Here's a hypothetical situation:

You find yourself accused of a particularly brutal and grisly multiple murder, and although you are innocent, the evidence is pointing to you. Who will you ask to represent you in court?

1. A hereditary witch from a tradition that dates back to the 14^th Century,
2. A third degree Gardnerian with a Doctorate in Divinity,
3. The HPS of a Coven that has four satellite covens,
4. A legally ordained Priest who has studied with [Insert Pagan Figure Here], or
5. A Lawyer.

While this seems to be a no-brainer, this logic gets confused when applied to Pagan Community organizations. I can see why a religious organization-- one that actively promotes a religion and holds religious services-- might be concerned with the religious credentials of its leaders and staff, but who really cares if the guy who organizes the local Pagan Night Out was raised Pagan or discovered it in college? He could be a Mormon for all I care, as long as he's getting the job done.

Of course, this kind of bickering exists everywhere. Many Christian figures claim that you should vote the way they tell you because they're tight with God, and many churches are rife with "holier than thou" internal politics. But it's particularly silly in the Pagan community, where we have so many different standards and traditions.

Even if we assume one's religious background makes one more qualified to balance a checkbook for a Pagan Non-Profit Organization, how does it work? Is it a point system? Do you get 50 points for being a member of a family tradition, plus ten points for each generation that tradition spans? If your tradition has been around for ten years and has 2,000 members with covens in seventeen states, is that worth more or less "Pagan Cred" than being able to trace your lineage to Gardner? Is there a sliding scale for how long you've been with your trad? Do particular traditions hold more weight? It would seem to me that the Asatruar and the Druids have a better chance of proving that their religions are unbroken traditions dating back to whenever-- does this make them more qualified to vote on matters of public relations?

Me, I initiated myself in 1990, then, two years later, I was initiated to the second degree by a coven that claimed to be pre-Gardnerian. What's that worth, and does it matter that the initiation was the only ritual I've worked with them, before or since? Does it matter that I cannot prove that the initiation took place, nor can I offer any evidence that the coven exists or ever existed (much less predated Gardner)? Oh, and wait! I've been in a Circle with Starhawk! Does that count for anything? Does it make a difference that she almost certainly wouldn't remember my face or name? And... and... somewhere I have a postcard signed to me by Laurie Cabot, at the request of a friend. What does that get me? Oh! Oh! And I've got a first edition copy of Witchcraft Today, the book that is generally acknowledged to be the book that started Wicca. I've also got all three editions of The Spiral Dance, and what's more, I've actually read those!

Everything I said in the preceding paragraph is both absolutely true, and totally worthless-- even without the disclaimers. Either what I have to say is meaningful, or it isn't. All the background in the world isn't going to add value to my thoughts if they weren't good ideas in the first place. And yet, I've had people use less than the above to try to impress me into accepting them as an authority.

I respect people who can get the job done, regardless of their training or tradition. When it comes to community organizations and non-profits, most of the skills needed have nothing to do with religion. Managing a coven isn't the same as working with a large number of Pagans of many different faiths, and casting Circle isn't necessarily going to get the IRS to approve your 501(c)3 status. We're talking professional skills here-- and if all you've got is a fabulous religious heritage, don't try to pass that off as a substitute for hands-on experience. (In many ways, highly-touted religious backgrounds can work against you. The last thing anyone trying to serve the greater community wants is to be too heavily identified with a particular tradition.)

In all honesty, I know I'm screaming at the wind here. This kind of power play has been going on since religion was invented, and will continue until the sun burns out. But I can at least hope that some of us will learn not to fall for it.

© 2002 by Cather "Catalyst" Steincamp