UU Pagans As Leaders

Last updated on: February 18, 2016 at 8:00 pm by Allison Ehrman

UU Pagans As Leaders 2016-02-18T20:00:17+00:00 Allison Ehrman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Despite recent snow and ice events in my part of the world, I am beginning to see early signs of the rebirth of spring all around. The daffodils I inherited from my grandmother have sent green shoots through the melting snow. Bird songs greeted me this morning when I left the house. I am enjoying the sun’s increasing presence, and there’s an earthy smell of growth in the cool, wet air. I’m also participating in my own rebirth, as part of my daily practice for this season (see A Daily Pagan Practice for the Year).

Throughout my adult life, I have constantly been reborn. Some people thrive in consistent and routine existences. I have a need for a stable foundation myself, in the forms of a daily meditation practice, a healthy marriage and family, connection with my fellowship and community, and steady employment in an established company. But in most other areas of my life I crave perpetual development and new beginnings. If I stay in the same place too long I begin to feel depressed and start to question the purpose of my time on earth. I’m constantly learning to play new instruments, reading books and watching documentaries on topics I’ve recently become obsessed with, creating art using a variety of materials, taking up unusual hobbies, and delving into new or expanded spiritual concepts and practices.

I don’t think these rebirths really change me; instead they make me more of who I already am as I incorporate all that I’ve learned and become into the underlying core of my self and of my daily life.

At this time, I’m being reborn into new (to me) leadership roles at my congregation, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Harford County. In April I will be take on the leadership of our Women’s Ritual Circle. I will begin by coordinating a Sunday worship service near the end of March for Ostara, and after that I will organize our sabbath rituals with the assistance of our members, many of whom have been turning the wheel of the year within this Circle for 10-20 years. I am excited and proud to help continue this legacy. I have also accepted a seat on the Executive Board at the fellowship, where I am learning the intricacies of what it takes to run a thriving church from a dedicated and caring group of people who represent a diverse set of beliefs and backgrounds. As far as I know, I’m the only pagan currently on the board, and I see that as a wonderful opportunity, in many ways.

It is important to ask, “What do we, as UU pagans, bring to the table when we serve in leadership roles?” The simplest answer, perhaps, is an increased emphasis on the state of the environment and our natural surroundings. But UU pagans have so much more to offer when we manage projects and activities.

To begin with, we bring a sense of flexibility and creativity to the work at hand. We are used to thinking outside of the box because that’s the niche we permanently inhabit, and this skill translates into a big advantage when we’re faced with limited budgets and volunteers, time constraints, and inevitable last minute challenges. Anyone who has ever made an impromptu alter or created a chant on the spot can turn what others may view as a dead end into an exciting portal to new experiences.

UU pagans also tend to have a well-developed talent for cooperation. The community of pagans, Wiccans, Druids, earth-centered folks, and all the other names we have for ourselves is as diverse as it is widespread. And our UU association and congregations envelope us in an even more diverse web of beliefs and opinions. We are used to working and playing with people we don’t see eye to eye with, and as a result we have the patience and wisdom to understand that all voices have the potential to provide valuable insight and novel ways of looking at and addressing opportunities and problems.

As leaders in non-pagan and non-UU settings, we also provide a chance for others to learn what paganism and Unitarian Universalism is, as well as what it is not. A couple of years ago I was co-leading an adult religious education class designed to help UU’s better define their own beliefs and personal creeds, and I mentioned that I was involved in our fellowship’s pagan group. A fellow member who is highly active in the Christian group nearly fell out of his chair because he didn’t realize that we existed, and he seemed pretty upset at the prospect. This gave me the opportunity to discuss what it is that I believe, and what it is that our Circle does. I was able to dispel some of his misunderstandings and we remain friends and have had several pleasant and informative conversations at social events since then. Unfortunately, there are many people who associate paganism and Wiccanism with Satanism and/or evil. When we assume positions of leadership outside of our pagan groups, we have the opportunity to dispel those myths with our words and demonstrate who we really are and what we stand for with our actions. In my leadership roles away from the fellowship, I talk a lot about my work in the congregation and take the opportunity to explain to others what UUs believe whenever I’m asked.

Finally, as leaders we bring a spirit of playfulness to our projects. I manage large proposals for a living, and I’ve learned that nothing rejuvenates a tired or frustrated team of people like a leader with a sense of humor. UU pagans are masters of play. We thrive by finding ways to interpret and interact with our surroundings through the use of mythology, analogy, and magic. And unless we take ourselves too seriously, this will spill over into our leadership styles, making us more light-hearted and desirous of promoting others’ sense of well-being and happiness.

Another question worth asking, then, is “What do UU pagans stand to receive from being in leadership roles?” Obviously we get what everyone else gets out of managing a project or team: a sense of satisfaction, experience that assists us in other areas of our lives, increased patience, improved connectivity, and more highly developed problem solving skills. According to happiness psychology research, doing volunteer work also improves our mental and physical health.

But aside from these invaluable benefits, becoming a leader in a pagan or wider UU group enables us to make more connections with the larger fellowship. This helps us to develop a better understanding of other’s backgrounds, viewpoints, and beliefs. And that, in turn, enables us to have a better understanding of our own viewpoints and beliefs. Leading helps us to become better pagans and better Unitarian Universalists.

I encourage all UU pagans to find a leadership position that suits their skills, whether for just a day or for a few years. We have so much to offer the earth and all of her people, and it’s a wonderful way to foster personal rebirth.

Unitarian Universalism

Previous Post

February 17, 2016

Be the Real Spiritual You

Next Post

February 23, 2016 Communicating With Deity: All the Small Things

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Current Events CUUPS Press Release Interfaith liturgy Media Review podcast Religious Education Seasonal Reflection Spiritual Practice Summary Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz