A pagan minister is an individual who acts as a spiritual leader or counselor within a pagan community. Paganism encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices that are typically nature-oriented and rooted in ancient or indigenous traditions. Pagan ministers may be called upon to officiate at rituals, weddings, and other ceremonies, as well as to provide guidance, support, and education to their community members. Unlike traditional ministers in mainstream religions, pagan ministers do not follow a strict hierarchy or have a standardized set of beliefs. The role of a pagan minister can vary greatly depending on the specific pagan tradition or community they serve. Some may focus more on ritual and ceremonial aspects, while others may emphasize personal growth, healing, and connection with the natural world.

Pagan Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy is a common professional interest for Pagan-identified individuals who envision a full-time or part-time career as a Pagan minister. There can be many uphill challenges for Pagan chaplains on account of their affiliating with minoritized, often newer, religious traditions. Several of the largest Pagan organizations today were founded in the 1970s, and quite a few are working to support Pagan chaplains and Pagan chaplaincy where they can.

Aspiring Pagan chaplains often feel special pressures on their discernment processes. They may feel they must seek out the most elite and standardized forms of academic and pastoral training to balance out the stigmas they will encounter because of their nonconformist religious identity. Many Pagans aspiring for careers in religious leadership seek degrees from seminaries like Harvard Divinity School, Starr King School for the Ministry, Union Theological Seminary, and United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and enroll in ACPE-accredited CPE programs. Cherry Hill Seminary was established as a Pagan seminary at the turn of the twenty-first century. Other Pagan educational institutions are the Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary and Ardantane.

Circle Sanctuary and Sacred Well Congregation are two Pagan organizations on the Veteran Affairs’ list of approved ecclesiastical endorsing organizations. No Pagan organization has been approved for the Department of Defense’s list of ecclesiastical endorsing organizations. Pagans interested in becoming a chaplain within a DoD component may inquire with the local recruiting office. If they are affiliated with a Pagan organization, they might check for interest in becoming an endorsing organization early on in the candidate’s discernment process. Some Pagans seek ordination as Unitarian Universalist ministers. The Unitarian Universalist Association has a long history of including Pagans among its members and its religious leaders, and the Unitarian Universalist Association endorses chaplains. It should be noted that Pagans and Pagan organizations can volunteer their services for military ministries and prison ministries, and many have been doing so for decades. These voluntarily provided services are independent from professional and formal appointment within DoD Chaplaincy.

Online Ordination for Modern Pagans: Why it’s So Important, Especially Now

Published Tuesday, Jul. 25th, 2023 Written by Jessica Levey
Access to non-denominational online ordination for Pagan ministers and Pagan wedding officiants is essential! Learn about the structure of modern Paganism, including denominations like Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, and more, and why many practitioners choose online ordination to meet the legal requirements to perform handfastings, weddings, and similar marriage rites.

Learn why access to online ordination is important for Modern Pagan Wedding Officiants and Couples

• Browse all Handfasting Articles

Some Pagan denominations do elevate members to the role of Priest, Priestess, Minister, or Elder, but many denominations don’t have an established pathway to ordination, a designated clergy, or a set hierarchy among their members. There are a few training organizations, such as Circle Sanctuary (offering endorcements to members) and Cherry Hill Seminary (offering multi-year certificates and masters-level graduate study). But most of these still don't offer ordination, including Cherry Hill.

• Get Ordained Online with AMM here
  

Many Pagans are solo practitioners or 'Solitary Witches'

What this all boils down to is that without an established and accessible pathway to ordination, it’s difficult for many Pagan Officiants to meet their local government’s guidelines for who can solemnize marriage.

Without ordination, Pagan Officiants might be spiritually qualified, but not legally qualified, to solemnize marriage. In turn, this makes it difficult for Modern Pagan couples and Interfaith couples to find a knowledgeable wedding officiant to perform their marriage rites in a respectful way.

And as more Americans leave mainstream faiths for individual spiritual practices, the need for accessible non-denominational ordination only grows.

This is where online ordination becomes essential…

Some may focus more on ritual and ceremonial aspects, while others may emphasize personal growth, healing, and connection with the natural world. Pagan ministers often draw on a combination of their own personal experiences, knowledge of pagan traditions, and spiritual practices to guide their community members. They may offer classes, workshops, or individual counseling sessions to help people explore their spirituality, understand their place in the world, and deepen their connection to the divine or sacred.

Online Ordination for Pagan Wedding Officiants

As you can see, access to online ordination with a nondenominational church like American Marriage Ministries (AMM) is so important for Pagan Officiants and couples!

Churches like AMM make ordination accessible to Modern Pagans, and many others, so that people of every faith and background are able to celebrate the spiritual rites of their communities in whatever way their faith guides them.

