Chancellor's New Year's Address

Greetings everyone,

Well, here we are again –a New Year- and it is time once again for my annual New Year’s Address. And what an interesting year it’s been! Year 11 Aquarius has been a tumultuous year that saw a lot of growth and a lot of upheaval both around the world and for many of us personally. It was a year of breaking up old patterns to allow for new growth, and indeed as we come to the start of Year 12 Aquarius much of that growth is only now coming into full flower –and my goodness the months ahead are full of promise.

That promise is of course due to the hard work of many people, and it is only appropriate that I take this occasion to thank as many of those people as possible –though in my experience it is never possible to mention everyone who deserves our thanks, nor ever possible to thank enough those people who give so much of themselves for the good of others and in so doing make possible the many blessings we enjoy as a Tradition.

To begin, I would like to thank Witch School, which has been our educational partner for many years. Witch School and its brilliant and indefatigable visionary Ed Hubbard have been instrumental in both the growth of the Correllian Tradition and in its transformation from a small familial Tradition into a worldwide movement. Few of you would be reading this letter if it were not for Witch School. As for Ed, his constant focus on growth and development, and on the cultivation of our community and its youth, has done much to build a better, more connected, and more accessible world.

And of course I cannot properly thank Witch School without also thanking the amazing MaryAnn Kay who has constantly and consistently given of herself to help others and for whom I hope this year brings every blessing. MaryAnn has spent many years helping Witch School students and seekers of all sorts, even taking to radio as part of the Pagans Tonight family, and is always a voice for spiritual tolerance and understanding of diverse viewpoints.

I must also thank Rt. Rev. Anna Rowe, the President of Witch School, and also an Arch Priestess and Witan Herald for the Correllian Tradition, for all of her hard work in helping to lead this global network forward.

And I must thank Rev. Sherry Cooper who has been so important in advancing the Witch School mission –Thank you Sherry!

This year will bring many changes to the relationship between the Tradition and Witch School as Witch School has now made it possible to create individually tailored schools that will be able make the same technology available at the Temple and Study Group level. Individual Correllian groups can now potentially run their own schools geared to their particular needs and specialties. This is a huge step forward and a very exciting development –more exciting than anyone seems to have yet grasped. Truly, this is the beginning of the fulfillment of the vision that Witch School and the Correllian Tradition have shared all along –central support and resources for our globally dispersed community.

Among other things these developments make possible the long anticipated Correllian College, which will focus on higher and more specialized studies, including the Sixteen Modules.

I would also like to thank my beloved sister Arch Priestess Traci Logan Wood, for accepting the role of Acting First Priestess. Lady Traci is a sister of choice who has for been at my side for two decades now and long acted as Joint Head with me for Chicago’s Holy City Temple. Lady Traci brings a fresh and community-focused perspective to the role of First Priestess which is vitally important to the future progress of our Tradition.

I must also thank all of the new Elders we have seated in Year 11: Rt. Rev. Jason Mycroft-Highcorrell, Rt. Rev. Anna Rowe, Rt. Rev. Stephanie Neal, Rt. Rev. Terry Power, Rt. Rt. Rev. Raene Packery, Rt. Rev. Windy Lajoie, and Rt. Rev. Green Owl. All of the new Elders are hardworking and dedicated people who have been with us for many years. The acclamation of these Elders has also led to a number of first-ever events: This is the first time in Correllian history that we have had Elders from outside the United States, with Lady Anna being in the UK and Lady Raene in South Africa. This is a wonderful advancement that truly represents the global nature of the Correllian people, and we rejoice for it. We look forward in coming years to seeing Elders from Central and South America, from India, and from Australia –all places where we have highly accomplished and industrious Correllian leadership.

Another first is the impending birth of a son to ArchPriestess Raene, due to deliver any day now. This is the first time in my memory that a Correllian Elder has given birth in office, and is a wonderful omen of renewed life and growth! I am sure you will all join me in wishing every happiness and Blessing to Lady Raene and her new baby when he arrives!

It would be impossible for me to thank everyone whose work has been significant in the past year, there are simply too many -but I want to mention as many as possible. Claudia Blanton is one who must not be overlooked, and whose efforts are tremendously appreciated. Others whose hard work I want to recognize include (in alphabetical order) Rev. Katharina Ghazzoul HP, Rev. Liz Hamilton, Rev. Richard Keen HP, Rev. Diane Lavendowski HP, Rev. Angela Munn, Rev. Janice Nalis HP, Rev. Bruce Richards HP, Rev. Sande Smith and Rev. Millie Toupes, Rev. Charlynn Walls.

I also want to thank the many people working to advance Correllianism around the globe! Again there are far too many to name everyone who deserves our gratitude, but among the most outstanding are Rev. Eblis HP in Mexico, Rev. Harwe Tuileva in Spain, Rev. LaMaduk Madelaine in Chile, Rt. Rev. Raene Packery and Rev. Susan Wheeler HP in Africa, and Rev. Yoko Galkan in Uruguay to name just a few of the many. Perhaps the most exciting international development in Year 11 was the advent of the Spanish language Pagans Tonight on Saturdays with Yoko and LaMaduk! I see this as a huge leap forward and am in awe of the great job they are doing with it! I would also like to thank Swati Prakash for all of the great work she is doing to advance the Wiccan religion in India – her dedication and tireless efforts are greatly inspiring.

And of course I would also like to thank Afterfauve, Beth LaQuay, DrakonumBlade, GreenGate, Insomniac4Ever, RedDragon, Sparrow, and all the many wonderful people who have stepped forward to play a significant role in various social media. Your support has really been a huge help!

Finally I want to thank Katrina, Alfred, and Melissa here in Salem, for all of their hard work, as well as Rev. Lexi Renee –you are doing so much good work –thank you so much!

These are only a few of the many people who should be thanked and honored for their work, but the New Years Address can only be so long. All these and many others are a great blessing to us in the Correllian Tradition, Witch School, and the Wiccan religion as a whole –Thank you everyone!

I also have a few announcements with which to end this address. First, Lady Krystel has asked me to announce that she has appointed ArchPriestess Stephanie Neal as Co-Head of the Order of World Walkers, and that the World Walkers will once again be taking applications for new members. For more information contact Lady Stephanie at saneal@earthlink.net

In addition I would like to announce that beginning now we will be asking for a criminal background check on all new Clergy applicants to ensure the safety of our members and their families. This will initially apply only to US Clergy applicants, but will eventually be policy throughout the Tradition. Also while it initially applies to new Clergy applicants, it will extend to all existing Clergy as soon as practicable. I realize that this is a bit of a revolutionary policy as Paganism goes, but the reason for it is that we take the safety and well being of our members seriously, and have come to feel that this is important to ensure that no one with criminal convictions for violent or sexual crimes can slip through our system. I realize that this is a bit of an inconvenience to new applicants, but I hope that you will all understand the importance of it. For more information on this policy contact me at DonLewisHP@aol.com

Finally I would like to announce that I will be appearing at Children of Gaia Temple in South Florida from February 16 through 28. I am hoping to meet with many of our local Correllians and will be offering several of the Sixteen Modules as in-person classes. For more information contact Lady Janice at childrenofgaiatemple@yahoo.com

Thank you everyone and may you be richly blessed in Year 12 Aquarius!

M. Rev. Don Lewis,
First Priest and Chancellor
Correllian Nativist Tradition