The Troth

The Ring of Troth, now called simply The Troth, is an American-based international Germanic neopagan (Ásatrú or heathen) organization.[1][2] The Troth was founded on December 20 (Mothers' Night), 1987 by former Asatru Free Assembly members Edred Thorsson and James Chisholm.[3] However, neither is any longer involved with the organization. The current Steerswoman is Victoria Clare, who took office at Trothmoot 2010.

The Troth is recognized as a non-profit corporation in the state of Texas and recognized by the state of New York as a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization. It hosts a yearly June meeting called Trothmoot. Trothmoot 2010 was held at St Croix State Park in Hinckley, Minnesota.

Contents

Objectives and organization

The Troth defines itself as a church of "Northern European Heathenry or Asatru," international in scope, with training clergy, promoting cooperation and community, and providing information and educational publications as objectives.[4] The Mission Statement refers to the ancient virtues of "Boldness, Truth, Honor, Troth, Self-Rule, Hospitality, Industry, Self-Reliance, Steadfastness, Equality, Strength, Wisdom, Generosity, and Family Responsibility."[5]

The governing body of the organization is called the High Rede and consists of between three and nine members elected by all full members to three-year terms; they may be re-elected. Following an election, the High Rede appoints a Steersperson and also an Assistant Steersperson, who must be a standing Rede member.

Steerswoman: Victoria Clare
Assistant Steersman: Dennis Ford
Rede Members: Steve Abell, Jill McPhail, Tanya Peterson, Ben Waggoner, Molly Welch[6]

Executive Officers serve as the heads of programs within The Troth. They are either appointed by the High Rede or elected from within their programs. They serve three-year terms and may be re-elected.

Reckoner: Nichole Alynn
Clergy Coordinator: Diana Paxson
Internet Communications Officer: (currently vacant)
Kindred Affiliation Program Coordinator: Gunnar Wodensgothi (Chris Miller)
Provost (Lore Program): Dan Campbell (Acting Provost)
Ombudsman: Gus Gissing
Public Relations Director: David Carron
Shope (Publications/Merchandise): Ben Waggoner

Stewards are regional officers of The Troth.

High Steward: Victoria Clare[7]

Publications

The Troth publishes a quarterly journal called Idunna, an annual Old Heathen's Almanac,[8] and a handbook called Our Troth.[9]

History

The Ring of Troth was founded in 1987, at the same time as the Ásatrú Alliance, both emerging from the wreckage of the Ásatrú Free Assembly which had disintegrated over disputes between the racist and the non-racist factions.[10] The organization suffered a series of setbacks and disasters during the late 1980s to early 1990s. The leadership of both Thorsson and Chisholm became controversial because of their association with the Satanist Temple of Set. In 1988 to 1989, Rob Meek campaigned against the "Satanist infiltration" of the group. The Ásatrú Alliance in 1989 declared that there could be no association of Ásatrú and Satanism. In 1991, Thorsson and Chisholm sought for a new leader (Steersman) of the group, as it had become clear that they were too controversial to fill this position. The office of Steerswoman was eventually accepted by Prudence Priest in 1992. Internal controversy continued to plague the group, however, including accusations that Priest was intending to pass leadership back to Thorsson and attempting to marginalize the increasingly influential Stephan Grundy. As a consequence, Priest was ousted by William Bainbridge in 1995, who took over as interim Steersman. By the mid-1990s, the Troth, now led by William Bainbridge, had emerged as a stable organization with a wide spectrum of members situated "squarely within the Wiccan/neopagan community".[11] Bainbridge was followed by Diana Paxson (1999), Stefn Thorsman (2002), Mark Donegan (2006), Victoria Clare (2010).

Approach within heathenry

The Troth is prominent in the non-racialist, inclusionary branch of modern-day heathenry.[12][13] The organization's statement of purpose and bylaws refer to "non-discriminatory groups and individuals" and specify that "Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation shall not be practiced by the Troth or any affiliated group."[4]

Edred Thorsson intended the Ring of Troth to be based on scholarship and provide priests trained to high academic standards.[14] While few members have achieved graduate degrees as he envisaged, the organization has been a prominent source of scholarly information within heathenry.[15]

Ring of Troth Europe

A UK branch of the Ring of Troth, later renamed the Ring of Troth Europe, was started in 1993 by Dutch occultist writer Freya Aswynn (Elizabeth Hooijschuur, b. 1949).[16]

The Eldaring was founded as an independent German partner society of The Troth in 2000.

