Patrick McCollum
Encyclopedia
Reverend Patrick McCollum (born April 11, 1950) is a Wiccan minister & presenter on Pagan topics, prison chaplain, author and jeweler.
in 1987, and by Circle Sanctuary
in 2001, and has been ordained and/or endorsed by several other Pagan organizations, including the National Prison Kindred and Irminsul. He serves as the National Prison Chaplaincy Affairs Coordinator for the Lady Liberty League, and is the Director of Public Chaplaincy for Cherry Hill Seminary
He is currently engaged in litigation in the US 9th Circuit Court (McCollum, et al. v. CDCR, et al., C 04-03339 CRB) challenging the California Department of Corrections' "Five Faiths" policy which recognizes only five major world religions for inclusion in California's prison chaplaincy program. A summary judgment was filed on February 23, 2009, claiming that Rev. McCollum did not have proper standing in the case, and is currently under appeal. Appellants' brief was filed on November 19, 2009. Three amicus briefs in the case have been filed by (1) Americans United for Separation of Church and State
, the Anti-Defamation League
, the American Jewish Committee
, the Interfaith Alliance, and the Hindu American Foundation
, (2) Interfaith Community Representatives (i.e., numerous individuals and organizations "committed to facilitating dialogue between the faiths and ensuring that all faiths are treated fairly," including the American Correctional Chaplains Association), and (3) Florida Justice Institute
and Legal Aid Society of New York City.
Rev. McCollum is a member of the American Correctional Chaplain Association, the Program Chair for the National Correctional Chaplaincy Directors Association, and the Chaplaincy Liaison for the American Academy of Religion
.
On February 5, 2008, Rev. McCollum testified before the U.S Commission on Civil Rights, and his remarks were widely quoted in the Commission's report entitled "Enforcing Religious Freedom in Prison" (.pdf).
He was featured in the 1996 A&E documentary "Witches", narrated by Leonard Nimoy, which has also been shown on The History Channel and Lifetime.
He has presented on a number of topics at Pagan festivals and other religious gatherings including the Pagan Spirit Gathering
, PantheaCon, Sacred Harvest Festival, and the Parliament of the World's Religions
in 2004 (Barcelona) and 2009 (Melbourne). He was also selected as the Keeper of the Light (ie Parade Marshal) for the Annual Pagan Festival in Berkeley in 2007.
Ministry Work
Rev. McCollum was initiated in 1966 and ordained by the Cauldron of Cerridwen in 1971, by Covenant of the GoddessCovenant of the Goddess
The Covenant of the Goddess is a cross-traditional Wiccan group of solitary Wiccan practitioners and over one hundred affiliated covens . It was founded in 1975 in order to increase co-operation among Witches and to secure for Witches and covens the legal protection enjoyed by members of other...
in 1987, and by Circle Sanctuary
Circle Sanctuary
Circle Sanctuary is a non-profit organization and legally recognized Wiccan Church based in southwestern Wisconsin, USA. Circle is the publisher of Circle Magazine, which has approximately 15,000 subscribers...
in 2001, and has been ordained and/or endorsed by several other Pagan organizations, including the National Prison Kindred and Irminsul. He serves as the National Prison Chaplaincy Affairs Coordinator for the Lady Liberty League, and is the Director of Public Chaplaincy for Cherry Hill Seminary
Cherry Hill Seminary
Cherry Hill Seminary, located in South Carolina, is an educational institution for Pagan teachers, ministers and clergy. Cherry Hill has more than twenty full-time or part-time faculty. Some, such as M. Macha Nightmare, are well-known in the pagan community; most are published authors/scholars in...
Chaplaincy
In 1997, after the settlement of a case involving a Wiccan inmate, the California Attorney General's Office asked Rev. McCollum to serve as a Wiccan chaplain, making him the first government-recognized Wiccan chaplain. Subsequently, he has served as a statewide correctional chaplain for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. According to the Finding of Fact by the U.S. District Court http://www.aele.org/law/2009all04/mccollum.html in McCollum, et al. v. CDCR, et al.,
"Plaintiff Patrick McCollum is a Wiccan [footnote omitted] clergyman who became a volunteer chaplain at the California Corrections Institution (“CCI”) Tehachapi in January 1998. By February 2000, McCollum served as a volunteer, non-salaried Wiccan chaplain for all 33 CDCR correctional institutions."
He is currently engaged in litigation in the US 9th Circuit Court (McCollum, et al. v. CDCR, et al., C 04-03339 CRB) challenging the California Department of Corrections' "Five Faiths" policy which recognizes only five major world religions for inclusion in California's prison chaplaincy program. A summary judgment was filed on February 23, 2009, claiming that Rev. McCollum did not have proper standing in the case, and is currently under appeal. Appellants' brief was filed on November 19, 2009. Three amicus briefs in the case have been filed by (1) Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a group that advocates separation of church and state, a legal doctrine interpreted by AU as being enshrined in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.-Mission:The guiding principle of Americans...
, the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
, the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
, the Interfaith Alliance, and the Hindu American Foundation
Hindu American Foundation
The Hindu American Foundation is an American Hindu human rights group advocating on behalf of the Hindu community in the United States. Dr...
, (2) Interfaith Community Representatives (i.e., numerous individuals and organizations "committed to facilitating dialogue between the faiths and ensuring that all faiths are treated fairly," including the American Correctional Chaplains Association), and (3) Florida Justice Institute
Florida Justice Institute
The Florida Justice Institute is a public interest law firm in Miami, Florida. The firm is headquartered at 100 SE 2nd St in the Miami Tower in Downtown Miami. It was established in 1978 by Randall C. Berg, Jr.. The institute has been dedicated to improving conditions in Florida's prison system...
and Legal Aid Society of New York City.
Rev. McCollum is a member of the American Correctional Chaplain Association, the Program Chair for the National Correctional Chaplaincy Directors Association, and the Chaplaincy Liaison for the American Academy of Religion
American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,...
.
On February 5, 2008, Rev. McCollum testified before the U.S Commission on Civil Rights, and his remarks were widely quoted in the Commission's report entitled "Enforcing Religious Freedom in Prison" (.pdf).
Publications and Presentations
Rev. McCollum is the author of "Courting the Lady: A Wiccan Journey, Book One: The Sacred Path". He has also been published in Circle Magazine, Green Egg and Paganet News. He also compiled the Wiccan Chaplains' Manual for the California Department of Corrections in 1999.He was featured in the 1996 A&E documentary "Witches", narrated by Leonard Nimoy, which has also been shown on The History Channel and Lifetime.
He has presented on a number of topics at Pagan festivals and other religious gatherings including the Pagan Spirit Gathering
Pagan Spirit Gathering
The Pagan Spirit Gathering is one of the United States's oldest and largest nature spirituality festivals, organized by Circle Sanctuary...
, PantheaCon, Sacred Harvest Festival, and the Parliament of the World's Religions
Parliament of the World's Religions
There have been several meetings referred to as a Parliament of the World’s Religions, most notably the World's Parliament of Religions of 1893, the first attempt to create a global dialogue of faiths. The event was celebrated by another conference on its centenary in 1993...
in 2004 (Barcelona) and 2009 (Melbourne). He was also selected as the Keeper of the Light (ie Parade Marshal) for the Annual Pagan Festival in Berkeley in 2007.