The History the New Wiccan Church

In 1973 members of the growing Sacramento Pagan community established the Neo-Celtic Church (NCC) as a voice in defense of the religious rights of the Pagan community. Members attempted to structure the NCC along the lines of previously successful organizations, such as the NAACP and the JDL, which had been created to promote and protect the rights of other ethnic and religious minorities.

In 1976, the NCC both changed its focus, becoming an exclusively British Traditional Wiccan organization, and broadened its purpose, to include encouraging a shared ethical standard for Wiccans, providing continuing education for those teaching the religion and creating a venue for resolving issues between traditions, covens and initiates.

To reflect these changes, the Neo-Celtic Church was renamed the New Wiccan Church, International. The word "New" in the title is meant to reflect that the NWC is a new type of Wiccan entity, structured as a confederation of initiates, rather than as a coven.

Joining the NWC:

Membership in the NWC is available to any valid initiate of a recognizable tradition of British Traditional Wica who is of good character and not be permanently banished by a proper authority. Members must also of at least legal age of consent and be able to be bound by contract in the place where they reside. More...

ABOUT THE NEW WICCAN CHURCH

The New Wiccan Church is neither a tradition nor a coven, but is a professional and service organization by and for members of all branches of the Traditional Craft. The goals of the New Wiccan Church are the preservation. protection and promotion of British Traditional Wica.

To fulfill these goals the NWC provides assistance, resources and opportunities for communication to its members, the Wican Community and the general public.

More specifically, the NWC provides:

A public face and voice for Traditional Wica, including websites and public presentations
A point of contact to provide information and expertise to law enforcement concerning Wica and paganism.
A library of several thousands titles, of books, periodicals and other media relating to Wica and related subjects
A Code of Ethics, based on the traditional teachings, for practical use. This document codifies agreed-upon standards of conduct for NWC members and provides a framework which the the NWC encourages for use by other Wica, and pagans as applicable
A framework within which members may apply for assistance, monetary or otherwise, in pursuing special projects, promoting events and acquiring ritual spaces and other physical property for the promotion of the Traditional Craft
Certificates and other credentials to aid in Wicans receiving their rights as legal members of the clergy
A framework for conflict resolution between members, their covens and their traditions. Non-members may also request such assistance from the NWC
A collection of materials by which coven leaders and other Wican Elders may reclaim religious writings that they are entitled to, but otherwise have been unable to obtain
A research service which studies and periodically publishes information relating to the history of Wica.
A database of Wican initiates (voluntarily submitted) allowing members of Wica to verify their status of their choice
Assistance, within our abilities, in efforts to prevent persecution or discrimination on the basis of religious belief and practice
Opportunities for members of the Wican community to make tax-deductible contributions to charities of interest to Wicans

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