Who are the United Pagan Kingdom?
The United Pagan Kingdom are made up of pagans from all over England. There is no 'leader' of the United Pagan Kingdom, the aim is for each county to create a network/community so that they can fairly elect their own representative. In the meantime volunteers take on the role of 'temporary representative' for their county in order to create that network and collect membership forms until the county is established and can hold an election. As for overall leadership, there will be an elected committee that deals with the financial side of the UPK. There is a voting process for any decisions which affect the overall direction of the UPK and the rest is very much member driven. The administrators of the UPK who oversee the paperwork aspects of the UPK can be contacted on the UPK Forum under the usernames LoneWolfe and Niamh.
How long has the United Pagan Kingdom been in existence?
We have been up and running now since January 2005 although the ideas have been in the works for the last ten years. The site is a culmination of many nights of debate, research and much soul searching. It is constantly a work in progress and we hope it always remains that way.
What does it cost to join the United Pagan Kingdom?
Nothing but time.
What are the United Pagan Kingdom�s aims?
To give every individual the access to the knowledge to make decisions about their lives and the planet they live on. To provide the support and strength to make those decisions. The resource of information we are compiling is for everyone, not just those who identify themselves as pagans.
To educate the general public in the hopes of dispelling the myths surrounding paganism, the occult and the craft. To provide educational sites where pagans can find out about areas of paganism that they would like to learn more about.
Compiling a fact file of humanitarian and conservation issues including scientific studies, official statistics from around the world and groups who are researching or campaigning for solutions. This we hope to keep up to date so that pagans can find out about any current campaigns they would like to get involved in or feel that other people they know would be interested in.
To give the pagan community a voice in government and a local, national and global network they can call upon for support, mentoring and friendship.
To put together a register of pagans within the UK to begin with and then in the wider community. We intend to do this so that the pagan community can be asked what it would like to see happen in this country in a way that can be quantified and put forward to the government whilst maintaining the individuals right to privacy.
How does the United Pagan Kingdom intend to gain influence in the government?
We are working on creating a networked community of pagans in each county of the UK so that they can elect a representative for their county. This representative will organise letter campaigns, polls, protests and gatherings on matters of interest and importance to their county. The government is looking for ways to speak to us as a faith and through anonymous polling we would be able to give accurate statistics to the government about how pagans feel. We are also looking into whether we would like to apply for PEBBLE at this time. At the AGM the polls suggested the membership would like to have more information about PEBBLE before they came to a decision so if you want to join in on the debate its here.
How is the United Pagan Kingdom different from other Pagan organisations?
We are an entirely voluntary organisation. No one within the organisation at this time is paid a wage for what they do. There isn�t and never will be a membership charge, we do not feel that it is right for pagans to have to pay for another pagans time or support.
Do I have to be a Pagan to join the United Pagan Kingdom?
In order to join the United Pagan Kingdom and have a vote on what pagans believe and feel should occur, you would have to consider yourself as following a pagan belief. If you would like to help with the humanitarian and conservation campaigns we have put forward or offer your time, you would not have to. A friend is a friend, no matter what God or Goddess they follow.
Why is the United Pagan Kingdom putting together a register of the pagans in the UK?
This register would first and foremost give the government and the pagan community a realistic idea of just how many pagans there are in the UK. Being run by the pagan community, for the pagan community it would not be answerable to the government pertaining to the information it collects, for the internal workings of the united pagan kingdom, this register is essential. It would be the first document to consult when contacting pagans when it comes time to vote for their county representative and voting on every issue that the local and national representatives put forward. Without the pagan community and their input the United Pagan Kingdom is nothing.
Who will have access to the register?
The representatives of each county who would compile and maintain the register for the United Pagan Kingdom would have access to the local register. At the end of each month the county representative would send any new registrations to the national database. This would be overseen by the administrators of the United Pagan Kingdom. If a county representative wishes to find out the contact information of pagans or covens in another area they would have to contact the UPK representative of that county. They would then be responsible for contacting the individual pagans and covens in their county to request their permission for any information the other county representative wishes to ask for. Unless that permission is granted then no information will be passed, not even basic contact details. If the government, media, or any official body wishes to have access to the information contained on our databases, then the same procedures would have to be followed.
What information will they have access to?
County representatives (with the permission of the individuals) could pass on an e-mail address or telephone number where they could be contacted for a meeting. The individuals have the right to know what the information will be used for and who is being given it. Examples of when this information may be necessary: If the representative from another county wishes to set up a meeting with pagans on a national issue, information regarding campaigns, individuals seeking a coven, or visa versa. No information is passed at this level without seeking individual permissions.
