The question of a paid Wiccan clergy has vexed me for years. While I would love to be able to blithely say (with just the right air of college-socialist indignation) "Money corrupts...we have to keep it out of everything spiritual!", the pragmatist in me finds the question most troublesome.
Throughout the modern Wiccan era (the past 50 years or so), being clergy has been a volunteer affair. I'm not just talking about Priests and Priestesses, mind you, because the Wiccan ideal has always been that every Witch is their own Priest or Priestess. No, I'm talking about clergy, and that's another matter all-together. Granted, the need for dedicated clergy within the Pagan scene is a more recent phenomenon, but with more and more people coming into the scene who do not feel the need or ability to be even their own Priest or Priestess, it's a need that will only grow from here.
To be clergy, one must feel a calling. That calling is one to serve one's larger community. It is to "be there" when others need you, and to help someone with their spiritual journey. That could mean visiting sick people in hospitals, or visiting the incarcerated. It could mean corresponding with a Pagan overseas in the military, or sitting with their loved ones when a big battle starts. It could mean talking with a teen about being careful choosing a group to circle with, or how to break the news of their faith to their parents. It could mean marrying people, blessing their children, or presiding over their funeral. It could mean giving a free 101 class in your community, facilitating a study group, or sharing your knowledge and experience with those far away via the internet. I feel this calling, and have done a lot (though not all) of these things, and more.
Until recent times, one's community (on a Wiccan scale) has usually been one's coven, or Witches/covens descended from one's own. Thus, the role of "clergy" was often filled by elders within a Tradition/initiatory lineage. As Pagan beliefs and philosophies gain a wider acceptance, however, the need for clergy within the Pagan realm will only increase. Especially with the dominance of solitary practice within the larger Pagan paradigm.
I believe that Wiccan Priests and Priestesses in general, not only coven leaders, mind you, but any who takes on the title of Wiccan Priest/ess, will be looked to more and more to provide these vital clergy functions not only to their friends and families, but to the larger neo-Pagan populace as time goes on. Wicca is the oldest path within the modern Pagan movement, and the single largest denomination within Pagandom. Also, most pass through Wicca on their way to other Pagan paths, so many have at least a passing familiarity with the basic tenents of the Wiccan way.
This is part of my drive to get the greater whole of modern Wicca to embrace more defined standards for just what it means to be a Wiccan Priest/ess. However,it also brings up the entire sticky notion of paid Wiccan clergy.
As Wiccan clergy, I'm at a distinct disadvantage in the larger community of religious clergy in our culture. First, I work 40 hours a week. I also commute about 80 minutes a day to get to and from my job, and I try to get about 7 hours of sleep a night (I can function on 6, but too many days of that and I start to get irritable). On top of that, I am a parent to two children, and husband and life-partner to my wife. And on top of all that, I'm human, and need to occaisionally take a time-out to relax, watch a movie, and recharge my batteries when I'm concious. Between work, family commitments, and trying to take care of myself, you can see how I have very few hours left in the week. In these, I have a coven to take care of, as well as any other clergy duties I have taken on in the community.
There's a lot more I'd like to do, but just don't have any time for.
Now, let's look at the pastor of my parents' church (which is United Church of Christ (UCC), a very liberal denomination, and thus headed by a very easy guy to chat up, as I have done in the past). He, too, has a family, has to get some sleep, eat, recharge, etc. However, his clergy calling is also his job, meaning that he gets to do what he loves best, being a clergy-person for his faith, without taking on an outside job. Parts of the job may be tedious (he has a church building and a budget to manage along with his people-oriented duties), but for any of us it's a labour of love...he just gets to make his love his career. I would love nothing more than to be able to put in 40+ hours a week being clergy for my community, but right now that's just not possible.
Of course, the basic structure of Wicca in particular, and Paganism in general, make such a thing difficult. For one thing, the pastor of my parents' church has hundreds of members in a fairly well-off suburb to support both him and his church. The Basic Wiccan coven? No more, most often, than 9 to thriteen, including the leadership. Also, a UCC church is plugged into a wider support network (the United Church of Christ is a widespread denomination) that can help if a church gets into financial trouble. A coven only has itself. I would never do away with the autonomy of the coven, and would never suggest anything different.
So where does that leave us?
Support Your Local Clergy
Many teachers and coven leaders do try to find alternative means to support themselves, so that they can (at least) suffice with a part-time job and dedicate more time towards their clergy and teaching responsibilities. Here is where we, as a community, can help support them.
Writers
Wiccans have always been a literate people, and even those within a coven program have a reading list. It's just who we are. Being a literate people, it's only natural that those who have something to share do so through the written word. Our Pagan/Wiccan writers are a very valuble resource, because they are often the point of entry for most into our various paths. We need to support these people, for without them (and others like them) very few of us would be here.
(I would like to note here that I don't mean "buy every book, even if it's bad". Poorly written books should be allowed to fade away, and do not speak highly of the quality of the teacher producing them.)
