Paganism As A Path of Service
A list of Pagan and Pagan-Friendly Organizations
A Guide to non-profit charitable organizations for individual Pagans of conscience, Covens and Groves.
PROTECTION OF ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE
National Wildlife Federation
800 822 9919 http://www.nwf.org
Protects endangered and threatened animal species such as bison and wolf.
Also focuses on endangered habitat, water quality, land stewardship,
wetlands, sustainable communities.
Greenpeace
1 800 326 0959 http://www.greenpeace.org
Anti nuclear activism, protection for whales and other endangered marine
wildlife, protection of old growth forests, promoting awareness of the
dangers of genetically altered foods and of chemical pollution, increasing
public awareness of global warming, protecting the Arctic Wildlife Refuge
from oil drilling, are just some of the projects of this organization.
Seashepherd Society
http://www.seashepherd.org
A marine conservation organization that investigates and documents
violations of international laws of the sea while protecting marine wildlife
and habitat. Founded by Captain Paul Watson, the original founder of
Greenpeace, who was the first to put his body between a harpoon and a whale.
He was later kicked out of Greenpeace for stealing clubs used to kill baby
fur seals. The group is famous for destroying the unmanned Icelandic whaling
ship Nybraena and then scuttling their own craft to remove the evidence.
These folks mean business.
The Humane Society of the US
1 800 808 7858 http://www.hsus.org
The nations largest animal protection organization. Promotes the humane
treatment of animals. Seeks to foster respect, understanding and compassion
for all creatures through legal, educational, legislative and investigative
means. Assists animals in disaster situations, provides funding for
shelters, investigates the illegal use of dog and cat fur in the garment
industry, promotes spaying and neutering, works to prevent the importation
of rare and endangered species, works for bans on steel jaw leg traps, to
eliminate needless research using lab animals and tuna nets that trap
dolphins etc.
HUMAN SERVICES
American Foundation for Aids Research
212 806 1600 http://www.amfar.org
Primary mission is the prevent HIV infection. Seeks prevention methods such
as a vaccine, improved treatments and ultimately a cure. Delivers
comprehensive clinical trial and treatment information to patients and
physicians.
Gay Men's Health Crisis
212 367 1536 http://www.gmhc.org
The oldest AIDS service organization in the US. Provides friendship,
counseling, companionship, nutrition, legal assistance, meals, health care,
to one third of all New Yorkers living with AIDS. Also seeks to educate the
public about AIDS related issues.
Human Rights Campaign
1 800 777HRCF http://www.hrc.org
Fights for an America where lesbians and gays enjoy equal rights, where they
can be open and safe at home, at work, and in society. 91% of candidates
supported by HRC were successfully elected. Lobbies for the Hate crimes
Prevention Act, the Employment Non Discrimination Act. Largest national
lesbian and gay advocacy organization.
International Rescue Committee
800 551 3000 http://www.intrescom.org
The leading non profit, nonsectarian voluntary organization providing
relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of
oppression or violent conflict. Provides resettlement assistance, global
emergency relief, rehabilitation and advocacy for refugees. Seeks to have
volunteer doctors and emergency supplies in the air within 24 hours of a
refugee crisis because it is in the first few weeks of a large scale
population movement that overwhelming deaths occur.
Oxfam America
800 77oxfam http://www.oxfamamerica.org
Provides emergency assistance in hurricanes, floods and other natural
disasters and to refugees in war situations. Provides famine relief,
micro-credit loans, educates farmers on marketing strategies. Must be
invited in by a host country and do not seek to influence the politics of
any given nation. They help people to help themselves while honoring
indigenous customs. Oxfam fights for debt relief for poor countries and for
indigenous rights.
NARAL - National Abortion Rights Action League
202 973 3000 http://www.naral.org
The political arm of the pro-choice movement, formed before Roe vs Wade was
passed. Lobbies to protect access to abortion, does grass roots organizing
and education. Emphasis is on legal and political work. Helps elect
pro-choice officials through its pac. Works to develop and sustain a
constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the
right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive
choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy
children, and choosing legal adoption.
National Organization For Women
202 331 0066 http://www.now.org
A grassroots political action organization that organizes marches, lobbying,
legislation for women. According to a 1998 New York Times/CBS newspoll 75%
of those polled oppose constitutional amendments to outlaw abortion, however
a loud minority works every day to deprive women of this right. NOW
activists fight abortion bans across the country. Also works for domestic
violence program advocacy, opposes the Republican led gag rule on family
planning worldwide, provides education for judges and law enforcement
personnel, fights for freedom of access to health clinics, deals with
stalking issues, sexual abuse of runaways and homeless youth, hate crimes,
violence against women in the military, protection for older women, disabled
women and immigrants, employment rights, health issues, safety for women on
campus.
