Our Custom Concerning Acceptance

Background

The history of Germanic peoples is replete with tribal convergence, confederation, and absorption of not only other Germanic tribes, but Celtic ones as well. We also see Roman cultural and technological impacts on Germanic culture, beginning virtually from the earliest documented contact between the cultures. Germanic peoples throughout history were notable for traveling widely, conducting commerce with peoples and nations far abroad, and integrating both the material culture and even the people of other nations into their own. In keeping with this tradition, and with the values of our modern, Western democracies, we adhere to the custom we shall call by the Old English term, underfangenes, which is a practice of welcoming acceptance.

Underfangenes (Undertaking to Accept Others)

According to this custom, our tradition accepts people of good character and good faith, who wish to associate with, worship with, and become a part of, communities formed under the aegis of Ingwine Heathenship.  In accord with our cultural ancestors’ spirit of enterprise, community, and hospitality, we will not discriminate against persons wishing to join our faith and faith communities, based upon their; skin color, sex, nation of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, visible and/or invisible disabilities, or other physical characteristics.

To do so would be counter to our stated goals of forging strong and enduring faith-based communities. It is however, according to longstanding tradition, appropriate to ask a newcomer to speak English, Frisian, Low Saxon, Dutch or German, in order to fully integrate with our community.