The Troth
Encyclopedia
The Ring of Troth, now called simply The Troth, is an American
-based international Germanic neopagan (Ásatrú
or heathen) organization. The Troth was founded on December 20 (Mothers' Night
), 1987 by former Asatru Free Assembly
members Edred Thorsson
and James Chisholm. However, neither is any longer involved with the organization. The current Steerswoman is Victoria Clare, who took office at Trothmoot 2010.
The Troth is recognized as a non-profit corporation in the state of Texas
and recognized by the state of New York
as a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization. It hosts a yearly June meeting called Trothmoot. Trothmoot 2010 was held at St Croix State Park in Hinckley, Minnesota
.
The governing body of the organization is called the High Rede and consists of between three and nine members elected by all full members to three-year terms; they may be re-elected. Following an election, the High Rede appoints a Steersperson and also an Assistant Steersperson, who must be a standing Rede member.
Executive Officers serve as the heads of programs within The Troth. They are either appointed by the High Rede or elected from within their programs. They serve three-year terms and may be re-elected.
Stewards are regional officers of The Troth.
, both emerging from the wreckage of the Ásatrú Free Assembly which had disintegrated over disputes between the racist and the non-racist factions.
The organization suffered a series of setbacks and disasters during the late 1980s to early 1990s.
The leadership of both Thorsson and Chisholm became controversial because of their association with the Satanist Temple of Set
. In 1988 to 1989, Rob Meek campaigned against the "Satanist infiltration" of the group. The Ásatrú Alliance in 1989 declared that there could be no association of Ásatrú and Satanism. In 1991, Thorsson and Chisholm sought for a new leader (Steersman) of the group, as it had become clear that they were too controversial to fill this position. The office of Steerswoman was eventually accepted by Prudence Priest in 1992. Internal controversy continued to plague the group, however, including accusations that Priest was intending to pass leadership back to Thorsson and attempting to marginalize the increasingly influential Stephan Grundy
. As a consequence, Priest was ousted by William Bainbridge in 1995, who took over as interim Steersman.
By the mid-1990s, the Troth, now led by William Bainbridge, had emerged as a stable organization with a wide spectrum of members situated "squarely within the Wiccan/neopagan community". Bainbridge was followed by Diana Paxson (1999), Stefn Thorsman (2002), Mark Donegan (2006), Victoria Clare (2010).
Edred Thorsson intended the Ring of Troth to be based on scholarship and provide priests trained to high academic standards. While few members have achieved graduate degrees as he envisaged, the organization has been a prominent source of scholarly information within heathenry.
The Eldaring
was founded as an independent German partner society of The Troth in 2000.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based international Germanic neopagan (Ásatrú
Ásatrú
is a form of Germanic neopaganism which developed in the United States from the 1970s....
or heathen) organization. The Troth was founded on December 20 (Mothers' Night
Modraniht
Mōdraniht was an event held at New Years Day by the heathen Angles where a sacrifice was made. The event is attested by the medieval English historian Bede in his 8th century Latin work De temporum ratione...
), 1987 by former Asatru Free Assembly
Asatru Folk Assembly
The Asatru Folk Assembly, or AFA, an organization of Germanic neopaganism, is the US-based Ásatrú organization founded by Stephen McNallen in 1994. Gardell classifies the AFA as folkish....
members Edred Thorsson
Stephen Flowers
Stephen Edred Flowers is an American Runologist and proponent of occultism and Germanic mysticism. The Bonham, Texas-born author has over two dozen published books and hundreds of published papers on a disparate range of subjects. He is also known by the pen-name Edred Thorsson...
and James Chisholm. However, neither is any longer involved with the organization. The current Steerswoman is Victoria Clare, who took office at Trothmoot 2010.
The Troth is recognized as a non-profit corporation in the state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and recognized by the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization. It hosts a yearly June meeting called Trothmoot. Trothmoot 2010 was held at St Croix State Park in Hinckley, Minnesota
Hinckley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,291 people, 551 households, and 332 families residing in the city. The population density was 454.3 people per square mile . There were 614 housing units at an average density of 216.0 per square mile...
.
Objectives and organization
The Troth defines itself as a church of "Northern European Heathenry or Asatru," international in scope, with training clergy, promoting cooperation and community, and providing information and educational publications as objectives. The Mission Statement refers to the ancient virtues of "Boldness, Truth, Honor, Troth, Self-Rule, Hospitality, Industry, Self-Reliance, Steadfastness, Equality, Strength, Wisdom, Generosity, and Family Responsibility."The governing body of the organization is called the High Rede and consists of between three and nine members elected by all full members to three-year terms; they may be re-elected. Following an election, the High Rede appoints a Steersperson and also an Assistant Steersperson, who must be a standing Rede member.