References

  1. ^ On its main page, the organization self-identifies as "Asatru" and also accepts the term "heathen": "Asatru is the formal, modern name for our religion. Historically, we were called heathens, and we use that name, too, among others."
  2. ^ Jenny Blain, Nine Worlds of Seid-Magic: Ecstasy and Neo-Shamanism in North European Paganism, Routledge, 2001, ISBN 0203398769 pp. 8, 160, note 1 refers to it as "an organisation of Heathens based in the US."
  3. ^ Kaplan, Jeffrey, "Chapter Nine: The Reconstruction of the Ásatrú and Odinist Traditions" in Lewis, James R. (1996) Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraft SUNY Press, ISBN 0791428907, p. 213 and p. 231, note 41: According to Thorsson, "Only Thorsson and Chisholm were present. . . . Thorsson 'invested' Chisholm with the steersmanship of the RoT . . . . This ended with the declaration that the Ring of Troth was hereby founded with the aim of reestablishing the ancestral faith of the Germanic peoples." Kaplan emphasizes Thorsson's role, calling the Ring of Troth "[v]ery much the brainchild of Edred Thorsson" (p. 213).
  4. ^ a b "Bylaws Trothmoot 2008," The Troth, 02/05/2009, accessed December 25, 2009.
  5. ^ "Mission Statement," The Troth, 11/16/2008, accessed December 25, 2009.
  6. ^ "High Rede," The Troth, 11/16/2008, accessed December 25, 2009.
  7. ^ "Officers," The Troth, 11/16/2008, accessed December 25, 2009.
  8. ^ Ardinger, Barbara (2006) Pagan Every Day: Finding the Extraordinary in Our Ordinary Lives. Weiser ISBN 157863332X p.32 "There are numerous groups who follow the paths of the old Norse and Germanic pantheons. The Troth of Berkeley, California, publishes an Old Heathen's Almanac with much useful information as well."
  9. ^ 1st edition Seattle, Washington?: Ring of Troth, 1993, ed. KveldúlfR Gundarsson, ISBN 0962395781; 2nd edition ed. Kveldúlf Hagan Gundarsson, North Charleston, South Carolina: BookSurge, 3 volumes projected: volume 1 History and Lore (2006) ISBN 1419635980; volume 2 Living the Troth (2007) ISBN 9781419636141.
  10. ^ Kaplan (1997), p. 21.
  11. ^ Kaplan (1997), p. 21-29.
  12. ^ Mattias Gardell, Gods of the Blood: The Pagan Revival and White Separatism, Durham, New Hampshire: Duke University Press, 2003, ISBN 0-8223-3071-7, pp. 163-64: "To the abhorrence of spokespersons from the other two Norse pagan (ethnic and racist) perspectives, Ring-affiliated kindreds boasted Jewish, black, homosexual, and transsexual members, and had no problems with biracial marriages. . . . the Ring of Troth promotes the pagan revival without discriminating."
  13. ^ Kaplan, p. 214: "the gulf which separates the Alliance from the Ring of Troth"; p. 224: "the leadership of the Ring of Troth has been the most outspoken in their opposition to racialism."
  14. ^ Edred Thorsson, A Book of Troth, St. Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn, 1989, ISBN 0-87542-777-4, p. 122: "there will arise a great and learned troop of wise and true folk, who will go forth into the world to rebuild that which has been lost. These will be known as the elders of the Troth"; p. 208: "The candidate [to become a Troth-Elder] must have a degree from an accredited institution of higher learning in a field related to his or her work in the Troth. (A degree in Teutonic studies is ideal)"; p. 209: "With this requirement, the High Rede incorporates and co-opts the institutions of higher learning to our own purposes. . . . In addition to the lore that will be learned, the completion of such a degree, especially one beyond the B.A. level, will be a token of one's ability to see an endeavor through to its end."
  15. ^ Kaplan, p. 224: "[N]oneless, the organization is by far the greatest source of research on the revitalization of the tradition on the basis of the historical record."
  16. ^ author of Northern Mysteries and Magick: Runes, Gods and Feminine Powers (1998), Llewellyn Worldwide ISBN 1567180477.

External links