What is Paganism?

Paganism is not new or unusual in our modern life. For many people it exists less as an active religion than as parts of our popular culture. Halloween costumes and treats, Christmas trees and mistletoe, Easter bunnies and eggs, Maypole dances, harvest festivals and hundreds of other folkways began as Pagan practices. Modern-day Pagans seek to restore the religious context of these practices.

What is a "Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS)?"

CUUPS is a national organization of Pagan-identified Unitarians located in chapters connected to a Unitarian congregation. Many modern Pagans find their beliefs are very much in harmony with Unitarian Universalist Principles, especially the reverence for "the interdependent web of which we are a part."

EarthSpirit is the chapter at St. John's Unitarian Universalist Church, 320 Resor Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. EarthSpirit is a group of women and men who define our spirituality as "Earth centered." Our rituals include ceremonies honoring the changing of the seasons and on behalf of saving the Earth's resources.

How big is EarthSpirit?

Currently, there are 18 card-carrying members of EarthSpirit! Membership in EarthSpirit is not required to participate. We welcome everyone.

There are benefits of membership, which include:

• A voting voice and a right to propose matters for voting.
• The opportunity to hold an office and shape the growth of EarthSpirit.
• An invitation to the EarthSpirit e-mail list, where we share news of issues related to our group and to the individuals personally.
• The knowledge that you are doing your part to further Earth-centered awareness in our community.

Membership in EarthSpirit is open to anyone who supports the Purposes of CUUPS and the Principles and Purposes of the UUA. We welcome members from all religious and spiritual traditions. While most members of EarthSpirit are also members of St. John's (or another UU congregation), being a member of a UU church is not required to become a member of EarthSpirit. Being a memeber of CUUPS is also not required.

For more information, read EarthSpirit's by-laws and the position descriptions of EarthSpirit officers.

How involved is EarthSpirit in the host church?

EarthSpirit Seeks to enrich St. John's inclusive atmosphere and respect for the spiritual paths of all of its members and friends. EarthSpirit provides:

• A spiritual association.
• A liturgical option for St. John's.
• A gateway between UUs and the larger Pagan community.
• A potential center of social action on behalf of the larger Pagan community or of individual Pagans.
• An institutional presence of UU Paganism within the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
• An expression of respect for the choice of individual path taken by each member of a UU Congregation.