What does "clergy" mean for pagans - specifically for those in Earth Religions Coalition East? Concerns have been expressed that ERCE is stating that some people are better pagans than others, or that only some people will be "allowed" to perform rituals. The concept of clergy, as I understand it, does not imply either of these.
Currently in Nova Scotia only people who are officially designated as "clergy" can easily gain admittance into hospitals, or legally perform rites in which they act as an official of the state (i.e. marry people). Further, in the situation that we least want to occur - but which inevitably will, at some time - it is much easier for an officially-designated "clergy" person to deal with hospital staff or undertakers or state officials in order to perform funeral rites. Each designated clergy member receives a number from the government which is used when signing official forms. Both lay-clergy and ministers of religions receive numbers and can fulfill these functions.
Many people have an image of "clergy" derived from the Catholic or Anglican churches - where there is a priest with authority over a "flock". While this is traditional within these faiths, the law of Nova Scotia does not convey authority on "clergy", other than, as stated above, the authority to sign official papers or be seen as a legal representative of a religious tradition. Within many other mainstream faiths the clergy-person is a minister who is appointed and evaluated by their congregation. This in my mind is closer to the pagan model: a clergy person is not "better" or "more pagan", simply one who has certain practical skills and useful knowledge, and who is able or willing to use these skills and this knowledge on behalf of the group.
Established religions however do have ways of determining who is or is not clergy, for the purpose of receiving government recognition. Pagans require to make these definitions.
Within Earth-centred religions, people engage in a variety of practices. Among these are performance of formal religious rites, teaching and training, and counselling functions. In many Earth-religions, people are expected to act as their own priestesses or priests, and in group (circle, coven or kindred) rituals all participate; in other Earth-religions group rituals are led by designated priestesses and priests. Some have a system of training whereby initiates proceed from one level to another, in some people learn by doing, by taking part, and are often self-taught. As I see it, "Clergy" are people who can and do create and perform rituals for others of their faith, at need, and who may engage in teaching or counselling of others, also at need; and furthermore who attempt to live their lives, perform their counselling or teaching activities, in a way that others recognize as compatible with their pagan tradition. As pagans claim that their paganism is a way of life rather than a separate compartment within it, pagan "clergy" cannot be Sunday - or Sabbat - Pagans.
So, ERCE clergy are people who are performing clergy functions within their own groups, or (in the case of a solitary) for pagans in general, who are prepared to go on record as doing these (i.e. have government, educational, and hospital authorities know that they are "pagan clergy"), and who are willing to extend their activities to pagans within the community who are in need of their assistance or facilitation, where it is reasonable to expect the clergy-person to do this. They require to have the support of their groups, and to be acknowledged as suitable public representatives by these groups and by other ERCE members. They should be people who can talk knowledgeably about their own traditions and (though in much less detail) about Earth-religions generally. If asked, they should be able to give instruction in the basic practices and beliefs of their own tradition.
Not all ERCE clergy will perform all clergy functions: in particular, hospital visiting and prison chaplaincy require specialized training. I foresee a situation in which some "clergy" people fulfill some functions, some fulfill others. However all official clergy should on reasonable request be able to perform simple rituals for those of their own faith, and be prepared to assist other pagans with their ceremonies (e.g. during a wedding ceremony) and should be able to give basic counselling, for instance pre-marital counselling. While each faith or tradition is likely to have its own requirements regarding ritual practice and theological understanding, I recommend that ERCE run workshops on basic clergy requirements and expectations, similar to the chaplaincy-workshops run by the Unitarians, and that these be open to people who seek to be clergy and to those who are already clergy.
One concept that should at some time be discussed is that of payment-for-services. Preparation of a rite - a birthing rite, marriage rite, funeral or memorial rite - is work. This work is regularly and routinely done by pagans for people within their own groups; currently, as pagan clergy are un-salaried, on an unpaid basis. It is an appropriate contribution to the group, and other group members also contribute, in their own ways, from their particular skills and talents.
What, however, is the position if an ERCE clergy-person is approached by non-ERCE people and asked to prepare and conduct a rite-of-passage ritual for them? This situation has been discussed within the Unitarian Universalist movement, whose clergy are very often approached by people who are not members of an established church and who wish a blessing - often currently a pagan religious blessing - on their marriage, in addition to the legal component. The current recommendation is that (a) the clergy-person will decide whether she or he can perform what is asked, (b) that they may charge a fee for the work occasioned, with the recommended fee being $150, though they may of course waive or reduce this in particular cases, and (c) that they should expect to be reimbursed for expenses such as travel or motel accommodation. While the need for such decisions will probably not arise immediately within ERCE, it may be important that we consider this matter from the outset. If we should choose to adopt a solution similar to that of the Unitarians, it should be made clear that the fee would be for the clergy-person's time, and work of preparation and counselling - and not for whatever spiritual or magical energy she or he brings to the marriage ritual.
Jenny Blain
January 20, 1998
Return to ERCE Homepage