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Budget for Shawangunk Journal

• due Nov. 6: CTCW 2017

New stuff will be found at Category:Hudson Valley One

Budget for Country Wisdom News

• due Nov. 13: CTCW 2017 focus on community

Budget for Hellenismos priesthood

• What is the difference between a priest and minister according to Shanddaramon? How much do you agree or disagree with this distinction?

• This is a distinction I've been familiar with since before the turn of the century, as it's the same model used by Cherry Hill Seminary, which was based on how it was done in the Church of the Sacred Earth, which I belonged to in the 1980s and '90s. In a nutshell, CoSE functioned as an umbrella organization which was legally able to ordain individuals, which were referred to as ministers, for the purposes of performing certain functions such as performing marriages. The specifics of priesthood were left to the members of the individual covens and circles, but ordination was only conferred with the recommendation of the members of a specific congregation.

Shanddaramon takes this one step further, essentially equating ministers with chaplains, insofar as the role of a chaplain (in the military, prisons, and health-care system) must be prepared to provide some level of healing, comfort, counseling, and solace to individuals of any faith. Priests are defined as ritualists, which while it is not the entirety of the role, is also not inaccurate. I would build upon Shanddaramon's definitions by saying that a priest's training is focused on building relationships with the gods for the good of the community, while a minister builds relationships within the community so that even people who cannot maintain relationships with the gods may receive the benefits of those relationships.

• What aspects of ancient Greek priesthood do you feel should be maintained in modern day and why?

• While many modern Hellenic polytheists make offerings and maintain shrines, this is largely a continuation of the cult of hearth and home, rather than that of festivals and public ritual. Today's priests should be willing to step up and lead rituals for groups that desire this service. Since many of the rituals associated with modern religion are transitions that ancient priests had nothing to do with (birth, death, marriage, and so forth), they should also -- at the very least -- be willing to advise on how to write and perform the rites of passage which take place within a household.

I would argue that, given how much has been lost of these traditions, a priest should not automatically reject the idea of playing a role in some of these rituals, either. Keeping the lore and passing down of tradition is a priority, and that could mean being willing to cross lines that ancient priests never would have considered. Divination is a good start.

• How do you envision yourself as a priest of your gods? What role do you see yourself fulfilling? How do you see yourself fulfilling that role?

• I performed divination around the question, "Does Poseidon wish me to perform rites of passage, even those involving birth and death?" The answer was mu, "It is necessary to labor, but the change will be admirable." I interpret the change as being one that helps restore our traditions by me performing these rituals, and I believe that the labor in this case is additional effort on purification after the fact.

If the role of of the priest is to help open the way to the gods, and the traditional ways have largely been lost, then my role must be that of facilitator of ritual and disseminator of knowledge about our practices; both what is known from ancient records and how the theoi are honored today.

As to how I would actually do these things, it's almost certainly going to be a traveling-minister kind of job. My temenos will be mobile, as there is no space for ritual in or around my home.

• I expect I will be asked to lead rituals for others, as well as advise them on how to develop their own household and group traditions. As Poseidon is god of earth and sea, that will almost certainly take on an environmental aspect, such as blessings on Earth Day.
• Any priest should be ready to perform divination and help interpret the results, so that erstwhile worshipers will have a sense of how to proceed.
• Some level of counseling will also be necessary, because Poseidon is a god known for some strong negative emotions, and thus can effect healing on that level. Should I be asked to provide counseling, I will take pains to recognize when a referral to a professional therapist is needed.