Native American Rights Fund
303 447 8760 http://www.narf.org
Works to defend the legal rights being denied to Native peoples. Is
currently representing over 500,000 individual Indian Money trust
beneficiaries against the Department of the Interior and the Department of
Treasury. Works with tribal governments to reform the education of Indian
children on reservations. Works to protect the natural environments of
Indian reservations, to ensure police protection in Alaska's Native
villages, to protect aboriginal hunting and fishing subsistence rights.
of related interest; www.freepeltier.org
UNICEF - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
1 800 FOR KIDS http://www.unicefusa.org
Founded to protect children and their mothers in the wake of WWII. Ships
clean water, syringes, vaccines, water filters, food, soap, blankets, radio
equipment, tents, pit latrine covers, and other emergency supplies to
disaster areas. Works to prevent outbreaks of diarrhea, cholera, malaria,
measles, meningitis. Creates emergency field schools so that children's
educations will not be interrupted. Is working to eradicate neonatal and
maternal tetanus world wide.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Appalachian Mountain Club
617 523 0636 http://www.outdoors.org
Does environmental impact studies, performs trail maintenance, promotes low
impact use of the out of doors. Involved in ozone research, river
protection, solar energy use, rare flora and habitat protection, clean water
protection, forest land policies, clean air act. Offers classes and
workshops from Maine to New Jersey including teen wilderness adventures.
Coop America
202 872 5307 http://www.coopamerica.org
Works to promote ethical business practices. Got over 400 businesses
including Home Depot to agree to stop buying or using old growth wood and
increase use of recycled materials. Is putting pressure on Wal-Mart and The
Gap and other businesses that use sweat shops. Is launching an educational
campaign so that minorities, the elderly will avoid the predatory lending
practices of large banks that cause them to lose their homes. Publishes The
Green Pages, a consumer guide to green businesses. Will soon release the
Sweatshop Guide so that consumers can avoid corporations that use
sweatshops. Evaluates products and companies based on gender issues, human
rights, environmental record, military contracts at
www.responsibleshopper.org.
Earthlands
Environmental Education / Earth Awareness Training
http://www.earthlands.org
TreePeople
818 753 4600 http://www.treepeople.org/trees
Has planted over 1 1/2 million trees in the Los Angeles basin in a effort to
save water and shade/cool the area. Famous for getting schools to rip up
asphalt and replace it with trees and soft ground. They also plant trees in
poor neighborhoods, train local people to care for trees through their
Citizen Forester program.
American Farmland Trust
202 331 7300 http://www.farmland.org
Works to stop the loss of farmland to urban sprawl and development. Promotes
farming practices that lead to a healthy environment. Works on the local
level to educate communities and individual farmers about available options.
Seeks to influence federal policy, public officials, farmers and ranchers,
conservationists and other citizens to protect agricultural land and
landscapes.
National Parks & Conservation Association
202 223 6722 ext 213 http://www.npca.org/npca/
The only non-profit citizens group dedicated to preserving America's
national parks. Identifies at risk parks where wildlife is endangered, or
where historic artifacts are in danger of being lost. Identifies parks where
growing visitation is resulting in traffic jams, noise pollution, and
degradation of trails. Lobbies legislatures to limit overcrowding,
development, personal watercraft, jetskis, snowmoblies, airline overflights
and to provide funds for maintenance.
Environmental Defense
800 684 3322 http://www.scorecard.org http://www.edf.org
Worked to ban the pesticide DDT and to get major businesses like Mcdonalds
to use recyled packaging. Is on the forefront of environmental economics,
legislation and grassroots activism. Works to fight global warming. Has a
team of scientists, economists and attorneys who created the chemical
scorecard website that provides a map of every community in the US by zip
code, tells what pollution is in the air and water, where it is coming from,
and the health implications and symptoms.
The Nature Conservancy
703 841 5300 http://www.tnc.org
4245 North Fairfax Drive, Alexandria, VA 22203
The mission of the Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and
natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by
protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Has protected more
than 11 million acres in 50 states and Canada. Has helped like minded
organizations do the same in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Pacific and
Asia. TNC owns more than 1,300 preserves - the largest private system of
nature sanctuaries in the world. Famous for buying entire eco-systems and
bio-regions in order to protect their flora and fauna.
Union of Concerned Scientists
617 547 5552 x 219 http://www.ucsusa.org
An independent non profit alliance of 50,000 citizens and scientists. Uses
rigorous scientific analysis to work for a healthier environment and a safer
world. Founded in 1969 by students and faculty of MIT concerned about the
misuse of technology and science in society. UCS is currently issuing
studies on and lobbying congress about; Starwars (UCS has determined that
the system cannot work), global warming, genetically engineered crops and
the need for more testing, overuse of antibiotics, genetically engineered
animals and the potential threats such as cross breeding with wild species,
health hazards of hormones in milk, increased pollution, gas consumption,
and greenhouse gasses resulting from SUV's (they designed and donated an
environmentally friendly SUV to the auto industry).
