Wiccan church
Encyclopedia
Wiccan churches are a type of organization found within some groups of Wicca
, particularly in North America. While in Europe Wicca is most often organized into independent coven
s, in the United States some covens choose to combine to form a "church". Churches are often formed from hive covens. Each coven in the hive comes together to form a church, and often creates a fixed location for a covenstead
. Much like a Christian
church, a Wiccan church will organize rituals as well as community events. Forming a church also gives High Priests or Priestesses a much better chance of legally becoming clergy
.
organizations have chosen to achieve formal legal status by becoming non-profit corporations within their states or provinces, and sometimes they additionally obtain tax-exempt status in the United States under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
. Examples of this are the Aquarian Tabernacle Church
, based in the State of Washington with branches in several other states, and Our Lady of the Woods, a coven and congregation in New Mexico
.
Frequently, Wiccan churches are organized with a coven or inner circle, consisting of initiated priests and priestesses, and a congregation or outer circle, for those who wish to celebrate the Sabbats and enjoy spiritual community. These may or may not seek legal status as corporations.
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
, particularly in North America. While in Europe Wicca is most often organized into independent coven
Coven
A coven or covan is a name used to describe a gathering of witches or in some cases vampires. Due to the word's association with witches, a gathering of Wiccans, followers of the witchcraft-based neopagan religion of Wicca, is also described as a coven....
s, in the United States some covens choose to combine to form a "church". Churches are often formed from hive covens. Each coven in the hive comes together to form a church, and often creates a fixed location for a covenstead
Covenstead
A covenstead is a building or area that a witchcraft coven has designated as their permanent ritual area. In addition to a building owned by the coven, this ritual space can be a room in the home of the High Priestess or other coven member, a rented space, a public park or other outdoor location,...
. Much like a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
church, a Wiccan church will organize rituals as well as community events. Forming a church also gives High Priests or Priestesses a much better chance of legally becoming clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
.
Legal status
Many Wiccan and NeopaganNeopaganism
Neopaganism is an umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe...
organizations have chosen to achieve formal legal status by becoming non-profit corporations within their states or provinces, and sometimes they additionally obtain tax-exempt status in the United States under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Internal Revenue Code
The Internal Revenue Code is the domestic portion of Federal statutory tax law in the United States, published in various volumes of the United States Statutes at Large, and separately as Title 26 of the United States Code...
. Examples of this are the Aquarian Tabernacle Church
Aquarian Tabernacle Church
The Aquarian Tabernacle Church, abbreviated as ATC, is a Wiccan church located in Index, Washington and is considered the first Wiccan church with full legal status and recognition by major governments, the United States, Canada and Australia. It was founded as a church by Pete "Pathfinder" Davis,...
, based in the State of Washington with branches in several other states, and Our Lady of the Woods, a coven and congregation in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Frequently, Wiccan churches are organized with a coven or inner circle, consisting of initiated priests and priestesses, and a congregation or outer circle, for those who wish to celebrate the Sabbats and enjoy spiritual community. These may or may not seek legal status as corporations.
External links
- The Church of Wicca Australia
- Covenant of the Goddess
- Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
- Wiccan Church of Canada
- Global Goddess
- The First Congregational Church of The Old Religion
- Our Lady of the Earth and Sky
- Circle Sanctuary
- Sacred Well Congregation
- Spirit of the Earth Church
- Rowan Tree Church
- Blackberry Circle
- NC Piedmont Church of Wicca
- New Wiccan Church