Coven of Christ Ministries

Coven of Christ Ministries finds itself placed by God and Goddess in a unique position. We believe that the Lord and Lady has established us to be a bridge between the historic Christian churches with their rich tradition of liturgy, theology, and ministry and the modern day Neo-Pagan movement with its ties to the ancient old ways and reverence for nature.

COCM is also a bridge between the coven and the church. Most covens are created to fulfill the same basic needs and goals.

· To honor Deity, and to form a relationship between Deity and members.
· To foster closeness and a sense of shared community among members.
· To teach theological concepts and practices.

A church is an integral part of the community in which it operates; it reaches out to the general community and forms relationships outside of itself.

· To honor the Divine.
· To minister to the spiritual welfare of its members.
· To encourage community.
· To perform charitable work on behalf of that community.
· To provide leadership to that community.
· To teach its precepts to children and future clergy of the community.
· To conserve its resources so as to remain a viable organization, so that it can continue to perform these functions indefinitely.

Note the similarity between the first six of these goals and those goals of a coven. These goals are essentially the same but expressed to include both internal and external relationships.

We find ourselves “on a journey.” It’s a pilgrimage that some describe as a “convergence of streams” – a uniting of historic Christianity with the ancient old ways of Neo-Paganism into one “river whose streams make glad the city of God, the Holy Place where the Most High dwells (Psalms 46:4).” So Mote It Be!

The seeds of this convergence were planted on the first day of September in the year of our Lord and Lady, 2004. This effort began with the founder’s vision to combine his Christian beliefs with those of Wicca, blending these two great religious traditions into an effective Christ centered “healing” ministry. Coven of Christ Ministries was founded to serve as a legal covering for this personal ministry. That vision was then expanded, and on the thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord and Lady, 2005 Coven of Christ Ministries was open to the public as An Independent Christian Wiccan Coven Church. A year later, on the thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord and Lady, 2006 Coven of Christ Ministries was expanded again to better reflect the growing diversity it enjoys and celebrates today. An Ecumenical Esoteric Christian Community and coven church, and an international fellowship of like minded believers called to a ministry of service. An avenue to give those persons who are sincere in desiring membership and/or ordination into an independent Esoteric Christian communion with a valid, legal opportunity to serve God/dess as a Priest or Priestess.

On the first day of May in the year of our Lord and Lady, 2007, our founder retired to expand his ministry at home and to continue his studies in an order that includes a “monastery without walls”. Doc still continues with COCM as Founder Emeritus/Counseling Bishop/High Priest.

Diana then took over as Presiding Bishop/High Priestess. COCM continues to grow and expand addressing the needs of the membership and those who come to us for help.

Within Christianity, great differences separate Roman Catholics from fundamentalists, even Lutherans from Baptists. The same can be said about the various traditions of Neo-Paganism. The point is that the complexity and diversity are so vast that no attempt at classifying the various groups and belief systems can be altogether successful. But it is also true that a great deal is held in common by all of us, and we truly believe there is much more that binds us together then there is that separates us.

There does seem to be some momentum toward unity in American religion (and throughout the world for that matter), at least toward the overcoming of differences in the hope that cooperation and a common oneness can be achieved. The momentum is present, indeed strong, within the Christo-Pagan community. There is a real willingness to merge our Christian heritage with that of the many forms of Christo-Eclectic beliefs.

Could it be that we are headed for the unity that our Lord and Lady has desired from the beginning of time? If so, unity then, requires a commitment to tolerance and cooperation. A true desire to move forward in our own faith without becoming offensive or intolerant of others. If we are to break down these barriers that have separated us, and move toward a true blending of our paths, then there must be a concerted effort on all of our parts to choose our words wisely when referring to those who don't believe the way we do.

We are in the midst of something powerful and overwhelming. If this declaration is exciting to you, you are probably on the same journey as those of us in Coven of Christ Ministries. We encourage you to join us on our journey.

We are on a journey...