RELIGIOUS (see also non-profits below)
Interfaith Alliance
202 639 6370 http://www.tialliance.org/
Encourages candidates to resist the influence of the religious right. Gives
religious leaders information to prevent distribution of misleading voter
guides in houses of worship. 50 faiths involved. They work with grass roots
activists to promote voter registration and hold forums on issues facing
voters. Organize religious leaders to promote voting and get people of faith
involved in political activities in churches, synagogues and mosques. Seeks
to ensure the civil rights of all Americans and to oppose the Christian
Coalition.
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
202 628 7700 http://ww.rcrc.org
The only faith-based coalition for reproductive choice. Primary mission is
to counter the idea that Pat Robertson and the Christian Coalition speak for
all people of faith on the choice issue. Lobbies elected officials. Provides
counseling to women facing choices. Provides sex education. Trains clergy to
offer counseling in hospitals and clinics. Provides pastoral support for
health clinic workers and escorts. Member groups include; Methodists,
Presbyterians, United Church of Christ, The Episcopal Church, The Moravian
Church, American Baptists Witness For Choice, Catholics for Free Choice,
Lutheran Women's Caucus, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reform Jewish
groups, the Humanist Movement, Unitarian Universalists, Ethical Culture
Movement, Black Church Initiative, Women of Color Partnership, Clergy For
Choice Network, etc.
S.O.T.E.S.
http://sotes.org/
"In order to forge a better understanding of the universal language of
spirituality and to break down the barriers between religions, the
mission of the Society of the Evening Star is to provide an educational
facility, library, housing and outdoor green space for the elder leaders
of world faiths and minority religions to practice, to teach and to
mentor students who are searching for spiritual answers. S.O.T.E.S.
firmly believes that such teaching will assist in realizing the
potential within us, will manifest a better life for all within the
community and will help remove many of the obstacles that prevent the
enjoyment of a fuller and richer life."
Our charitable arm is Acts of Kindness, Inc (commonly called AOK).
Our web site is located at: http://a-o-k.org/
This organization is staffed entirely by S.O.T.E.S. volunteers. No one
is paid a salary.
All donations go directly to those in need.
HOLISTIC HEALTH AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
The American Herbalists Guild
770 751 6021 ahgoffice@earthlink.net http://www.healthy.net/herbalists
1931 Gaddis Road, Canton, GA 30115
A non profit educational association to represent the goals and voices of
herbalists. The only peer review organization for professional herbalists
specializing in the medicinal uses of plants. Is working to strengthen
educational standards, ethics, and cooperative networking amongst
herbalists. Promotes environmental awareness and serves as a liaison between
herbalists, professional associations and regulatory agencies. Promotes
further research, education and study of herbal medicine.
The National Center For Homeopathy
703 548 7790 info@homeopathic.org http://www.homeopathic.org
801 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Established for the purpose of promoting homeopathy through education,
publication, research and membership services. Has a national directory of
homeopaths nationwide. Has a summer school where lay persons, doctors,
nurses, veterinarians, and dentists can study homeopathic approaches to
treatment.
United Plant Savers
802 479 9825 info@plantsavers.org http://www.plantsavers.org
POB 98, East Barre, VT 05649
A non profit, grass-roots membership organization dedicated to the
conservation and cultivation of at-risk native medicinal plants. For
herbalists and those who care about the future of endangered native
medicinals. Works to identify at-risk species. Researches propagation and
cultivation of at-risk medicinals, secures and operates botanical
sanctuaries, replants and restores communities of at-risk medicinals in
their native habitats, consults with growers to encourage sustainable land
practices, raises public awareness of at-risk medicinals, works with the
herbal products industry to increase awareness, networks with other green
organizations.
EDUCATIONAL/CULTURAL
THE CELTIC LEARNING PROJECT www.celtlearn.org
A 501C3 FULLY TAX DEDUCTIBLE educational charity, based in and around New
Haven, CT. The Celtic Learning Project exists to bring the civilization of
the ancient Celts to a broad audience. It seeks to do so through interactive
instruction and accurate re-creation of events, communities, and
architecture associated with the European Iron Age Celts. In order to
achieve these goals the Celtic Learning Project:
- Creates educational materials and programs and distributes them to community organizations, schools, and other interested parties.
- Stages public events to introduce people to ancient Celtic culture.
- Educates children and adults through Celtic storytelling.
- Publishes a newsletter, The Carnyx, containing information on related topics and the progress of the Celtic Learning Project toward long-term goals.
- Plans to create a living history museum of an Iron Age Celtic settlement staffed with interpretive guides.
