Pagan Federation
The Pagan Federation is an international organization based in London that provides information on Paganism, counters misconceptions about the religion and works for the rights of Pagans to worship in freedom. The Pagan Federation also provides networking help among Pagans and “genuine seekers of the Old Ways” and aids in the contact and dialogue among the various traditions of Paganism worldwide. Its mission statement is “to promote and defend the Pagan traditions.”
Originally called the Pagan Front, the federation was founded in 1971 by members of the four branches of the Old religion of Wisecraft. One of the key founders was John Score, also known as M, who served for years as editor of the influential periodical, The Wiccan, which became the newsletter of the federation. The Wiccan evolved into a quarterly magazine called Pagan Dawn.
The Pagan Federation works with institutions, governmental bodies and the public to present accurate information on Pagan religious views and rights. It seeks to uphold Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights, to which Britain is a signatory, which states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public and private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Membership is open to anyone 16 years of age (the age was lowered from 18 to 16 in 2007) who agrees with these three principles, stated as:
1. Love and kinship with Nature. reverence for the life force and its ever-renewing cycles of life and death.
2. The Pagan Ethic: If it harm none, Do what thou wilt. This is a positive morality, expressing the belief in individual responsibility for discovering one’s own true nature and developing it fully, in harmony with the outer world and community.
3. Honoring the Totality of Divine reality, which transcends gender, without suppressing either the female or male aspect of Deity.
The Pagan Federation sponsors events for members and for the public. It has prison, hospital, community service and interfaith activities. It is a member of PEBBLE.
FURTHER READING:
- The Pagan Federation Web site. Available online. UrL: https:// www.paganfed.org/about.php. Downloaded November 4, 2007.
SOURCE:
The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca – written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley – Copyright © 1989, 1999, 2008 by Visionary Living, Inc.