The tl;dr video is at the bottom of the post :)



As a Pagan and eclectic Wiccan, I avoid the titles and trappings of Christian, Jewish, or Islamic clergy members. Accepting such titles denies religious identity and cultural norming for Pagans. While some of my colleagues wear Roman collars in green or other colors, I avoid them for the same reason. Some consider it a form of syncretism, but I feel it’s a form of assimilation.

Clergy Garb

In the Roman Catholic Church, wearing a Roman collar by priests is a traditional symbol of their ordination and commitment to their priestly duties. The color of the collar, usually black or white, does not hold any particular significance beyond being a uniform signifier of their role as a priest.

In other Christian denominations, such as Anglican and Lutheran, wearing a clerical collar is also familiar, but the color may vary from denomination to sect.

In other religions, such as Judaism and Islam, clerical garb may be less standardized and vary according to the specific tradition. The overall aim of these religious garbs is to create an outward symbol that reflects the religious duties and responsibilities of the wearer.

Ultimately, using clerical garb is a way for religious leaders to represent their pastoral role and commitment to their community visually. Pagans wear a range of dress. In Wiccan traditions, the most common signifier is a cord or cingulum. The number and colors of the cord represent degrees of initiation and specific meaning to a tradition. In Heketean traditions, three cords may represent a third degree with

• White as the stars (Above)
• Red as blood (the world we live in)
• Black as chthonic (the underworld)

We are not even scratching the surface of the discussion of clerical garb, but that’s not the intent.

Titles

Members of the clergy in various religions are often referred to by different titles depending on their role, tradition, or hierarchical position. While some religions have unique names for certain situations, others share titles. This is not uncommon since many religious traditions have historically influenced each other through intercultural exchange and adaptation. Reverend is the most common title accepted in the US and other Western countries. Reverend is an Episcopal title/designation as part of the church hierarchy.

In the United States, which has been deeply influenced by European culture and Christianity, the usage of Episcopal titles (Bishop, Reverend, Pastor, etc.) is widespread. Episcopal traditions emphasize clerical hierarchy and the various responsibilities of each clerical level.

The reason why Episcopal religious titles are sometimes used for non-Episcopal religious leaders is due to a few factors:

1.   Cultural Linguistic Influence: The United States, as a predominantly Christian nation, has based most of its religious terminology on Christian traditions, making Christian terms universally understood to some extent. Episcopal titles may have become somewhat generic with time, being understood to indicate a role rather than strictly a position within the Episcopalian tradition.

2.   Interfaith Dialogue: In interfaith dialogues or multireligious environments like the United States, it is considered normative to use religious titles that are universally understood. While the specific meanings of these titles differ across traditions, it makes the dialogue-less contentious and less likely to offend the dominant culture, in this case, Christianity.

3.   Erasing Identity: Adopting titles and language to facilitate mutual understanding and communication is deeply troubling. It is a road fraught with the perils of erasing religious and cultural identity.

Nevertheless, it's important to note that respecting each religion's unique naming for their representatives is part of honoring and acknowledging the diverse and rich world in which we live. As Pagans, should we not offer ourselves the same accommodation?

So, what do you call yourself?

Without speaking for other traditions and Pagan practices, I will broadly say that we decide and put forward for ourselves. The demand and our acceptance of a need for commonality is the worst form of privilege. I wrote about some of my experiences in “Your Attempt to Syncretize Me.”

As a priest of Eris, She gives no titles, and we assume none. To Eris, we are simply Her priests. I use my birth (Lawrence) or craft (Silent) name in a faith-oriented situation.

If I adopt the traditions of my Sumerian religious practices, I would be Silent-en. It means Silent, who is a priest. Sumerian cuneiform is an agglutinative language like Finnish, Korean, or Turkish.

The Finnish word for house is “talo.”