- Plans to establish an educational center at the settlement for research, classes, and special events.
PAGAN NON PROFITS
AAFA ANCIENT ARTS FREEDOM ASSOCIATION
The mission of the Ancient arts Freedom Association is to promote:
* FREEDOM to practice the arts of Divination
* FREEDOM of Religion
* EDUCATION of the Ancient Arts of Divination
* BETTER Our Communities by involvement
http://hometown.aol.com/srvsmoon/page/index.htm
ANCIENT ARTS FREEDOM ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 543, Marshall, NC 28753
1-800-861-0269 Voice Box # 7136
ancientartsfreedom@yahoo.com
or join its e-mail list from:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/aafa
AIDS.ORG
Non-profit AIDS.ORG has touched the lives of people from over 175
countries. In addition to hosting "AIDS Treatment News," not only were they the very
first to offer free online AIDS medical education programs (CME's), but
they also presented the very first AIDS Bookstore on the Internet. They welcome
new relationships with AIDS organizations, publications, and other HIV
content providers. AIDS.ORG recently matured from being a pioneer in
providing online AIDS education, to providing ways for people to
communicate with each other, and to share HIV information and personal experiences in
the battle against AIDS, believing that answer to AIDS lies in thousands of
pieces of information and that knowledge is power.
http://www.aids.org
AREN The Alternative Religions Educational Network
The Alternative Religions Educational Network (AREN) upholds and
embraces all parts of The Constitution of The United States Of America,
especially those articles and amendments that pertain to Freedom of Religion
and Right To Worship a Deity of Choice.
The Alternative Religions Educational Network acts as an education,
information and support Center for any persons who have been subjected to
religious discrimination. Alternative Religions Educational Network offers
and encourages others to offer, Educational services to any Person, Group
or Entity who desire information about Alternative Earth Based Religions
including but not limited to Witchcraft, Paganism, Druidism, and other such
practices and religions that follow a Female Deity or Goddess Figure.
AREN petitions and educates legislators, lobbyists, activists and pagan groups.
AREN Motto: Freedom of Religion means ALL Religions.
Alternative Religions Educational Network, PO Box 821 Connersville, IN 47331
arenline@aren.org
http://aren.org.
DL Dendrite List
Dendrite List is an advocacy and support list for
Earth-Based Religious individuals who are being
discriminated against. These individuals include, but not limited to:
Wiccans, Witches, Pagans, Native Americans, Mystics, etc.
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/Dendrite
ERAA The Earth Religions Assistance Association
The Earth Religions Assistance Association is an organization of Earth
Religions' Rights activists dedicated to promoting, defending, and enforcing
Earth Religionists' legal rights.
ERAA creates legal materials, trains activists, educates Earth Religionists
about their rights and how to protect them, provides legal reference
materials to victims of religious discrimination and their attorneys, raises
funds for these purposes, etc.
Currently, ERAA is most active in northeastern Ohio, but it has members in
Virginia, and New York, and is active at the national level through
networking and other activities.
http://members.aol.com/lcorncalen/ERAA.html or contact Larry Cornett, 890
Alhambra Rd., Cleveland, OH 44110 (216) 692-2124 lcorncalen@aol.com
ERAL The Earth Religions Assistance List
The Earth Religions Assistance List is dedicated to investigating and
providing assistance to Earth Religionists facing legal problems associated
with their religion. ERAL is an international network of Earth Religion
Rights activists in Cyberspace helping facilitate action by individuals and
organizations in the real world. Its area of operation is currently the
entire United States and Canada. ERAL has key members of most other Earth
Religion Rights organizations among its members.
ERAL is kind of a "911" assistance hotline/list for Earth Religion rights
activists and organizations that provides research, and information to
individuals and organizations assisting Earth Religionists and their
Attorneys. Sometimes the individual interacting directly with the
individual with the problem or the associated attorney is a member of ERAL,
and sometimes not.
http://www.conjure.com/ERAL/eral.html. To receive a subscription
registration form, e-mail eral-request@dreksys.com. The body of the message
should be ONLY the word: Subscribe
ERLAN
The Earth Religions Legal Assistance Network is a service organization
operating in the United States and Canada that helps Earth Religion Rights
activists communicate so they can help people with problems. However,
ERLAN, as such, is not the direct provider of the help to individuals with
legal problems (the members of ERAL and those who work with them do that,
along with allot of independent individuals and organizations).
ERLAN does the administrative work creating and managing communications
mechanisms to help Earth Religionists with legal problems associated with
their religion and those individuals and organizations that help them.
These mechanisms include ERAL, at least one Earth Religions Assistance
Website, at least one Earth Religions Assistance FTP site, and such
additional communications mechanisms as deemed necessary and appropriate to
fulfill its purposes.
http://www.conjure.com/ERAL/eral.html
FIRE
An Internet-based mailing list/group for the discussion of and action around
media portrayals of non-mainstream religions, particularly Paganism.
Subscriptions are available through
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5883/
FOTE
The vision of the Fellowship of the Earth (FOTE) is one of spiritual growth
within ourselves as individuals as well as a oneness with our community. To
work together to dispel some of the horrible myths and lies that are being
spread about those who are of Earth Spirituality. Education is our only
tool to fight the fear many have of our beliefs.
Rev. Sandy Johnson,
c/o Fellowship of the Earth
P.O. Box 612
Salida, CA 95368
goddess@partytown.com
http://www.silvermoon.net/fote/index2.htm
GR
Gaia Rising is an organization focused on:
- Restoring and protecting sacred land, vegetation, etc., especially when used in worship, meditation, shamanism with nature spirits, and honoring the Goddess in Nature
Minimizing and overcoming legal barriers to those whose practice is to maintain, restore and/or create complex nature-friendly, organic ecosystems.
Larry Cornett, 890 Alhambra Rd., Cleveland,
Ohio 44110 (216) 692-2124 lcorncalen@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/lcorncalen/GaiaRising.htm.
LLL
Lady Liberty League (LLL) is a global Nature religions civil rights
organization. It provides networking and information exchange among
individuals and groups concerned with religious freedom issues pertaining to
Wiccan ways, Paganism, and other forms of Nature Spirituality. The Lady
Liberty League is the religious freedom activism branch of Circle Sanctuary
(Circle), a legally established Shamanic Wiccan church and international
Pagan resource center. The annual networking meeting of Lady Liberty League
takes place during Circle's Pagan Spirit Gathering in June at Summer
Solstice time in Ohio.
The Lady Liberty League does referrals as well as education, networking,
counseling, and publishing as part of its work. News and updates of cases
and other situations are summarized and published quarterly in the Lady
Liberty League Report, which is a section in CIRCLE Magazine. LLL also
publishes info on-line and does cyber networking through LLL NEWS, an email
newsletter.
Send news clippings, reports, and other information about Wiccan, Pagan, and
Nature Spirituality cases, concerns, and issues to LLL. To request help; to
volunteer legal, counseling, or
other services; for membership application; and/or for other information,
contact:
Lady Liberty League, Circle Sanctuary, PO Box 219, Mt. Horeb, WI
53572 USA; email: circle@mhtc.net; website:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty; fax: (608) 924-5961; phone: (608)
924-2216.
MPN
Among other things, the Military Pagan Network provides documentation,
contacts, and regulations as support for Neo-Pagans and Meso-Pagans, on
active duty, reserve, and National Guard, who feel that they are being
discriminated against. M.P.N. is not a legal service and does not provide
legal advice. However, M.P.N. will provide military and government agencies
information pertaining to the religious rights of Neo-Pagans.
http://www.milpagan.org/
or contact: Military Pagan Network
P.O. Box 253
Ellicott City, MD 21041-0253
(410)750-3327
coordinator@milpagan.org
John Machate, Coordinator/CEO
http://www.milpagan.org/
NRADG
The Natural Religion Anti Defamation Group (NRADG) is a Legal resources
committee of the Southeastern Pagan Alliance (SEPA). It offers networking
services and legal resources to All Pagans throughout the Southeastern
United States who are involved in a dispute involving their religious views.
NRADG also refers regional Pagans to appropriate private and public agencies
depending on the nature of the problem.
SEPA has seventeen member Covens/Churches in the Southeast with
twenty-eight applications pending.
SOUTHEASTERN PAGAN ALLIANCE
P.O. Box 674884
Marietta, Georgia 30006-0006
1-500-677-8500 or the
Natural Religion Anti Defamation Group
Lady Rebecca Morgan
(at address above)
rebecca@tylwythteg.com
http://www.tylwythteg.com/sepa.html
OCRT
The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance has three main purposes:
1. To disseminate accurate religious information.
2. To expose religious fraud, hatred and misinformation.
3. To disseminate information on "hot" religious topics.
We look upon ourselves as an information disseminator, not as an activist
group or as a source of legal or moral support for persons discriminated
against.
http://www.religioustolerance.org or contact: OCRT, Box 27026, Frontenac
PO, Kingston ON Canada K7M 8W5
ocrt_qu@cgo.wave.ca
OHF
The Open Hearth Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Pagan community center
initative serving the greater Washington, DC region and founded with the
mission of "providing gathering space and resources for Pagans of all
paths."
Since 1999 the OHF has worked through planned facilities, events, and
programs to address the real and critical need in the Pagan community for
open and dedicated space. It is the intent of the OHF to create space to
call Pagan, space to call sacred, and space that we can all use together in
fellowship for service, spiritual growth, worship, prayer, and education.
http://www.openhearth.org
P.O. Box 16483
Arlington, VA 22215-1483
OPC
The Ohio Pagan Confederation is a network of Earth Religion Rights and
Information activists engaged in various projects, including:
* Creating an annotated directory of Public Ohio Earth Religion Rights
and Information Contacts (now merged with the effort by SEA)
* Publicity and networking on events, public calls for assistance,
news of interest to our community, etc. Stacy Bartley recently launched an
e-mail list to help in these efforts. For details on the e-mail list,
contact Stacy at (614) 261-1022 or e-mail pcco@netwalk.com. Larry Cornett
has a Calendar of Events in Ohio on the web
at http://members.aol.com/lcorncalen/CAL-OHIO.htm
* Completing a directory of other resources in Ohio pertinent to Earth
Religion rights and needs. For details, contact Stacy Bartley (see phone
number and e-mail address above)
* Networking Pagan and Pagan-Friendly Counselors and social services
professionals and reaching those who need such help. For details, contact
Ygraine at (330) 677-1304
http://members.aol.com/lcorncalen/ERAA.html
PACT
Pagans in Action Council for Truth (PACT) is a non-profit Educational and
Religious Rights Council for Pagans. It has Four basic purposes;
1. To network between active groups and provide assistance for
potential students of Pagan Religions,
2. To make available Pagan products through local merchants,
3. To Educate the News, Radio, Schools, Law Enforcement, and general
public,
4. To provide assistance in Religious Discrimination cases with contact
to both religious activists and Elders in the Pagan Community.
Rev. Kat Steingraber
1373 Dunbarton Road
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 279-6071
elemental@zebra.net or Selena FireSinger: selena@pagans.org
http://www.the-pact.org
PACT (Texas)
The Pagan Alliance of Central Texas (PACT) is an organization of Pagans of
all types, headquartered in Austin, Texas, and serving the central Texas
area. We provide a forum for networking opportunities, information, and
advocacy in the Pagan community in central Texas.
PACT maintains teacher and student reference lists, serves as a channel of
connection for Pagans and Pagan organizations in our area, and acts where
appropriate to preserve the religious freedom of Pagan people in the central
Texas area.
http://www.paganalliance.org
PACT
P.O. Box 12041
Austin, TX 78711
paganalliance@paganalliance.org
PAGAN COMMUNITY FUND
Under the auspices of PEN (Pagan Educational Network) the fund makes cash
grants to Pagans in need. Funded by donations from the Pagan community it is
led by Lady Jana Heowulf-Noroan. Usually a Pagan sends an e:mail to explain
their situation and Lady Jana responds with a few questions to determine the
seriousness of the situation. Once the request is approved by the board a
grant is made.
Grants have included helping a Pagan get back home to their family, helping
a man with rent when he lost his job, putting food in the cupboard of a
woman so her children would not go hungry, sending money to a black
congregation whose church was burned. Money was sent to someone who's
medicines were lost in a fire and he needed them to live, money was sent to
a man who had broken both legs in a construction accident and needed help
with his bills. Funds were sent to Church of the Iron Oak to help with legal
expenses in their battle with the state of Florida. Many others have been
helped with small sums in their time of need.
Donations are usually small so don't be shy about sending $5.00 or $10.00.
All donations are tax deductible. See PEN pen@bloomington.in.us below for
contact information.
(My suggestion is that every state or bio-region should have its own Pagan
community fund for Pagans in need - so why not start one! - Ellen)
PagaNet, Inc. (PNI)
PagaNet, Inc.is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization whose mission is to
provide professional and sustainable support to the local and non-local
Earth-based religious community in the following areas:
. spiritual rites and retreats
. religious and leadership education
. public lectures and presentations
. social programs and activities
. outreach through media, networking and collaborative efforts, and
. interfaith relationships within the community at large.
PagaNet, Inc. produces a regular publication, PagaNet News, which is free at
distribution sites around the country, as well as in England, Italy and Germany.
For more info on events, activities and programs;
PagaNet, Inc., PO Box 61054, Virginia Beach, VA 23466-1054
(757) 539-4523 ph; (757) 539-6929 fax
http://www.paganet.org email to pni@paganet.org
PAGAN INTERFAITH EMBASSY
Founded during the second Parliament of the World's Religions, 1993,
Chicago, as a foundation to applying the Global Ethics established at that
event. Since then it has organized three separate Pagan Leadership
Conferences for Chicago which helped to open the city to Paganism and led to
wide news and media coverage. The conferences were free to all attendees.
Pagan Interfaith has sponsored Pagan Expo 97 and Pagan Expo 2000. These
free public outreach events were well attended. Founder Ed Hubbard attended
the Third Parliament of the World's Religions, 1999, Capetown, and is
presently working to establish a library in South Africa as well as helping
to strengthen Pagans and Traditional Healers in a country that is building
towards religious freedom.
