Last quarter we inaugurated some new membership criteria  which apparently caused some confusion, controversy and – for some at least – a little resentment. Old faces have dropped off the radar, and new faces have appeared.  So, as we are set to close another quarter, we would like to speak a bit more about this.

Please keep in mind we are not a public church like ADF, or our neighbors in Gladsheim.  We are a private fellowship.   We wanted to make sure that the further one ascended the ranks of the kindred in responsibility and visibility, the more they had demonstrably proven themselves in commitment to Heathenry in general and to the Kindred in particular.

Perhaps it would be useful to summarize a few of our key values:

• Frith:  We got each other’s backs. We respect each other’s strengths, and are willing to forgive each other’s weaknesses.  But we do take Wyrd very seriously, and if you’re generating a lot of bad mojo, it gives us pause when it comes time to share a horn with you.
• Grith:  Other Heathen groups do things differently.  But as long as they are not doing something outrageous (like giving a stiff arm salute, or bloting the sons of Muspelheim), we don’t really care.  We also wish to tactfully relate that we are committed to peaceful interfaith relations; our clergy member speaks at a UU church regularly.  If you’ve taken up this religion for the sole purpose of thumbing your nose at Christianity, you are in the wrong group.
• Wisdom:  We expect our clergy official and lore official to pursue some kind of formal credentials along those lines.   For everyone else, a formal study program is not needed.  However, this is the “religion with homework” and we expect members will make some kind of effort to read up on the gods they honor.    There is a hell of a lot more to Germanic Lore than dying in battle and being whisked away to Valhalla. If you feel otherwise, then, to be blunt, you haven’t done your homework.

The membership standards are in place to ensure those who call themselves members are adhering to certain mores.  For those who feel our internal mores are not for them, we take no offense.  There are many other Heathen and Pagan groups out there with different methods.  Feel free to engage them.  Or start your own (as apparently, there was some talk along those lines).

Keep in mind, if you haven’t proven yourself a disgrace or a danger to the community, you are free to attend our public rites and enjoy fellowship as a Friend of the Kindred without any thought of becoming a member.  The only thing we honestly expect from Friends is that they behave themselves and contribute to potluck dinners.  You don’t even have to be a Heathen to be a Friend of the Kindred; we recently admitted a Celtic pagan to our rites.

Here endeth our soapbox.