How MoonPath Circle Fits into the Big Picture
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MoonPath Circle, Inc., is one of several spinoffs from
MoonPath CUUPS,
originally to do
offsite projects. MoonPath Circle is organized as a church and is not
connected to the UUs other than having overlapping members. MoonPath
sponsors the Tequesta Fire/Drum Circle, does charitable outreach, does a
scholarship program, does Pee Wee Pagans, and ordains some people they
know well who are already Pagan clergy. Most likely, these people already have
credentials from somewhere else.
CUUPS, the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, is an auxiliary of the
Unitarian Universalist Association. The role of CUUPS is to spread knowledge
of and connection to the Pagan world. CUUPS does programs at the national
gathering of UUs and encourages CUUPS chapters at individual churches.
Chapters serve as a resource to their host congregation and do not ordain
anybody. (See www.cuups.org)
UU ordained clergy are welcomed into fellowship after completing much soul
searching, much discernment by other UU clergy, a Master's Degree from an
accredited college,
completion of a
chaplaincy program, and more. It is not far from the truth
to say that fellowshipped UU ministers have a rather strong
union. (See
www.uua.org)
MoonPath welcomes new clergy as "Elders in Communion." This phrase is lifted
from the Florida Marriage Statute (Title
XLIII, Chapter 741.07). Our clergy are bound by affection, association,
and loyalty. This means that we like each other, we get together once in a
while, and we don't gnaw each others arms off. The vision is that we will
gather a group of ethical clergy within the Pagan community who are worthy
of respect. We don't tell them what to believe, but we do care about
behavior. Each Beltaine we review everyone's status for continued good
standing.
Moonpath uses the Roman Catholic model in that it has a Council of six
who set policy and annually re-elect either themselves or their
replacements.
If you are thinking of approaching a settled UU minister in her church and
flashing your MoonPath credentials, she may not be impressed. She knows what
she did to get where she is. Your path is different.
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