Ed Hubbard - Pagan Mission To South Africa (773) 478 5570
http://www.cynico.net/telepathic/pie/piesa.html
PEN
The Pagan Educational Network, Inc. is a national, non-profit, proactive
organization dedicated to educating the public about Paganism and building
community. Our newsletter "Water" publishes news on discrimination cases
and requests for support, as well as pieces on human rights, the
environment, alternative technologies, appropriate economics, and positive
social change.
Members work within their local communities to achieve PEN's goals using
whatever means they feel comfortable with, from letter writing to public
speaking to volunteering. We also offer memberships for those who wish to
keep their faith private. We are dedicated to getting results. See Pagan
Community Fund, above.
Pagan Educational Network, PO Box 1364, Bloomington,
IN 47402-1364 [please send business-sized SASE for snail mail requests]
info@PaganEdNet.org
http://www.bloomington.in.us/~pen/
PILG
While not a specifically Pagan organization, Public Interest Law Group, Ltd.
was founded to organize a nation-wide web of civil rights attorneys it can
be counted on to helppursue matters of public interest and legal significance
including without limitation civil/constitutional rights and environmental
law matters.
PILG investigates apparently marginal cases from any jurisdiction in the
United States; develops the facts and the legal research to establish the
merits of the case; and then either counsels the client how to resolve the
problem or, once the likelihood of success at trial is clear, markets it to
the private bar in the client's locality. Civil rights cases arise under
Federal laws that award attorney fees to prevailing plaintiffs, so we
believe many of these plaintiffs can find attorneys who will take the case
on contingency or agree to reimburse any fees paid upon settlement or
success at trial.
Public Interest Law Group, Ltd. (PILG)
Attn: C. Creek Kelsey, JD, MSL
Executive Director, National Att'y Liaison,
1199 Brookfield Road
Montpelier, VT 05602
cckelsey@sover.net or e_pendragon@yahoo.com
PROP (Texas)
Proactive Pagans (ProP) is an all-inclusive group founded in December of
1999 by a Pagan and her Christian husband. We work largely online at the
present time through an email list to protect religious freedom and build
bridges of understanding between all positive religions.
We're happy to help in the form of e:mails, letter writing campaigns, phone
calls, and applicable non-violent protest actions, charitable works, and
anything else we're able to in order to promote our agenda and further our
cause.
Amethyst River at amtfool@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/amtfool/prop.html
http://onelist.com/subscribe/Proactive_Pagans
RLLN
The Religious Liberties Lawyers Network is a national organization of
Wiccan, neo-Pagan and civil liberties attorneys, para-legals and law
students, providing legal counseling and representation in cases of
religious discrimination. Its other objectives include providing
educational materials regarding First Amendment rights, providing a highly
visible media profile to rebut negative stereotypes and respond to instances
of religious bias and discrimination, evaluating and responding to proposed
and existing legislation in the area of religious liberties, and
establishing relationships with advocates of religious liberties from
other faith traditions, providing them with support through amicus curiae
briefs, advice, expert witnesses, etc.
aradia@mindspring.com
Phyllis Curott, Esq.
372 Central Park West, #17K
N.Y., N.Y. 10025
212-663-5642
SACRED WELL
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Contact: Public Information Officer, Cherry Hill Seminary
thistle@cherryhillseminary.org thistle@cherryhillseminary.org
802-234-6420
Pagan Group Included in Federal Charity Network
For the first time ever, a pagan group has been included in a US federal
charity campaign. The Sacred Well Congregation and the International
Institute of Cultural and Religious Studies (SWC/ICRS) have been accepted
into the US¹s federal Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
³It is a good thing for the pagan community because it brings to light that
we can (and must) function on a par with mainstream charitable, service and
educational non-profits, and that our services, visions and goals are just
as worthy as any of theirs,² said David Oringderff, an instructor in
Pastoral Counseling at Cherry Hill Seminary for professional pagan ministry.
The CFC is the only authorized fund raising organization allowed to solicit
charitable donations from Federal employees (civilian and military). The
CFC is supervised by the Office of Personnel Management and implemented
through 340 regional CFC district offices. http://www.opm.gov/cfc/
²The Combined Federal Campaign is the Federal Government¹s version of the
United Way, except the requirements for inclusion are much more stringent,
especially for the National Listing. In fact, several United Way agencies
are included in the CFC,² Oringderff said.
