Dragon Oak Temple

What to Expect from this Temple in the Future

As the Neo-Pagan community grows and matures, the expectations are changing. At present, there are numerous public contact points and a few Wiccan and other Pagan groups holding public religious services. In the near future many Neo-Pagan groups may be offering religious meetings that anybody can attend. Not only will anybody be allowed to attend, but the group will offer most of the activities and services that current mainstream churches offer. To fulfill all of these commitments, these Neo-Pagan groups are going to have to raise money and have full-time paid Neo-Pagan clergy. Certain things from this now mainstream Neo-Pagan temple will be expected.

There will be religious meetings. The rituals will start on time, and happen on a regular and recurring basis. This could be every Saturday night, or every new and full moon, as long as it is regular. One should be able to predict when the ritual will be without having to get on a mailing list or call the priest each time. There should be a regular place to worship, not hiring a different hall each meeting, or a different person's house. The ritual could be inside or outside, but each outside ritual is on the same piece of land, and inside rituals in the same building.

One should receive religious training for themselves and children. Children need to be taught how to worship, and to a lesser extent, why to worship the way one does. The organization should provide the materials, resources and lesson plans for the program. One should expect to pay for children to attend, but shouldn't have to buy every re-usable textbook that my kids will use only once. Children should be able to be attend classes, without parents staying with them. Adult courses should be offered so they can learn more about the religions and practices, but not with the exclusive goal of becoming clergy.

Expect the clergy person(s) to either lead, organize or do various rites of passage for the individual and family. When a child is born, coming of age ritual as the kids become adults, appropriate funeral rites, and marriages. The marriage should be legally binding as done by the clergy person(s), and not have to be re-done by a town clerk..

The clergy should be well trained to help in time of spiritual or emotional crisis. When a family member, friend or temple member dies, expect help in working through grief.

The priest/ess has to be able to supervise volunteers. The volunteers can do most of the work, but it is up to the clergy person to ensure that projects get completed. They might reasonable delegate specific projects to members, but the priest/ess still has to check on them. The clergy person should be a decent administrator, or the temple to have a non-clergy office manager/treasurer. This person needs to be able to present a budget to the temple and then stick to the budget. They have to be able to balance a checkbook and pay the bills in a timely fashion. Their other jobs might include printing the newsletter and ordering supplies.

As fellow temple members expect to be kept informed about what is happening. This means regular communications. This means open records, both financial and of meetings.. We do have an expectation of knowing about decisions made, and why they were made.

What One Should Offer to Their Temple Once it is Complete

It is understood many live very busy lives in this day and age. Many do not have a lot of time, do to working long hours during the week, and have to spend at least one day during their free time doing things around the house. Yet many have time to read news letters, and write replies to email.

One should expect to attend worship services every week, and on the High Holidays. Be willing and joyfully participate in ritual as a member of the congregation. Consider it to be an honor to help in running a ritual. If asked or nudged, occasionally lead a standard ritual. It will be understood you have little time or knowledge to write rituals. After the ritual, it would be gracious to volunteer to help with the social by providing food, prepping it and helping with the cleanup. If something has to be done around the temple, and won't take more than a hour or so, help after the service. Be willing to volunteer to teach the children if the temple supplied the materials and lesson plans. Given sufficient lead time, may be even assist with field trips occasionally.

Since the temple has a paid clergy person, denotations are crucial ingredient to overall success. Expect to do this as a regular (weekly, monthly), annual or one-time fee. I could make offerings at the ritual or discretely through the mail. Additionally said temple may have fund raisers and or other means of income one would like to help and support such as a Day Care or Retail Shop.

Children have more time than adults. Encourage them to participate in temple organized activities. These activities could include litter pickup, tree planting or other community service. If the temple puts on a play, they will be asked to help if they are capable.

Based on article by Peter Gold.