- Steerswoman: Victoria Clare
- Assistant Steersman: Dennis Ford
- Rede Members: Steve Abell, Jill McPhail, Tanya Peterson, Ben Waggoner, Molly Welch
Executive Officers serve as the heads of programs within The Troth. They are either appointed by the High Rede or elected from within their programs. They serve three-year terms and may be re-elected.
- Reckoner: Nichole Alynn
- Clergy Coordinator: Diana Paxson
- Internet Communications Officer: (currently vacant)
- Kindred Affiliation Program Coordinator: Gunnar Wodensgothi (Chris Miller)
- Provost (Lore Program): Dan Campbell (Acting Provost)
- Ombudsman: Gus Gissing
- Public Relations Director: David Carron
- Shope (Publications/Merchandise): Ben Waggoner
Stewards are regional officers of The Troth.
- High Steward: Victoria Clare
Publications
The Troth publishes a quarterly journal called Idunna, an annual Old Heathen's Almanac, and a handbook called Our Troth.History
The Ring of Troth was founded in 1987, at the same time as the Ásatrú AllianceÁsatrú Alliance
The Asatru Alliance is a US Ásatrú group, succeeding Stephen McNallen's Asatru Free Assembly in 1987, founded by Michael J. Murray of Arizona, who is a former vice-president of Else Christensen's Odinist Fellowship. The AFA seceded into two groups, the other one being The Troth...
, both emerging from the wreckage of the Ásatrú Free Assembly which had disintegrated over disputes between the racist and the non-racist factions.
The organization suffered a series of setbacks and disasters during the late 1980s to early 1990s.
The leadership of both Thorsson and Chisholm became controversial because of their association with the Satanist Temple of Set
Temple of Set
The Temple of Set is an initiatory occult society claiming to be the world's leading left-hand path religious organization. It professes Setian philosophy and magical practice.-History:...
. In 1988 to 1989, Rob Meek campaigned against the "Satanist infiltration" of the group. The Ásatrú Alliance in 1989 declared that there could be no association of Ásatrú and Satanism. In 1991, Thorsson and Chisholm sought for a new leader (Steersman) of the group, as it had become clear that they were too controversial to fill this position. The office of Steerswoman was eventually accepted by Prudence Priest in 1992. Internal controversy continued to plague the group, however, including accusations that Priest was intending to pass leadership back to Thorsson and attempting to marginalize the increasingly influential Stephan Grundy
Stephan Grundy
Stephan Grundy is an American author best known for his modern adaptations of legendary sagas and also a non-fiction writer on Germanic mythology, Germanic paganism, and Germanic neopaganism, often under the pseudonym Kveldulf Gundarsson .Grundy grew up mainly in Dallas in the U.S...
. As a consequence, Priest was ousted by William Bainbridge in 1995, who took over as interim Steersman.
By the mid-1990s, the Troth, now led by William Bainbridge, had emerged as a stable organization with a wide spectrum of members situated "squarely within the Wiccan/neopagan community". Bainbridge was followed by Diana Paxson (1999), Stefn Thorsman (2002), Mark Donegan (2006), Victoria Clare (2010).
Approach within heathenry
The Troth is prominent in the non-racialist, inclusionary branch of modern-day heathenry. The organization's statement of purpose and bylaws refer to "non-discriminatory groups and individuals" and specify that "Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation shall not be practiced by the Troth or any affiliated group."Edred Thorsson intended the Ring of Troth to be based on scholarship and provide priests trained to high academic standards. While few members have achieved graduate degrees as he envisaged, the organization has been a prominent source of scholarly information within heathenry.
Ring of Troth Europe
A UK branch of the Ring of Troth, later renamed the Ring of Troth Europe, was started in 1993 by Dutch occultist writer Freya Aswynn (Elizabeth Hooijschuur, b. 1949).The Eldaring
Eldaring
The Eldaring is a Civil Service Organisation, founded in August 2000, which offers information about Asatru to the German-speaking countries. “Eldr” is old Norwegian and means fire, so Eldaring can be translated as “Ring of fire”, meaning a ring of fireplaces, hearths, etc.Asatru is a recreation...
was founded as an independent German partner society of The Troth in 2000.