NEW HOPE, Pennsylvania – The Troth announced changes to its policies and activities after its annual membership meeting, Trothmoot, last week. Among the new decisions affirmed at Trothmoot are a policy statement of knowledge and honoring deities, the creation of an interfaith committee, and outreach to other organizations.
The Troth said in a statement clarifying its position on the honoring of deities in a continuing effort to be more inclusive. The organization rescinded an earlier policy that prevented the hailing of certain beings and is now abiding by this default policy:
The Troth is a polytheistic religious organization. Its fundamental purpose is to advance the knowledge and honoring of:
The pre-Christian Deities of the Germanic-speaking peoples, most commonly known as, but not limited to: the Aesir and Vanir in Norse mythology, and their equivalents in other historical Germanic cultures;
- Deities for whom we do not have comparable historical record, but which are known through historical and contemporary sources (including but not limited to: Eostre/Ostara, Nehalennia, Saxnot, Nerthus);
- Beings known from the standard texts of mythology or folklore to be allies of the Aesir and Vanir, or other Deities with Whom we choose to interact with and worship, for example: Aegir, Ran, Thorri, Hel, Jordh/Earth, Sol, Mani, the Norns;
- Spirits of specific places such as the land, the waters, and the home (vaettir, tomten, brownies, huldufolk, etc.), as well as elves (alfar), dwarves (dvergar), ancestral guardian spirits (disir), valkyries, and other such beings;
- Worthy and honorable human heroes and ancestors, ranging from the legendary through the historical past up to the present day. This includes the ancestors of all of our members of all ethnicities and places of origin.
The Troth added “Variations in the understanding of our Deities and the ways of honoring Them have always existed. In the modern era, many people have sought to reconstruct, revive, and renew the ancient traditions according to their own best understanding. One result has been the creation of different expressions of contemporary Germanic religion. The Troth explicitly welcomes these differences and seeks to include them within the larger Heathen community.” The organization further noted “The Troth affirms the right of individuals and groups to freely worship as they will, guided by the dictates of their own consciences. Individual membership in the Troth is not predicated on adherence to any particular Heathen religious practice, belief, theology, tradition, or dogma. We recognize that freedom of conscience, the free exchange of ideas, and diversity of opinions are vital for the healthy growth of our religion. The Troth does not and will not dictate to individual members which beings they may or may not honor, what forms of ritual they may or may not employ, or how they may conceive of these beings. “
The Troth logo
The policy is a continuation of its previous revision revoking the ban on the honoring of Loki at Troth events. The previous texts, the Troth noted “seemed like a sensible way to balance the concerns of members who did not want the Loki ban removed and members who felt that because of their faith and their devotion, they were not fully welcome at Troth events. They could come, but they had to leave their Gods at home.” The new language is intended to offer inclusivity of practice.
The Troth also announced the creation of a new Interfaith Committee. The committee will evaluate and approve interfaith opportunities that align with the organization’s community, values and mission. The committee will also be responsible for maintaining a network of interfaith opportunities as well as designating who may engage in interfaith activities on behalf of the Troth.
Director of Communications and Minnesota Steward Ben Kowalsky-Grahek stated, “Whether it is having open conversations between clergy or advocating with other faiths in housing justice, environmental justice or indigenous treaty rights, Heathens are already engaged in interfaith work. There are also so many of us who want to make a difference but don’t know how to get started. We want Heathens to engage with their communities not just as an attempt at Public Relations but a genuine expression of our values and our faith. We want Heathens to be able to engage with their communities and with other faith communities as Heathens rather than doing our best not to get noticed for who we are. And we want them to do it knowing that they’re not alone, and that we stand with them and we are here to help them.”
Lisa Morgenstern, a Troth member from California with extensive interfaith experience, noted that “the importance is consistency.” She went on to add “Pagans consistently showing up. It’s part of letting folks know you as a person rather than an unknown religion. Be there to help with set up or tear down or bring food if it’s a potluck; offering to lend a hand and to do the work even if it’s something like set up or clean up, makes a lasting impression on the community.”
“Organizational endorsement opens up new opportunities not just for participation in Interfaith work, but in taking opportunities for leadership within Interfaith work,” added Kowalsky-Grahek. “If the opportunity arises for us to step up and take a seat at the table, having institutional backing, coaching and support is crucial for the success of our volunteers.”
The new Interfaith Committee will also take the lead in opening lines of communication with Interfaith organizations. “There are Heathens who want to do something but don’t know where to get started,” Kowalsky-Grahek continued. “They don’t know if there’s a seat for us at the table. We not only want to encourage Heathens who are interested in making a difference but we want to help by facilitating communication between Heathens and Interfaith organizations in their area.”
“When we leave our religious bunker, we breathe the air of true religious freedom,” said Ethan Stark, Heathen Clergy and another Committee member. “Without sacrificing our ideals or practice, Heathens may work side by side with the Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Jew, Bahá’í, Hindu, and more. And the opportunities are many; from food drives to building homes, from adopting and cleaning a road to petitioning your township for a new park.”
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