Aquarian Tabernacle Church
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2011) |
The Aquarian Tabernacle Church, abbreviated as ATC, is a Wiccan church located in Index, Washington and is considered the first Wiccan church with full legal status and recognition by major governments, the United States, Canada and Australia. In addition to being the only Wiccan church with 'Umbrella Affiliate Tax Exemption", the ATC is also the mother entity of Spiral Scouts, and the Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary; the first Wiccan college with state recognition to award legal degrees in Wiccan Ministry. The ATC is also the forerunner in Pagan Prison Ministries, with affiliated churches in Colorado obtaining the right to receive charitable donations, from government employees, through government employer charity programs.
Founded as a church by Pete "Pathfinder" Davis, the current archpriest, in 1979, the church is based on British Traditional Wicca. The purpose of the ATC has forever been to provide services to the larger Pagan (or Neopagan) community, such as open worship, festivals, prison ministries, affiliate church support, and a lending library. The policy of open attendance assists this goal. Festivals include Hekate's Sickle Festival (Samhain) and Spring Mysteries (a recreation of the Eleusinian Mysteries). In 2002, Raymond Buckland wrote that "the ATC has grown by leaps and bounds to become one of the most respected Wiccan institutions in the country, if not the world." Now in it's 33rd year (2012) they are getting ready to pass the torch of leadership to Belladonna Laveau during the 27th annual Spring Mysteries Festival. To commemorate this, The current Archpriestess Deborah Hudson, Archpriest Pete "Pathfinder" Davis, and Current Maiden Belladonna Laveau signed and released 35 copies of a Special Limited Release Invitation/Poster to affiliates across the country.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Buckland, Raymond (2002). The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca and Neo-Paganism. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 1-57859-114-7. OCLC 47658763.
[edit] External links
 |
This paganism-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
