Frigga's Web Association Clergy Accreditation Program Program Description

Recognizing that in some jurisdictions, obtaining status as clergy can make some activities possible or easier, and that the imprimatur of a national organization can make obtaining clergy status easier, the Frigga's Web Association (FWA) provides clergy accreditation as a service to the heathen community.

It is not desirable (or possible) to develop a rigorous or exclusivist definition of either "gothi/gythia" or "kindred" or to impose any single hierarchy on the international Asatru community. The Frigga's Web Clergy Accreditation program serves as a voice for individuals to project their voices into a national forum.

Eligibility

The program is designed to accommodate active gothis/gythias who serve a well-defined kindred with regular meetings, although others may be eligible as well. Each applicant is nominated by members of the kindred he/she serves; each kindred may nominate as many gothis/gythias as they have.

Oath of Good Behavior

To be eligible for accreditation, a gothi/gythia must swear to

1. represent only the religion of Asatru (as defined in the bylaws of the FWA) as clergy during the term of accreditation
2. keep holy frith within Frigga's frithstead
3. refrain from bringing any dishonor, by word or deed, on Frigga and Frigga's Web
4. strengthen our way, serve the heathen community, and uphold and transmit our lore and culture
5. know and honor all applicable provisions of the FWA bylaws, policies, and objectives
6. discover and obey all applicable laws and procedures in his or her own jurisdiction

Accreditation will expire after 3 years and may be renewed by reapplication. There is a small fee to cover the expenses of administering the program.

Definition of "Gothi/gythia" for this program

For purposes of this program, a gothi/gythia is someone who provides one or more of the following kinds of services to or on behalf of a kindred:

• Bear oath ring
• Supply or maintain hof or other holy sites
• Supply or prepare religious feasts
• Supply offerings
• Study, develop, or teach the lore
• Develop or lead ceremonies
• Provide spiritual advice or leadership
• Carry out pastoral duties
• Work on organizational development
• Provide counselling
• Provide spiritual or educational services in the community
• Provide charitable or social services in the community

Application procedure

The FWA Clergy Accreditation Office will get four statements from the kindred for each nomination. A check or money order for US$5 made payable to the Frigga's Web Association should accompany the application.

Three nominators must submit affidavits that say, essentially,

I, the undersigned, am an adult Asatru member of Pickled Beets Kindred of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Ingvi McHeathen serves Pickled Beets Kindred as gothi and is well known to me as a heathen of good, moral character.

The other statement will say, essentially,

I, Ingvi McHeathen, affirm that I am an Asatru gothi for Pickled Beets Kindred. I swear that I will represent only the religion of Asatru (as defined in the bylaws of the Frigga's Web Association) as clergy during the term of accreditation. I swear to keep holy frith within Frigga's frithstead, and to refrain from bringing any dishonor, by word or deed, on Frigga and Frigga's Web. I swear that I will work to strengthen our way, to serve the heathen community, and to uphold and transmit our lore and culture. I acknowledge that I must know and honor all applicable provisions of the Frigga's Web Association bylaws, policies, and objectives. I acknowledge that it is solely my responsibility to discover and obey all applicable laws and procedures in my own jurisdiction. Signed, Ingvi McHeathen.

Ingvi's affidavit must give his legal name as well as current contact information for both Ingvi and the kindred. He should also supply his religious name if he uses one, some details on how long he has been a gothi, how long he has served Pickled Beets Kindred, where and how often the kindred conducts blots, when the kindred was formed and and how large it is. This information will be published in the FWA clergy directory.

The Frigga's Web Clergy Accreditation Office will review the documents and, if they are straightforward and in good order, issue an accreditation document that says, essentially,

Ingvi McHeathen is accredited as a gothi/gythia of Pickled Beets Kindred of Cleveland. He serves the Asatru religious community as clergy. This document is issued by Frigga's Web Association, P. O. Box 75952, Oklahoma City, OK 73147. The Association is incorporated under the laws of the State of Oklahoma as a non-profit, membership organization to carry on religious and educational programs related to the religion of Asatru, or Germanic Heathenry. Expires on -- / -- / --.

Special cases

Prison inmates are not eligible for accreditation during their incarceration. FWA will not revoke accreditation of a gothi/gythia whose kindred disbands. Those not affiliated with a well-defined kindred with regular meetings or who do not meet all of the eligibility requirements may apply for accreditation.

Any applications which offer any special concerns or problems will be referred to the FWA Trustees for review. The Trustees may decide to allow accreditation, to decline accreditation, to ask for more information or documentation, or to bring the matter to the attention of the membership with a report of their concerns.

Application for membership in FWA may accompany the clergy nomination statements. This application will be processed separately from the application for clergy accreditation.

Clergy Accreditation Office

The Clergy Accreditation Office operates under the authority of the FWA Maintainer. This Office will keep all applications and related documents on file and issue timely notices of expiration. The Office will maintain and publish a directory of clergy accredited by FWA. The Office will forward all checks and money orders to the Maintainer.

The Office will also receive and respond to all correspondence regarding the program or any accredited gothis. Any complaints about an accredited gothi/gythia will be referred to the Trustees.

The response to requests for verification of accreditation shall be a simple statement that "Ingvi McHeathen is an FWA-accredited gothi/gythia until -- / -- / --" accompanied by a description of the program; a simple statement that Ingvi is not accredited by FWA; or a simple statement that Ingvi's accreditation is suspended.

Any requests for more detailed information on a particular accredited gothi/gythia will be referred to either that gothi/gythia or to the Trustees or both, as seems most appropriate.

Suspension and Revocation

FWA has the right to revoke the accreditation if the gothi/gythia is no longer eligible for any reason, including (but not limited to) conduct or publicly expressed views that repeatedly or egregiously are inconsistent with the bylaws, policies, and objectives of FWA.

If the Trustees become aware of any lapse of eligibility, they should discuss this with the gothi/gythia and give the gothi/gythia a chance to explain, to resign, or to restore eligibility. If the gothi/gythia does not satisfy the Trustees of his/her continuing eligibility, the Trustees may bring the matter to the attention of the Frigga's Web membership with a report of their efforts.

If, in the judgment of the Trustees, the behavior calls for urgent action because it represents a severe breach of frith or honor, they may suspend the accreditation and immediately bring the matter before the membership.

After the Trustees refer a formal complaint to the membership, the gothi/gythia should be promptly notified of the charges in writing and given an opportunity to present his or her case to the membership.

The FWA membership should review the report of the Trustees, including all supporting documentation, and the presentation of the gothi/gythia. They should keep in mind that any action must be carefully considered and based on serious or persistent problems. No judgment should be made hastily nor in the spirit of condemnation.

The Trustees and members are enjoined to show respect for all persons involved in a revocation action and to maintain the highest level of discretion and confidentiality consistent with a responsible inquiry.

The membership may decide to continue accreditation, to revoke accreditation, or to refuse to renew accreditation when the term naturally expires. A full report of the decision will be kept on file by the Clergy Accreditation Office.

If the membership decides on revocation, a notice should be delivered to the individual.

Any gothi/gythia whose accreditation has been revoked may reapply when eligibility has been restored. Such applications will be referred to the Trustees for review.

To the FW-CAP Program Description

To the Reeves Hall

To Frigga's Web

To the Land of Confusion

Last Modified 23 March 1999
Comments to Manny Olds, oldsma@pobox.com