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Going public
with one's Pagan religion is a difficult decision
to make. In recognition of this, PEN offers a wide
range of options for involvement. Our aim is to
create an environment where Pagans of differing
interests and abilities do whatever they feel
comfortable with to achieve our goals. For this
reason, we offer two types of membership.
Groves are the
backbone of our organization. They are public
Pagans, educating others (on whatever scale) and
working in community-building activities (in
whatever way). Groves may consist of one person or
one hundred, provided these members all reside
within the same general area. PEN's emphasis on
working within the local community sets it apart
from other organizations. Rather than take a top-
down approach where a member's "local" grove is in
the nearest metropolitan area, we prefer to keep
groves among neighbors and friends in order to make
the process of education easier as well as make the
community that much stronger.
Associate
members are also vital to PEN. They are Pagans who
support PEN's goals while keeping their faith
private. We take steps to protect the anonymity of
our associate members so that Pagans in any
circumstance can join PEN and support our
work.
All PEN members
may participate in any or all of the following
ways:
* Educating
family and/or friends about Paganism
* Building
stronger communities through activities such as
carpooling, babysitting, or organizing block
parties
* Supporting
the larger Pagan community through letter --
writing, monetary donations, or ritual
activities
* Writing
letters to the editors of local papers or providing
informational brochures at suitable local
gatherings (such as fairs)
* Building
community through volunteering, such as for soup
kitchens, literacy programs, or community housing
programs
* Joining with
other religious or civil rights groups to promote
First Amendment freedoms and an appreciation of
diversity
* Making
presentations to law enforcement officials, mental
health workers, religious groups, education
professionals, or the general public
You may
participate on any of these levels and be
considered a member of PEN. Our philosophy is "do
what you can, when you can." No matter how small
your contribution, you make a difference! We
welcome Pagans from all walks of life to our
circle. Please
join with us today
as we build a world for all Gaia's
children.
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