Many minority/alternative communities seem to have a code of ‘not airing the dirty laundry’ or ‘not snitching.’ In the early 2000′s the “Stop Snitching” campaign led to controversy as it promoted the notion of keeping silent for the sake of a community as opposed to exposing criminals that could cause harm. Truth be told, one can see a similar vein runs through the pagan community where; for the sake of solidarity or just getting media presence, a culture of silence is the order of the day.

Considering the growth of our community and the amount of money many of us are willing to put into providing enriching spaces for pagans of all stripes; it is important for us to take into the account the character and intentions of those seeking our dollars, time, or recommendations. When investigation only occurs in cases of abuse or theft, it leaves a broad scope of normally inexcusable behaviors open for which no one is held accountable.

 It took me a few days of thinking about whether I would write this post. Not wanting to stoke some kind of “witch war” (though technically I am not a witch) I had to balance the positives and negatives. The best thing I found was to write a post on critical thinking, especially when it comes to the behavior, and credentials, of individuals who are considered ‘community leaders’ or ‘pagan celebrities” seeking communal monetary sources.

 Investigating an Organization:

 If an organization is claiming to be “something for everyone” discover if it actually is. Speak with current and former attendees about what kind of culture is promoted in the organization. Does it claim to ‘welcome all pagans’ while only catering to the Wiccan or Eclectic community?

 Does it require that everyone follow a code of morality (instead of ethics) for membership?

Does it claim to seek wisdom while insuring that only certain wisdom, or even levels of knowledge, are allowed to remain as part of the group?

Any non-profit organization seeking donations should offer some form of prospectus or financial statement to show to potential and current donors. Ask the organization for this information and, if they balk, think twice before giving money to them or becoming involved.

Pay attention to the “leaders” or “secret chiefs” of the organization. How do they handle/present themselves? Do they have their lives together? What are their communication styles like? How are they about separating fact from fiction? In reality, if a person is willing to lie to you about easily proven material, what else would they be willing to do with things you cannot prove? For some, Robert Zink is a perfect example of leadership gone horribly wrong.

 Just as when volunteering with or donating to an organization, keep records of any paperwork, email correspondences or exchanges between yourself and leading figures of an organization. In my professional position, not only are volunteers encouraged to keep their volunteer registration forms for their records, but are provided hard copies of their schedules, a full orientation of procedures and expectations, and know what to expect not only from myself as the volunteer coordinator, but the organization as whole. All of this is expected by a corps of over 300 active and 700 total volunteers.

Ask for the credentials of the leadership. Can the organizer, or founder, point to any credible references besides groups they have direct participation in or control of? How does the leadership handle ‘negative press?’ Their reaction to concerns, or constructive criticism, may decipher how one may be treated should one voice any such notions.

 Remember: Character – How you treat those who can do nothing for you.

And finally, trust your gut. If something looks, or seems, off it probably is. Take time to really think about your motivations and what kind of company you would like to keep before becoming involved. When all else fails, find other ways to donate time and money in your greater community; through outreach, mentoring young women (young black girls need this especially) or providing pro-bono services out of love.

Our global community is shrinking every day and with that wonderful expanse comes great responsibility. We, as pagans, must hold our own organizations, representatives, and leaders accountable for their behavior and their practices. It is no different than we expect from politicians, our school teachers, and our peers.  A code of silence does nothing but leave a trail of people ripe to be duped, maligned, or ignorant.

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