AMM ordains people of all faiths and backgrounds, including Wiccans, Heathens, Druids (Neo-Druids), and other Pagans, provided that they agree to the church’s three tenets:

• All people, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, have the right to marry.
• It is the right of every couple to choose who will solemnize their marriage.
• All people have the right to solemnize marriage.

It’s that simple: AMM believes that what unites us isn’t if we pray, or who we pray to. What unites all of us is our shared humanity. This broad approach allows us to welcome ministers of any religious or nonreligious background, and offer our ideological and spiritual support and acceptance. This universal acceptance is essential to one of our primary functions as a church:

To ensure that all people have equal access to the benefits and protections of marriage, and the opportunity to celebrate the act of marriage with their friends, families, and communities in their own authentic way.

Get Ordained Online with AMM here

Learn more about Pagan wedding traditions here:

When Pagans Wed:

Modern Paganism & the Wedding Ritual

Sacred circles, handfasting unity candles, and feasting -- learn what to expect at a modern Pagan or Neopagan wedding ceremony, including marriage rites of Wicca, Druidism, and Norse inspired Heathen Vikings.

• Read the full article here.

You might also like:

• A Pagan Priest Creates Community in Conservative Mormon Utah
  
• Pagan Wedding Altars : An Illustrated Look at a Year and a Day Altar
  
• Pagan Weddings: Ideas for Offerings to Gods and Ancestors
  
• Wiccaning Ceremony - A Guide to Welcoming a New Witch
  

A ‘wiccaning’ is the deeply joyful ritual celebration of welcoming a new Pagan into a spiritual community. Learn about the Pagan initiation ceremony and read the full article here.

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Lead Staff Writer & Illustrator

Jessica loves exploring the history and magic of ritual, the connections between people and places, and sharing true stories about love and commitment. She's an advocate for marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and individuality, and is an ordained Minister with AMM. When she’s not writing or illustrating for AMM, she enjoys city hikes, fantasy novels, comics, and traveling.

The Five Rings: A Guide to Pagan Ministry

This book is meant for those special few who want to come to the aid of others through the ideals of Paganism. It is divided into five large sections : Caring (offering Spiritual Advising or non-professional counseling), Sharing (giving Spiritual Direction), Declaring (leading special rituals), Preparing (teaching), and Repairing (learning to take and lead retreats).

Pagan ministers can come from a variety of backgrounds and may have received formal training, apprenticeships, or initiations within their particular pagan tradition. However, it is also not uncommon for pagan ministers to be self-taught or to have pursued their spiritual path through personal exploration and study. One of the central roles of a pagan minister is to foster a sense of community and provide support to individuals who may feel marginalized or misunderstood due to their pagan beliefs. They may facilitate gatherings, ceremonies, or festivals where like-minded individuals can come together to celebrate and strengthen their spiritual bond. It is important to note that being a pagan minister does not necessarily mean having authority over others or holding power within a pagan community. Paganism is often characterized by its emphasis on personal autonomy and individual spirituality, and many pagan ministers see their role as one of service and facilitation rather than one of control or dominion. In conclusion, a pagan minister is a spiritual leader or counselor within a pagan community who provides guidance, support, and education to their community members. They may officiate at rituals, weddings, and other ceremonies and offer counseling or spiritual guidance. The role of a pagan minister can vary greatly depending on the specific tradition or community they serve, but their main focus is usually on fostering community, nurturing personal growth, and deepening one's connection to the sacred or divine..

Reviews for "Healing and Spiritual Counseling: The Role of the Pagan Minister in Times of Crisis"

1. John Doe - 2 stars

I was quite disappointed with "Pagan Minister". The story seemed to drag on and lacked any real excitement or suspense. The characters were also very one-dimensional and I found it difficult to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style felt awkward and clunky, making it hard to stay engaged. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and well-developed story.

2. Jane Smith - 1 star

I found "Pagan Minister" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The plot was predictable and lacked any real depth or complexity. The characters felt flat and were not relatable or likable in any way. The prose was also very tedious and uninspired. I struggled to finish this book and was ultimately left disappointed with the entire reading experience. I would not recommend wasting your time on this novel.

3. Tom Williams - 2 stars

"Pagan Minister" was a letdown for me. The pacing of the story was incredibly slow, and it felt like nothing really happened until the last few chapters. The writing was also quite mediocre, with unnecessary descriptions that only further dragged down the already slow narrative. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked any real depth, making it difficult to care about their actions or motivations. Overall, I found this book to be quite dull and would not recommend it to others.

4. Sarah Thompson - 1 star

I had high hopes for "Pagan Minister", but unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations. The story was uninteresting and lacked any real cohesion. The author seemed to jump around between various subplots without fully developing any of them. This left me feeling confused and disconnected from the overall narrative. Additionally, the characters were forgettable and lacked any real personality. I found myself struggling to finish this book and was left feeling unsatisfied with the entire reading experience.

The Responsibilities of a Pagan Minister: Guiding and Supporting the Community