| 
|
Page: Profile: Local Clergy
| Total Views: 2,046,659
|
Wvox Stats
Vox ID: 125224
Clergy Id: 3974
Posted: Dec.1.2003
Views 4513 |
Pagan Clergy
Reverend Gardner
Located in: Clay City, Indiana
Clergy Profile: I am the High Priest of the Temple of Ishtar, located in rural (Clay
City) Indiana. I have been a student of the Wiccan Faith since the
early 70's, and was formally trained through, and a graduate of the
Church & School of Wicca. Currently, I teach courses in 101
Traditional/ Celtic Wicca, both in person and via a 12 lesson
correspondence course. I have also been doing more advanced Clergy
training since 1997. And last year (2006) I began work on developing a
correspondence course to assist Clergy in dealing Crisis intervention
and counseling.
In December of 2003, I completed writing my first book, "A Handbook
For Wiccan Clergy" (ISBN # 9781434339232) and sent it to Llewellyn who
loved it and almost published it, but decided to turn it down at the
last minute because they thought the market was too small. After
much hounding by Coven mates and students, and encouragement from Edain McCoy, M.R. Sellars and Dorothy Morrison, I finally produced 150
copies of the book as a market test. The books have been reviewed by Mr Sellars and
Edain McCoy (who was herself married to a Minister and who's father
was also a minister. She thought the book was pretty good) This book has also been reviewed by some Christian seminary-trained Ministers who changed religious paths. The reactions I received from them was very complementary. (BTW, I even got "wows" from a couple of those who had read it.)
July of 2005 I completed another book, "The Wiccan Minister's Manual,
A Guide For Priests and Priestesses" ISBN# 9781434367440, which should
be coming out sometimes in the spring of 2008. This book was also sent out to
about 100 people including a person who teaches in a Christian
Seminary. He thought both books were really pretty good. Additionally an
administrator in the Terre Haute Federal Prison read a copy and
contacted me to say that he was very impressed with the chapter on
Prison Ministry. But, I think opinions are best formed by the
individual reader. These are both cutting-edge advanced level
works, which no one has done before. I have some pages in my website
that present excerpts of both books and well as the tables of
contents, which are accessible from the Clergy Books Page so any who
may be interested in more can go to http://www.ladyisht ar.org/ and
check that out.
Lets see.. in addition to the 2 completed books listed above, I am
working on a couple more when I have the time, one on crisis
intervention and helping others to deal with crisis, including grief
counseling, helping the dying and their families, and I plan to add some
funeral services that may be used in a traditional funeral home
setting with a mixed crowd of mourners (like I did in the Handbook.)
The other book is a book of Pagan Parables with stories intended for
pre-pubescent kids in one section and stores for late teens and adults
progress for now on these books is going slow because I have not had a lot of time
lately to work on them.
Besides the books, mentioned above, I have had articles published in Circle Magazine,
Fate Magazine, Pan Gaia, and The Blessed Bee. In addition to this and my teaching, I
often give lectures at the local Pagan Gatherings, & New Age stores
and in general keep rather busy with my other duties around the house
and garden.
OK besides all that.. I do some work as a psychic consultant, and past
life regressions.
More stuff.. I am 52 yrs old, married, I was legally ordained through
ULC at first then as I wanted something more legit, I went through The
Church of Seven Plains. I have attended two colleges, ISU & UK been
formally studying and practicing The Craft since 1973. I have been
counseling people for more than 30 years, and have been teaching both
in person and via correspondence for about 20 years. I spent 7 years
as a Correctional Officer, doing Pastoral Counseling with inmates on a
near daily basis. I do not have a degree in counseling, but this is a
field in which I have studied and worked hands on for the above
mentioned 30 years. Recently I have accepted a Bishops appointment presiding over the Wiccan Diocese with Four Winds Fellowship and another Clergy/mentoring position with the Federal Prison System.
I am also the list owner & moderator of several groups, including the
Indiana Priesthood, a Wiccan Clergy Group, and the
Pagan Family Resource and Support Group as a place where those
Pagan families in need may come to seek help and guidance.
The membership is very small, but we have some links that may help
some folks, or at least begin to point them in the right direction. It
is my hope to some day create a monetary fund where those who REALLY
NEED that sort of help could come and apply for assistance. But that
may lay quite a ways in the future. So far about all we can offer is a
shoulder and an ear, as well as our prayers. Many Pagan Families have
been torn apart by local Bureaucrats. . I have heard Horror Story after
Horror story, and we have been victims of the same thing ourselves
back in the mid 80's. Any who may be interested in checking out the
Pagan Family group may do so at this addy;
http://groups.msn.com/PaganFamilyResourceandSupportGroup
Rates: We do not charge for our services to the community, though we do accept donations and would ask that at the least our travel, or other expenses be covered, as like everyone else, we seem to be in the "Financially Challenged" catagory
Mailing Address: Clay City, IN
Website: http://www.ladyishtar.org
To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE
Contact me Via Email...
Email Invites Note: Yes! I have opted to receive invites to Pagan events, groups, and commercial sales
Disclaimer: The Witches' Voice inc does not verify the accuracy of the details stated in this listing, nor do we vouch for the value of the goods or services presented here... As with all contacts and financial dealings in cyberspace, we encourage you to use caution and wisdom in your dealings with strangers.
Political Statements: Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren's Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches' Voice, Inc. TWV is a non-profit, non-partisan educational organization.
|
State/Country flags created by 3dflags.com and are used with permission
Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2009 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.
Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.
Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.
Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.
Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.
| |
