OCTOBER 15, 1993

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

New Pagan church works to dispel misconceptions

by Charlton Harper

Forget about Caspar and Wendy and Margaret Hamilton. Today's Pagans and witches are your brothers and sisters, parents and friends. A new church, the Church of Mother Earth Union of Pagans (COMEUP), is forming on the West Side, and part of their aim is to dispel popular misconceptions about Pagan faith and practices.

"We're not baby stealers," says Michelle Baker, who will head the new ministry. “I had a vision of a place where everyone would be welcome. I started talking to people and I saw that we needed something that would allow everyone a place to come together." The church will be all-embracing, welcoming people of all races and taking a pro-active. push at establishing space for gays and lesbians too.

Distilling public negativity is a big hurdle for Pagans. “We are not satanists,” is a point that Baker stresses. "Pagans disassociate themselves from satanists because we are pre-Christian, and they come from the Judeo-Christian tradition."

Traditionally, Pagans embrace the Earth and all life forms, seeking a balanced relationship in harmony with the planet, rather than the Western view of Earth as a tool to be used for human gain. Implicit and distinct from other "new-age" philosophies is a recognition of both negative and positive forces. Says Padraig Truebee, who will lead efforts at creating gay Pagan space, "People think we're deluded or demented or just plain nuts. What we're doing is trying to reestablish a holistic relationship with the earth."

Also important to both Truebee and Baker is the freedom Paganism allows for discussion and debate, very different from their seperate Catholic backgrounds. "Pa-

ganism is the only spiritual path I know that provides full acceptance for me and my partner to express ourselves in a healthy way," said Truebee.

Establishing a church has been a yearlong struggle, but an important one. While COMEUP will be flexible enough to allow for a variety of viewpoints and involvement from members, there are a couple of basic tenets that must be observed. Says Baker, "We believe in the golden rule, or whatever you choose to call it: harm no one, do what thou wilt. Don't judge others. Mind your own business. We have a clause against discrimination in all forms." What about junior devil-worshipers? "There's also a bylaw against demonism. We want none of that."

Through the recognized authority of a fully chartered church, Baker will be able to provide all the services many expect from a church: funeral services, visitations to the sick, outreach services like a food bank and a variety of workshops and seminars. An important offering will be traditional handfasting, or committment, ceremonies. Couples can be either gay or straight, but must possess a real desire to stay together. The length of committment may vary, from a traditional pledge of a year and a day, to union beyond life. Baker adds that the "auspices of a church will give validity and legal status to members," protection provided by law to worship and recognize religious occassions and events.

Meetings, set to begin in November, will follow a "free-wheeling, open-discussion, drop-in" approach. Baker is enthusiastic about the difference between her church and more formal approaches. “Pagan circles are active participatory meetings. There are closed groups, but there are many open

MILESTONES

Patti Harris and Tracy Sorensen unite

A beautiful sunny afternoon greeted the guests and wedding party that came together to witness the bonding of Patti Harris and Tracy Sorensen. Harris, the business manager of the Gay People's Chronicle, and Sorensen, an animal keeper at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, were united in a commitment ceremony Saturday, September 18.

The ceremony was held at the Olmsted Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in North Olmsted and was officiated by Unitarian minister Lori Toriaro.

Guests arriving for the celebration were seated by the tuxedoed elegance of ushers Dave and Carolyn, complete with white gloves and matching boutonnieres. Both brides walked up the aisle hand-inhand wearing white blouses, calf-length skirts in contrasting colors, and flower print

vests.

The ceremony began with Terry's reading of "Invitation" by Shel Silverstein, with musical selections throughout the ceremony by Diane (piano) and Michelle (vocals). Ring bearers Janine and Jamie completed the wedding party.

Lori's homily included special recognition of the 150-year-old Chapel for its historical and continuing commitment to civil rights, and honored Tracy's parents, Bill and Janet Sorensen from Lima, Ohio; and Patti's parents, Lelia Flaugher and Roland Harris from Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida, respectively. Patti's stepfather, John,

was unable to attend but sent a beautiful floral arrangement for the Chapel's altar.

Both women demonstrated an unsteady gait down the sidewalk as the bird seed was thrown. Harris claims it was due to emergency shoe substitution, not their unfamiliarity with walking in low-heeled pumps. A reception was held immediately after the ceremony at the Five Cent Decision and included the now-famous chicken dance by DJs Jammin' Jen and Laura, along with the traditional cake cutting and toasts.

The couple honeymooned at Florida's Disney World and will continue to reside in Cleveland.

meetings too. We don't have a lot of dogma. We'll be relying on people to put out the energy," she said.

There will also be scheduled workshops on a variety of subjects. So far there are plans for a November 7 beginner's tarot class and a November 21 natal chart workshop. Interested people are urged to call ahead with birth information so that seminar organizers can prepare in advance. Also under discussion are seminars on healing herbs and psychic healing.

A good introduction to the Pagan life can be had October 23 when Pagans will unite for a Samhain (pronounced sow-when) ceremony on Public Square at 7:30pm. Samhain, Celtic for summer's end, is a traditional harvest festival and feast of the dead, falling between the old year and the start of the new. Participants are encouraged to bring food and come in costume. It's no coincidence that Samhain falls at Halloween. Baker and

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Truebee are quick to point out that Halloween is the only Pagan festival still recognized by Western cultures.

Still, the resistance to Pagan ideas is great. Baker mentions the struggle every year with the same local permit-dispensing bureaucrat. She fought hard to get a permit to have a bonfire at this year's festival, despite the fact that she is licensed in the area of hazardous materials. "Yeah, I think I'd know what to do with my can of Sterno if something were to go wrong," she laughs.

The third annual event draws people from all over the state and provides positive public relations, a chance to set the record straight. "This is an opportunity for Pagans to come out of the broom closet," says Truebee. "And," he adds, "it's a great cruise down there on the Square."

People interested in the Samhain or any aspect of the new church should phone 3985224.

Jim Anderson

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