If you lead a congregation or serve on an interfaith council, there are almost certainly Pagans in your town, and probably none at your table. This guide is for clergy and lay leaders who would like to change that.
Your Pagan Neighbors
Pagans follow religions that honor the sacredness of the natural world and, in most cases, many deities. The best known are Wicca, Druidry, and Heathenry. Pagans gather in small groups in homes and outdoors, and a majority practice on their own. Because they rarely own buildings or advertise services, they are easy to overlook. A short introduction is given in What Is Paganism?
Many Pagans are cautious about making themselves known. Some have lost jobs, friendships, or family ties when their religion was discovered. An invitation from a respected local faith leader can mean a great deal.
Why Include Them
- An interfaith body that reflects the whole community speaks with more authority.
- Pagans bring a long practice of reverence for the land and its seasons, and they are willing workers in service projects.
- Hospitals, schools, and public officials increasingly ask interfaith councils for help in serving Pagans. It helps to have someone to ask.
- When a minority religion is attacked, the support of established congregations is the most effective defense it can have.
Finding a Pagan Participant
Write to interfaith@paganednet.org, and we will try to introduce you to a graduate of our Interfaith Representative Training in your area. You may also know Pagans already: a member of a liberal congregation, a hospital volunteer, a student group at a nearby college. A personal invitation to a named individual is always better than a general announcement.
Practical Matters
Words
| Instead of | Consider |
|---|---|
| Churches | Congregations and communities; faith communities |
| Pastors, ministers | Clergy and spiritual leaders |
| People of faith | People of every faith and of good will |
| Our common belief in one God | Our common concern for this community |
| Scripture reading | Reading, or sacred text or teaching |
| House of worship | Place of worship, or sacred space |
Titles
Pagan clergy may be called priestess, priest, Druid, gothi, elder, or reverend, and many prefer simply to be called by name. Ask, as you would ask any guest.
Opening Words and Prayer
When opening words rotate among the traditions present, include the Pagan participant in the rotation. A Pagan invocation typically gives thanks to the earth and the season and asks a blessing on the gathering. It will not ask anyone to affirm a belief. Pagans attending a prayer of another tradition will normally stand or sit respectfully in silence.
The Calendar
Try not to schedule interfaith events on the major Pagan holy days, especially the evening of October 31 and the solstices. See The Wheel of the Year for dates.
Food and Drink
Pagan religions have no universal dietary laws. Many Pagans are vegetarian, so a meatless option is a kindness. Label dishes, as you would for any mixed gathering.
Space
Most Pagan groups have no building. They will be glad of an invitation to yours, and may in turn invite you to a park, a garden, or a home. When events rotate among host sites, an outdoor gathering hosted by the Pagan community is a good way to include them.
Privacy
Before you print a Pagan participant's name in a program, a bulletin, or a press release, ask. Some are fully public. Others can take part only if their name stays out of print.
Questions That Are Welcome
Pagans in interfaith settings expect questions and are glad to answer sincere ones, such as:
- What does your community do when it gathers?
- Which days are holy to you, and how do you keep them?
- How does your tradition mark birth, marriage, and death?
- What does your tradition teach about caring for the earth?
- What would you most like us to understand about you?
Things to Avoid
- Jokes about broomsticks, cauldrons, or casting spells on the committee.
- Asking a Pagan guest to perform a ritual, read cards, or "do something Pagan" for the group.
- Asking a guest to defend their religion against the teachings of yours.
- Introducing the guest as a curiosity. Introduce them by name and by the work they do.
- Assuming that one Pagan can answer for all. Traditions differ widely.
If You Are Invited to a Pagan Ritual
Public Pagan rituals at the seasonal festivals often welcome guests. If you attend:
- Ask your host what to expect and what, if anything, to bring. A dish to share afterward is common.
- Dress for the weather. Many rituals are held outdoors.
- Take part as far as you are comfortable, and simply stand quietly for the rest. No one will press you.
- Do not touch the altar or the objects on it, and ask before taking photographs.
- If food or drink is passed, you may accept it or pass it along with a nod.
When Members of Your Congregation Are Uneasy
Some congregants may object to sharing a platform with Pagans. It may help to explain that working beside a neighbor in a food pantry endorses the neighbor's dignity, not the neighbor's doctrine, and that Pagans do not seek converts. Our Myths and Facts page and fact sheets may be copied freely for discussion, and a Speakers Bureau volunteer will gladly meet with your board or study group.