One thing to think about: when deciding to buy a copy of someone's book, always try to buy it new. This sounds like a minor point, but remember...an author often makes money off of each new book of theirs sold. It's called royalties. Even if they don't make a huge amount per book, the advance they receive from their publisher for each new book published is often purportional to the amount that their last book sold. Buying used books through Amazon may save the buyer a few bucks, but they do nothing for the present or future incomes of their authors.
I'm not saying that you should refuse to buy a used book if you're dirt poor and that's the only way you'll ever be able to get that book. You still need to take care of your own advancement. But for those Wiccans and Pagans who are middle-class, or even lower middle-class, spending a few dollars more is a temporary inconvience at most. Really, if you have to eat a tuna sandwich at home instead of eating out one time to be able to buy a new copy of someone's book instead of taking the cheap route, is it really a big deal? Your purchase of that new book puts money in an author's pocket, and buys them goodwill from their publisher. If many of us do this, it could mean the difference between someone being a part-time writer and being a full time one. Isn't that worth it?
At the risk of looking less than altruistic, I would like to remind folks that I have a book out, as well. You won't find it used anywhere (I haven't sold enough copies to make that a concern yet), but getting a copy is a nice way to say you like my stuff. It also makes a great Sabbat gift! ;-)
Shopkeepers
Another accepted method of escaping the mundane job-grind is to open a magickal store. It could be an actual location, or an online entity, but patronizing a store run by Wiccan clergy and/or teachers is a great way of supporting leaders in our community.
Again, a caveat: I'm not saying "always support a store if it's run by Pagans/Wiccans". I'm saying to support stores run by people who deserve our support. The Pagan scene attracts all types, greedy bastards included.
Remember that Wicca 101 class that cost $120 I wrote about yesterday? Well, charging outrageous prices for basic instruction wasn't the only way this person took advantage of his local Pagan community. He also ran a store that was the "only game in town" when it came to magickal/Pagan shoppes, and he knew it. He always did a good amount of business, and when some well-meaning folks online started a big "support your local Pagan shop" campaign, he did even more business. He knew people would buy things in his shop that they could get cheaper online, if only to "support their community". How did he repay peoples' kindness? By hiking the prices in his shop to outrageous levels. A wire pentacle necklace that he paid $5 for was sold for $30 (!), and everything else was treated to the same markup. He didn't have too many books, because their prices were printed on them, so he couldn't raise his price on them high enough! Yes, a store-owner has to charge higher prices than an online store, because they also have a store-front to maintain. I've known plenty of Pagan shop-owners, however, to know that this guy was seeing what he could get away with in his pricing. When another store opened in town, with reasonable prices, he closed up. He had made enough, however, to open a nice, expensive spa in another town, so fleecing the Pagan public had already given him it's rewards.
That's not the only time I've run into a shop owner with questionable values...another once refused to post a flier in their store for a free Wiccan study group because they (also) were starting "Wicca 101"classes for a fee, and were worried that putting up a flier for our group would cost her money. (Ohio's a nice place people, really! I don't know how we keep finding these sorts!)
No, I'm saying that when you see a store (online or off) that's run by people who give back to their communities, help them to grow, either teach or facilitate the teaching of others, and especially if they provide clergy services, then support them. Buy stuff there. Even if you can get it cheaper somewhere else. If more of us do that, then more people who feel the call to being clergy can rely on such enterprises to support them in their endeavours. Again, I'm not saying to break the bank, or even do without (for too long), just think about your spending. Even something as simple as seeing the (lower priced) matinee showing of the new Harry Potter movie instead of going at night (when the prices are usually higher) can make the difference between buying something at "Big Corporate Discount Occult Shop.com" and a more worthwile store-owner (for that matter, eating before you go instead of snacking at the theatre can make a big monetary difference).
Small changes in our spending can equal big benefits for our community.
Readers
Another time-honoured method for making money employed by Wiccan clergy is doing psychic readings...tarot, runes, astrological charts, etc. If you know of someone performing clergy-level services for the local community who's also a reader, then you can do a lot to help them here.
First of all, if you have the money to pay for a reading, then go to them first. That's a no-brainer. However, many of us might have a friend/co-worker/family member/etc who would love a reading. Let them know about the clergy/reader you know. If they're non-Pagan but psychicly interested (and there are a lot of such people out there!), then just say "hey, I know this great tarot (or otherwise) reader you should check out...". Give them contact info. If you have a bunch of people who are interested, consider giving a tarot/psychic party where this clergy-person could do a lot of readings in one night...not only will you be helping them out, you'll also most likely get a free reading out of it! People have fun, a worth-while person gets financial support...everyone wins.
And remember, pre-paying for a reading makes a great gift for that new-agey relative.
In Conclusion
If it is even possible, the era of professional Wiccan clergy is not here yet. Perhaps someday, when our movement is large enough to sustain charitable foundations to support those who would give their lives to ministering to the larger Pagan community, then the time will come to figure out just how to do this. For now, it's up to us.
Blessed Be,
Taliesin