Table of Contents
- Our Mission
- How we are Organized
- Membership
- Our Clergy
- Reserved Titles
- Clergy training and Congregation Formation
- Support Us
Our Mission
The goals of the Ingvaeonic Society, or as we like to call it in the Anglo-Saxon language, Ingwina Ferræden, are to:
- promote the teachings of Ingwine Heathenship
- promote the study and preservation of West Germanic languages and culture
- develop, network, and support local religious fellowships
- provide educational and emergency support to members and member fellowships
- provide sacerdotal services such as officiating of weddings, funerals and rites of passage
- organize community events centered around Ingwine Heathenship
- support charitable and environmental causes consistent with the beliefs of Ingwine Heathenship
How we are Organized
Our organization is an alliance of religious congregations (or as we like to think of it in more traditional terms, a tribal confederacy) that acts as a single religious movement similar to a Church in other religions. Each local congregation is largely autonomous and is often patterned on a “clan” or “kindred” structure in keeping with our Germanic cultural focus, though there are few hard and fast rules about how a local group is actually run. Each such local community is formally called a férscipe, and is represented in the governing body of the Ferræden by an Ealdor-sacerdOE - A High Priest, a spiritual leader In the Ingwina Férrǽden, this is a reserved title for the administrative and spiritual leader of a kindred group. See: https://bosworthtoller.com/8453... ‘High Priest/ess’. This person is both an administrative and spiritual leader for the group.
Membership
If you are interested in becoming a part of the Society, you can learn about that process here. There are essentially three tiers of membership in the Ferræden:
Undocumented Member (Gingra/Gingre)
This category of members is basically the believers of our religion, at-large. These are people who have embraced the teachings of Ingwine Heathenship , whether they are part of an existing kindred group or not, and they have no official standing with the organization, nor any formal connection beyond shared beliefs. As such, this is not considered a “rank” at all, but simply a term to designate our co-religious, who have not opted to formalize their relationship with the organization. We call such a person gingra if masculine or gingre if feminine, a term meaning ‘disciple’.
Confirmed Non-Voting Member (Gesiþ/Gesíþwífe)
A person who has taken and passed our lore exam and registered with the global organization is called a gesíþ (masculine) or gesíþwífe (feminine), an Old English title meaning ‘Companion’. These people are the backbone of our Ferræden, and it is from this category of members that the organization draws candidates for office, and for ordination as ministers. In other religions, these would be the people who are considered “confirmed” or “baptized”.
Voting Member (Rǽdend)
The high Priest or Priestess of every affiliated ferscipe, as well as the officers and board of directors of the organization, are voting members. The style rǽdend or alternatively, rǽdesmann applies collectively to any of these people.
Our Clergy
The term “Sacerdhad” encapsulates the entirety of the Ingwine Heathen clergy, encompassing both ordained and unordained individuals devoted to the community’s spiritual pursuits. This collective body collaborates to uphold and propagate the traditions and beliefs integral to the Ingwine Heathen faith.
The Sacerdhad forms an organized priesthood dedicated to fulfilling the spiritual needs of the Society. This collective body operates with a profound commitment to the community, offering a range of essential services. Central to their role is the performance of rites, ceremonies, weddings, and funerals, providing a spiritual foundation for the Society. Beyond these ceremonial duties, members of the Sacerdhad serve as counselors, offering guidance and support to individuals within the community. Additionally, they assume the role of thought leaders, contributing to the intellectual and philosophical dimensions of the Society’s belief system. In essence, the Sacerdhad embodies a multifaceted and essential function within the community, acting as both custodians of tradition and pillars of support for its members.
Sacerd:
A Sacerd is simply a member of the Sacerdhad. This is not a title, per se but an Old English word meaning essentially, “priest”, and could be referring to a member of any religion.
Ealdor (Leader of the Congregation):
The Ealdor stands as the esteemed leader of the congregation, holding a pivotal role in both spiritual and organizational dimensions. This individual bears the responsibility of guiding and overseeing the entire local community, ensuring the continuity and vitality of Heathen practices.
Wígbed-Þegen (Ordained Minister):
Within the clergy, the Wígbed-Þegen or ‘Temple Warden’ assumes the valued position of an ordained minister. Charged with conducting sacred ceremonies, providing spiritual counsel, and exhibiting leadership, the Wígbed-Þegen plays a central role in fostering the religious life of the community.
Æweard (Apprentice or Unordained Helper):
The Æweard serves as an integral part of the Heathen clergy, embodying an apprentice role. This unordained individual has chosen to assist in ceremonial activities, actively participating and learning under the guidance of ordained clergy. The quasi-title “Æweard” represents the commitment of individuals aspiring to deepen their understanding and involvement in Heathen practices.
Reserved Titles
Just as other faiths have titles and styles such as “Reverend” or “Pastor”, we have reserved a few such terms, that we ask people associated with us not to self-apply, as the organization gives them official standing. These are:
| Purpose | Title | English Title |
|---|---|---|
| The High Priest of a Kindred Group | Ealdorsacerd, Ealdor (Frisian: Âlder) | Elder Priest/ess |
| A confirmed follower of the faith | Gesíþ and Gesíþwíf | Companion |
| An ordained cleric | Wígbed-Þegen (Frisian: Wigbedfeint) | Altar Attendant |
| An member of the lay clergy | Æweard | Keeper of Tradition |
We also commonly employ a number of ancient terms for administrative or ritual roles, such as blotere ‘one who leads a sacrifice’, which are NOT reserved and are simply traditional ways to describe a person who does a certain thing.
Clergy training and Congregation Formation
‘Our policy on the creation of local congregations and the training and ordination of clergy, is here.
Support Us
Our organization us largely funded by donations. To support our organization with a donation, please use the button below, and thank you!