Inclusion in the CFC¹s national List will means that SWC/ICRS¹s listing will
appear in all 340 regional campaign drives. Money raised from this effort
will be used to directly support the congregations¹ services, goals and
visions including many initiatives which have led to greater tolerance,
understanding and acceptance of alternative spiritualities in inter-faith
communities, the pan-pagan community, and society at-large. SWC/ICRS
provides open, public venues for the practice of the Old Religions;
promoting community benevolence efforts, spiritual counseling, and religious
educational programs. http://sacredwell.org
Most of the funding that Sacred Well will receive from the CFC and public
and private grants will be devoted to the collection and preservation of
source material and converting it to digital format and making that material
publicly available to scholars and researchers. ³The remainder will be used
to fund community service projects such as counseling, mentoring, etc to
local communities where we have a presence, institutions, and in support of
military groups and initiatives for service members following alternative
spiritual paths,² Oringderff explained.
The Rev. Dr. Oringderff is also a founding member of Sacred Well and of the
SWC International Executive Council of Clerics. He is an elder and a high
priest in the Greencraft Tradition of Craft Wicca. He is a consultant to
numerous interfaith groups including the DoD Armed Forces Chaplains Board.
Dr. Oringderff is a clinical and forensic psychologist and resides near San
Antonio in Schertz, Texas.
SEA
The Sacred Earth Alliance is an alliance of Earth Religion information and
assistance leagues, including most of the organizations listed in this
article. SEA helps facilitate communications and cooperation between
organizations and individuals fighting religious discrimination and those
that need our assistance. Its main activities include:
Sacred Earth Alliance
c/o Larry Cornett
890 Alhambra Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44110
(216)692-2124
lcorncalen@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/lcorncalen/SEAHomepage.htm
TCP
The Commonwealth Pagan is a clearinghouse, networking, referral and
proactive organization that also alerts people to religious discrimination
and corrects misinformation about Pagans and Paganism.
There are no dues or fees in TCP; the only requirement for TCP membership is
that one be a Pagan residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. TCP networks
in Cyberspace, via e-mail ListServer(s), and meets in Terrespace four times
each year to socialize and to conduct general organizational business.
The Commonwealth Pagan
c/o Kostya Branwen Sudice
1438~B West Ocean View Ave., Willoughby Spit, Norfolk, Virginia 23503~1015
757~480~3503,
kostya@pinn.net
http://www.mindspring.com/~viragofreespirit/tcp.html
TWV
The Witches' Voice is a proactive educational network dedicated to
correcting misinformation about Witches and Witchcraft. Witchcraft is a
legally recognized religion in the United States (since 1985) and it is our
mission to protect that right through education and awareness. We offer
Pagan Political Neutrality to all God/Goddess Earth-Based Traditions and
Solitary Practitioners that follow the Rede, the Law of Three or a similar
compatible Code of Ethics.
http://www.witchvox.com/
The Witches' Voice Inc
P.O.Box 4924
Clearwater, FL 33758-4924
813 723-0734 (press Star button for fax)
WebMaster@witchvox.com
WARD
Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. (WARD), is incorporated under
the Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988 for religious, cultural and
humanitarian purposes, regardless of race, color or creed as follows;
To promote a better understanding of the art of Witchcraft as a religion,
its history, and the discrimination encountered by its followers and
believers; as to end such discrimination through education, knowledge and
the affirmation of religious freedom.
Anybody needing additional information about WARD should contact the Witches
Against Religious Discrimination (WARD)
National Director, Christine Craft (ja@epix.net)
Assistant Director, Darla Kaye Wynne (AKlover@aol.com)
http://www.ward-hq.org
WLPA
The Witches League for Public Awareness springs from a shared vision of a
world free from all religious persecution. Our volunteers and legal
advisors respond to misinformation about Witchcraft from all over the world
and we offer materials that explain the legal protection that the Religion
of Witchcraft is afforded under the laws of the United States.
While our main focus is education, we also have a Legal Defense Fund to aid
those who face discrimination and need financial assistance. We offer
advice in those cases which fit the criteria of our internal case
documentation. The case must be a matter of religious discrimination with
no other legal charges pending.
http://www.CelticCrow.com/
WLPA P.O. Box 909, Rehoboth, Massachusetts 02769
hernesson@aol.com
WPEA
The Wiccan Pagan Educational Association (WPEA) is an affiliation of
individuals, groups and organizations created to educate and inform the
media, government officials, educational institutions and the general public
regarding the various beliefs and practices of Wicca/Witchcraft, Druidism,
Shamanism and other forms of contemporary Paganism. The WPEA is also
committed to upholding and supporting the rights of all minority religions
and peoples.
The WPEA is dedicated to establishing an international networking web to
facilitate the dissemination of news or actions which threaten the religious
rights of its members; to provide knowledgeable spokespersons for schools,
civic organizations and media; and to aid in the fostering of understanding
and harmony between the growing Pagan community and those of
other religions.
WPEA, POB 13384
Atlanta, Ga. 30324
Ellen Evert Hopman, Druid - Order of the Whiteoak (Ord na Darach Gile)
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