I'm not sure whether to go along to an Inter-faith event that I've been invited to . We already have one rep on the forum ( Pagan ) and he only started attending a few weeks ago.....after many months of hard work........what do other members think.
Blessings
Oakapple
RE: representation
May I ask, oakapple, why you think perhaps you should NOT go? My initial thought was 'whyever not?', but that may be simplistic.
Is who issued the invitation relevant here? So much to take into consideration ... can you give a little more information?
Holistic
RE: representation
Judging by the title of your thread, and the little bit of info in your post it sounds as though you might feel a bit of 'pressure' having to represent your faith at an event where people are naturally going to be inquisitive and want to ask questions andknow more about your belief system?
I will stop there though, because I might be on completely the wrong track andas Holistic has suggested we will be able to share our ideas if we have a little more to go on.
RE: representation
Hi Azalia, I represented the PF in my area as ....Regional Coordinator and pushed for more recognition within the wider community for pagans.......organised community events , and even went on courses with Hampshire County Council for community development ,....In the mean time I tried to pull the Pagan Community together, or at least get them talking. Had reasonable success and introduced all of the groups to each other.......but....and there is always a but,........ Time and support wasn't on my side......I walk a solitary path on my spiritual journey....I tried to worship within both Moon groups and Druidic groups,......not for me , ...There lies the problem, I didn't have the backing and support of a stable group......I still belong to, and am part of groups , but, At my own pace.
No man is an island, I was part of the pagan group at the local University, and they are now promoting local pagans within the media . We have a representative on the local Inter-faith Council for the first time, and more pagans work openly within the community........I just took a step back for a while......the Uni group are a young vibrant group with oodles of enthusiasm....they are doing a grand job . All the moots now have contact with each other and are on speaking terms........I resigned as PF rep and now follow my own path again.
As for the Inter-faith, When Lee was offered a place on the Council, They also contacted me, and I refused......the reason being, it was never my intention to be a part of a formal group.
Blessings
Oakapple
RE: representation
Ah, I see. So it was a choice between remaining a solitary 'worshipper' and representing a pagan group which you don't fully feel yourself to belong to, at this Inter-Faith event.
It sounds like you've made your decision now, and I can understand how one can feel a bit out on a limb even with groups supposedly comprised of individuals of the same mind set. It sounds as if it's a lot more than that too though, since you were playing the go-between and initiating contact between the different groups. Just out of interest, when you say that you managed to get the groups 'talking', did you mean that there's some kind of conflict between the different groups, or more that they exist only in small groups rather than with the wider pagan community, and therefore don't really know each other well?
Hmmm, I think this role of being a rep entails a lot more than meets the eye?!
RE: representation
Hi Azalia ,
The Pagan Fed are just an umbrella organization helping to defend pagans equality and civil rights, within the media ........you can end up on a campaign filled will negative energy, for, of course the best possible reasons..........I tried to firstly introduce all the local pagan groups to each other....who didn't seem to have much contact, or at least try......I felt , as RC it was part of my job......then promoted Pagans within our local community as people willing to give their time to help with different events.......You would be suprised how good the response was from both residents and Government departments.
Helped raise money for a local charity who then funded other events ......but the different groups of pagans were insular in their thoughts.....they didn't seem to want to work together ....they couldn;t, or wouldn't see the bigger picture.
To be honest I run out of time....I couldn't spare any more time away from my business.....and I was fed-up with all the doors slammed in my face.....quite demoralizing really.
Do wish I had seen it through to the end though.....still loads of barriers to break through.As PF rep I did feel as if I were on the Front-line of a battle being fired at from both sides.
RE: representation
One of the people I introduced myself to as a Pagan Federation rep at one of the Cathedrals in the city, said to me 'Ah you are from the lot that hasn't got a god'..... how ignorant can you be?? You can guess what result I got![:@]