The National Database- This will be held by the administrators of the United Pagan Kingdom and the information it contains will have been compiled with the permission of the individuals at a local level. It will be used to contact the members on national/government issues, to inform the members of upcoming elections and statistical data. The statistics will be entirely anonymous and consist only of the details that have been given in polls, votes, or generalised data. A fictitious example of this would be: 45% of pagans polled were female, 70% of the members of the UPK voted in this election and only 20% of witches polled stocked eye of newt.
The only information that could not be anonymous is the list of temporary representatives (and later the elected representatives) and their e-mail address so they can be contacted. The lists of those will be available on the website.
How will the register be protected from other parties accessing that information without permission?
We will follow the strictures of the data protection act when it comes to handling and storing third party information. Here is a link to the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Information Commissioners website in case you need more information. This is in regards to members of the UPK in England. The UPK members in other countries will be similarly protected by the laws of their country. If you have any questions about how/if data is stored about you, please do feel free to contact your local UPK temporary representative or administrative staff. A list of them can be found at the site index.
I am a coven leader, I want to get involved but my coven does not want to be publicly accessible, is this possible?
Yes. You can register with the UPK as individuals without registering as a coven if you do not wish to pass on information about your coven to your county representative. Alternatively, you can register your coven and request that the information is not made available to other pagans outside of the administration. This request will be requested as we understand that some covens are open and others are not. Even open covens will be asked for permission to pass on their information to individual pagans if they do not make a request to make it publicly available to all (ie. On the website.)
What does the United Pagan Kingdom want me to do?
There is no set belief structure that we are looking for. The United Pagan Kingdom is open to all paths of paganism. As a member of the United Pagan Kingdom we will offer you information on a variety of subjects that relate to paganism, on the website, on the e-groups and if you request, by e-mail. If you choose to get involved in the campaigns, protests, moots/meetings that is up to you. We will offer information about local gatherings, covens, places of worship, and by request lone witches seeking covens. It is up to you whether you use this information. We will let you know when elections are being held, what the individual candidates are putting forward as their election campaigns and the results before, during and after the elections. We will let you know about the triumphs and failures along the path to achieving our collective goals � which are set by� you guessed it. You. What path this organisation takes in the future once the infrastructure for fair and democratic elections has been set up is entirely up to it�s members, the pagan community. We would like you to get involved as much as you are comfortable with and feel you are able, to make this a better world. We would not ask the members, representatives or administration to do anything that we are not already doing ourselves and will continue to do in the future. While there will be �leaders� for want of a better word, this will be an organic structure that will grow and evolve only with the desire of the community as a whole. A true democracy. We think of these leaders (the representatives, the local coven leaders, moot organisers) as the Council of Elders of older times, representative just fits the modern climate for legal means.
How can I help?
There are many ways that you can get involved in the United Pagan Kingdom. Here are just a few suggestions on how you could help:
1. Join the register when it is compiled.
2. Read the website. If there are any issues you feel strongly about we have covered, get together with other pagans who feel similarly and do something about it. If you need help in that area it has been covered on the website how and when to contact us.
3. If there are issues we have not covered that you feel strongly about, let your temporary representative (or later elected representative) know about it.
4. Join the e-group and talk to other pagans, see if there is anything you know that they would like to learn. On the flipside they may know things that you would like to learn. Paganism at it�s core is an oral tradition and we still believe that there is no better way to learn than from a peer individually.
5. The website is a constantly evolving resource, if you have time and are interested in researching in the fields of history, conservation, or humanitarianism, then any help you could give would be gratefully received.
6. Contact your local MP to find out their views on any of the campaigns that you are involved in, see if the party holds similar views. You could even write protest letters to them about anything they have influence over.
7. Each county needs a temporary representative at this time. There is a list of the counties and which ones already have representatives on the website. If your county does not, do you have the time and inclination to take up the role? There is a page on the responsibilities of the temporary representatives if you need more information. We will meet with all prospective temporary representatives within a county before one is appointed to give them further details about the UPK and their role.
8. Each county will need an elected representative. All elected representatives will have been put forward by their community as a candidate. If you were asked, would you know a pagan that would make a good representative? When the time comes for candidates to be put forward you could put their name forward for it (with their permission.)
9. Administrative positions are required in each county. For more information about these permanent roles contact LoneWolfe or Niamh at the Forum.
10. You could let your friends, relatives and other pagans know about the United Pagan Kingdom so that they can register and have their voice heard.