituals and care for those who are in our local groups. In addition to this we are the FACE of Wicca for our communities. There are many Pagans who are solitary, but it is the churches that the rest of the community sees, and bases their judgements off of. It is important for us to be out in the larger community serving ALL the community. It also means that we are working with people who may or may not be pagan, and have their own ideas of what we are and how we behave, but when they need help, we help. It means that our service is larger than ourselves and our groups.

In the internet age, we have instant communication, I get calls from people all over the world seeking counsel, comfort, and care. I spend time answering questions on a Q & A site helping people to figure out their own issues and sometimes get to answer a straight question on Wicca! All of these points are part of what it is to be pagan clergy.

The Priest(ess)

A Priest or Priestess as an individual is trained in Wicca or their chosen flavor of paganism who has experience in running study groups, rituals both for themselves and their local group. It is my opinion that it is a “calling” that comes to the priestess or priest over time either as a “message” or by the community around them. I have met many a priestess or priest who have told me that they never wanted to BE a priest or priestess, it just kind of happened. Here is one example of it “just happening”.

The priestess, before she was a priestess, started reading a book on Wicca with two friends at a local coffee shop. After about a month another individual who frequented that shop asked them what they were doing and joined them. In another month two more people joined them for their weekly book discussion and started to call themselves a study group. Three months later they realized that one of the people in the group actually belonged to a coven and invited the “study group” to come to an open ritual. The group went, and continued their study group and continued taking training in that coven. After 3 years the person who started reading the book with her two friends was initiated into that coven and was working on her advanced training by teaching others in a NEW study group. Looking back on the previous timeline she realized she had become a teacher, mentor and priestess of the Goddess.

She realized that her growth as a pagan for herself allowed her to become the support and information source to their local group based on her own spiritual journey as she grew as a pagan, examining her strengths, weaknesses and learning the lessons to become balanced first within herself then to assist others. Every person has challenges that are based on their lives. Each person has learned to deal with those issues and the priest or priestess first has learned the tools that they themselves have used to grow spiritually. It is part and parcel of their own training to become priests or priestesses.

It is not an easy path, it takes quite a bit of work to know oneself. There is no place for strong “ME-ism” as a priestess. There is an old joke that goes like this -

Question: How many High priestess' does it take to change a light bulb.

Answer: There IS only ONE.

This is what many people see when they come to the circle. They see the High Priestess standing in the circle as the representative of the Goddess and think that it is so cool to be there. Well, take it from me, it is great and a blessing to be in the center of the circle but it is not all glory. There is not a strong “hey look at me” from any well trained priestess or priest that I have met over the last 20 years. It is not a show, not an Ego Boost, it is a lot of work, tears, sweat and sacrifice to become a priestess or priest in the Pagan faiths, no matter what the flavor.

The Pagan Cleric

In The Pagan Clergy’s Guide For Counseling, Crisis Intervention And Otherworld Transitions, Gardner, Kevin (2012-09-25), he states:

"For those who take the role seriously, becoming a Pagan Minister is a much more demanding, complex and challenging role than is the role of group leader, High Priestess or High Priest of a grove, coven or study group. This is because Pagan Clergy are that, plus much more . Pagan Clergy become the source of spiritual strength and support, not only for the “home group” but for the greater Pagan Community as well. As the different branches and denominations of Paganism grow and evolve there becomes a point where there is a distinct separation from the Priestly class and the laity. Pagan Clergy are also becoming more and more in demand in the military, in the federal and state prison systems, as well as in community services such as hospice, nursing home and hospital visitation. Yet unlike mainstream clergy, very few are paid for their hard work and the services they provide, financing everything out of pocket."

Gardner, Kevin (2012-09-25). The Pagan Clergy's Guide For Counseling, Crisis Intervention and Otherworld Transitions (Kindle Locations 80-86). . Kindle Edition.

Mr. Gardner states it succinctly - Pagan Clergy are also becoming more and more in demand in the military, in the federal and state prison systems, as well as in community services such as hospice, nursing home and hospital visitation. - as the number of people who are identifying themselves as pagan or spiritual the pagan cleric needs to take on a larger role than just their local group. This is a life of SERVICE. There is a movie from 1992 with Steve Martin called Leap of Faith. At the end of the movie he sees the “authentic deal”; the movie pans to see all the people at the revival streaming toward the tent after if finally rains and they saw a REAL “miracle”! Yes it is judeo-christian based, but the sentiment and the point is valid. He had FINALLY become CLERGY serving something greater than himself: the community of that little Kansas town. This is what stuck in my head when I recently re-watched this movie as a 21st century cleric. It is a life of SERVICE. The cleric moves into the roles that are needed by the community becoming the “spiritual strength and support” as stated above, for the larger community. I have had individuals of many faiths come to visit me, Christian and Pagan its all the same, I am here to offer support and counsel as THEY need it. I have no agenda, I am not focused on growing my local church, getting money or “filling the pews”. We don't have pews. I am SERVING and people come to support, and they get support. We currently live on 4.9 acres that one of the members holds and PAYS the mortgage, a vehicle that is in amazing shape that was donated to the church, and much more that the Goddess has blessed us with while Lady Willo and I focus on SERVING the community. We do not ask for these things, they come to us as people watch us “make do” in their eyes and serve with JOY, MIRTH and REVERENCE to the Goddess and the God.

One last point, I am blessed to be in an area with 4 501(c)3 Pagan churches that are all part of a large, international, network of 501(c)3 Pagan churches. These churches are all within 2 to 3 hours from each other. We don't fight with each other. We work together for the betterment of ALL people in our three states in the bible belt. Our churches are eclectic, supporting all pagan and non pagan paths. We are open to any individual who walks into our doors and are there to HELP all people. We each have our personal paths, and they are different. Each pair of founders come from different traditions within paganism, but as Pagan Clerics we serve all paths. My own personal motto is 'All Paths ~ One Path.' It makes sense. As a Pagan Cleric I support YOUR path. We are facilitators of OTHER PEOPLES SPIRITUAL PATHS. I continue, as do my fellow pagan clerics , to challenge myself every day, working with people from all paths. Growing, laughing, crying, and ultimately helping others and myself to a higher and more balanced existence.

Conclusion

What is a pagan cleric?

It is one who serves.
It is one who laughs.
It is one who cries.
It is one who grows.
It is one who SERVES.