As a Wiccan minister, I just wanted to start a topic for people of different religious backgrounds to share with each other in an air of commonality, rather than devisiveness. You don't have to be a minister to participate, although I am interested to discuss with other ministers various issues relating to being a religious leader in your community.

I will soon be in a place of greater responsibility in my religion, and one of the challenges that Wicca still faces is gaining legitimacy among other religious leaders. You don't have to agree with my beliefs to see me as a valid spiritual leader, and we can learn alot from each other. Alot of work has been done by some great and dedicated people in this aspect, but I just wanted to try to do my part to build some bridges between the various faiths out there.

And please, please, please, if you have something derogatory to say about my or any other religion, please start your own topic to do so. Don't poison this one with your hate. Thanks.

Well, TW, I don't really have any given religion that I am affiliated with, although my own personal beliefs correspond the most with the true teachings of Jesus.

I was raised a Methodist, and still am, loosely. I like their inclusiveness. For example, when my nephew was getting baptized in the Methodist church, the minister noted that his father was Muslim, grandmother and aunt Jewish and another aunt Buddhist. His only comment was "Would that the world could get along like this family".

I believe mostly in what Jesus taught about loving each other. I slip a lot, but I'm human.

Alot of Pagans also believe that Jesus was a great guy, or even an enlightened "master" with alot of good ideas that were quite radical for their time (a point that today's "conservatives" seem to either forget or ignore), and that's why he was killed.

One of the biggest was his treatment of women.

He was quite the feminist for his day.

He seemed more "pagan" in his treatment of women. There is actually some evidence that he was a goddess worshipper. I'm not saying he was or he wasn't, but in the Passion of the Christ, when he is praying and saying "God, God...", the Aramaic he is saying "Shekinah, Shekinah..." which is the feminine aspect of God in Judaism.

TW, I was raised Episcopalian, and still am. For a time, though, I went to a baptist church, where I found it a little too harsh. Even I was discriminated against in another Episcopal church, so I moved on to where I am now.

Being where I am, I have a few ministries: acolyting, chalicing, lecturer (if I will ever be scheduled to do it again), altar guild, and a licensed eucharistic minister LEM). The very latter is when I take communion to people who are physically unable to come to church.

So I take a service folder just for LEM's. After a reading, psalm, gospel, there is a review of the sermon that I and a partner who goes with me hears from the preacher. After the Lord's Prayer, I distribute communion.

So I guess in a way I feel like a full-fledged minister. However, one needs to go to seminary. I don't know if a college degree is required, or what goes on in seminary. But if there are any tests given even though I study hard, I am afraid of not doing well on tests. Something just escapes my mind when it comes to taking tests.

Congratulations on your achievement.

Thanks!

Some people have started a Pagan seminary, but my training is all from a private teacher, which is the more "old school" way to do it in Wicca and Paganism. But all in all, it was about 3 years worth of training, and I am considered as eligible to start my own coven within the tradition. I have the legitimacy to be a minister within the Pagan community, and I'd like to do my part to have that legitimacy recognized outside it as well.

Good for you. Sounds like if a lone person was trained to be a Jedi Knight by another Jedi Knight.

Are most people like you trained in private without having to attend seminary?

In my experience, I am not sure if I could have done that within the Episcopal Church. Although I do recall that a woman became a deacon without having to attend seminary. It was that she was so devoted to working amongst people, serving the Lord.

Congrats TW on the new status. I know myself, it took me 3 decades to finally accept the position of High Priestess myself year before last.

I wish you well on your new successful path hon! (((((((((HUGZ)))))))))))

If I were Pagan, I would bow down before the High Priestess.

BTW, I have not been to the one board you referred me to a few months. Has TW ever gone to that one?