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Pagan Spirit Gathering 2008 Pagan Leadership Institute |
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| The Pagan Leadership Institute at PSG includes workshops and training programs especially designed for Pagan ministers, elders, activists, and others in leadership roles. | ||
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Selena Fox has been designing and guiding various types of rites of passage and other rituals for more than 30 years. She is high priestess of Circle Sanctuary and founder of PSG. She is also a spiritual counselor and clinical psychotherapist.
Workshops being presented at PSG 2008 Jerrie Hildebrand has been affiliated with various national nature-centered and Pagan organizations since 1986. She currently works with the Our Freedom Collaborative, is the Assistant Director of Lady Liberty League and an ordained minister with Circle Sanctuary leading an interfaith women's collective in Massachusetts. Her work and path is tied with her love and passion of transformational thinking and processes. As an award-winning creative director with 30 years experience, she has a mastery in working as an artist, business woman, mother and priestess and walking between the worlds of each. Workshops being presented at PSG 2008: Rev. Patrick McCollum is the Statewide Wiccan Chaplain for the California Department of Corrections, and as such serves 33 state correctional institutions as Chaplain. He is also the National Coordinator for the Lady Liberty League Prison Ministry Task Force, and negotiates with upper level government officials in regard to Pagan religious rights for prisoners. Workshops being presented at PSG 2008: Rev. Paula Johnson is a 3rd degree Wiccan High Priestess from the Proteus branch of the Gardnerian tradition as well as an ordained minister for Circle Sanctuary. She is the Coordinator for Circle Sanctuary's Operation Circle Care, Pentacles for Pagan Troops and Circle's Coordinator for Campus Ministry. As Media Relations Liaison for Lady Liberty League, she was actively involved in the Pentacle Quest. In September 2006, she spoke about the Pentacle Quest at the World's Congress of Religions conference at McGill University in Montreal, Canada in her presentation, "A Pagan By Any Other Name: The Rhetoric of Nature Religion in the Media." In July 2007 Paula traveled to Arlington National Cemetery and participated in the dedication of the first headstone in US history to have a Christian cross on one side and a pentacle on the other. In November 2007 she presented her research on "Pagan Rights and the Internal Law of Public Administration" at the American Academy of Religions, Conference for Contemporary Pagan Studies. In March 2008, Paula participated in an interreligious pilgrimage to Haiti with Christian organization "Food for the Poor" and works with Catholic campus organization "The Neuman Club". Paula has a Master's Degree in Mass Communications and wrote her Masters Thesis on the role the media played in the Pentacle Quest. Paula is a religion writer and has contributed as a staff writer for Circle Magazine and other international publications. Workshops being presented at PSG 2008: Nora Cedarwind Young is a Certified Death Midwife, Green Burial Educator and End-of-Life Planning Activist/Educator. She is a Circle Minister, and High Priestess Circle of Stellamaris. Nora was the first Pagan Hospice Chaplain in Washington State and one of the first chaplains in the nation to specialize in Pagan Hospice needs. She has facilitated rituals and workshops at numerous gatherings. Previously a Pagan bookstore owner, her teaching includes Death Midwifery, Home Funerals, Eco-Spirituality, Songs and Chants for Pagan Children and various classes celebrating Goddess/Women's studies. Nora has twice presented at the International Women of Wisdom Conference and The Provender Alliance for Organic Education. As a dedicated Hospice volunteer and Chaplain, volunteers Prison Ministry and she has done hundreds of hours of advocacy work for Domestic Violence, Eco-Spirituality, social issues and numerous panels and media forums including area public schools. Nora co-facilitated with Dr. Marilyn Stoner and Selena Fox, an online End-of-Life Preferences Study for Wiccans, Pagans and Nature Spirituality Practitioners. Results were recently published in the Journal of Hospice Nursing and Palliative Care. Nora continues to serve both interfaith and intrafaith at her county hospital and assists individuals and families with home and family centered funerals through Ceremonies for Life's' Thresholds. Website: www.thresholdsoflife.org Workshops being presented at PSG 2008: |
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Interfaith Skills for Pagan Leaders PSG 2008 Ministers Intensive with Selena Fox. |
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June 16-21 4:45 - 6 pm, Monday through Friday at Drum Spirit Circle (rain site: Circle Camp) Workshops in this intensive will be held daily, in late afternoon, and will include presentations by Selena Fox, High Priestess of Circle Sanctuary. The focus of this year's intensive is on developing skills for effective work in organizations, situations, and settings that bring together those of diverse religions and philosophies for understanding, ceremonies, education, and positive social change. Selena Fox, founder of PSG and senior minister of Circle Sanctuary, has been active in interfaith endeavors for more than forty years. She is serving her fourth term as President of the Greater Madison Interreligious Association and is co-founder of the Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration for the greater Madison, Wisconsin area. She is the Pagan religion representative on the Wisconsin Department of Corrections' Religious Practices Advisory Committee, an interfaith group that considers and advises on religious accommodation issues pertaining to state prisons. In addition, Selena has been a presenter at international interfaith conferences since 1980, and is a member of the Assembly of Religious and Spiritual Leaders associated with the Parliament of the World's Religions. This intensive is open to (1) those in Circle Sanctuary's ministers training program, (2) Circle ministers, and (3) priestesses, priests, ministers, and leaders of other branches of the Wiccan religion, Pagan spirituality, and related paths. This is an advanced training designed for Pagan ministers and for those studying to be Pagan ministers. Past interfaith experience and training, while helpful, is not required. Monday: June 16: Pagans in Interfaith & Intrafaith Importance of developing skills in Interfaith (different world religions) and Intrafaith (different forms of Paganism) as part of Pagan ministry service. Overview of Pagan participation opportunities in interfaith groups, networks, projects, charities, conferences, and coalitions, from local to global. Do's and Don'ts -- mistakes to avoid and pointers to keep in mind in interfaith & intrafaith work. Tuesday, June 17: A Place at the Table: Interfaith Councils & Projects Guide to learning about, making contact with, and joining local interfaith councils, dialog groups, charities, projects and other endeavors. Exploring the dynamics and implications of being "a face" or "the face" of Paganism in interfaith groups. Ways to identify and dispel subtle and/or blantant prejudice and discrimination against Paganism and Nature religion in interfaith work. Ways to effectively and equally participate in interfaith groups. Developing and enhancing interfaith dialog skills. Wednesday: June 18: Pagan Rites in Interfaith Settings Designing, adapting, and conducting Pagan weddings, funerals, other passage rites, seasonal celebrations, and other rituals to create community among audiences composed of those of different religions and philosophies. Selecting, creating, introducing, and presenting Pagan-rooted blessings, prayers, music, meditation, and rites at interfaith conferences and other events. Thursday: June 19: International Interfaith Realms Developing skills in international as well as interfaith diplomacy, dialog, and collaboration. Keys to effective participation & presentations as a Pagan leader at international interfaith conferences, including the Parliament of the World's Religions. Pointers on speaking about Paganism to public and religious media covering global interfaith conferences. Friday: Interfaith Alliances for Positive Social Change Keys to effective participation in interfaith collaborations, face-to-face and on-line, to bring about greater religious freedom, a healthier environment, world peace, and other forms of positive social change. Ways of developing interfaith alliances to support Pagan civil rights issues. Resources for continuing studies in developing interfaith skills. |
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