That's the part you need to process, sport – NOBODY is "claiming" to represent anybody.

You attend on your own. You may be part of a formally recognized group of some sort, but you don't speak for anyone other than yourself. And you get on the board the same way you get on any decent organizational board; you prove you're worth the trouble of having by busting your tail to make the thing happen. Some of it is probably who knows who; people remember who has actually contributed real effort, and who sat around picking their noses while everybody else worked. That's how I recruit for the stuff we do if I can.

The idea here is to foster dialogues among various belief systems, and recognize that the planet has a diversity of them. The only representing happening is that PHAs are being represented as having a place in the world religious community, by virtue of participating. Frankly, I'm relieved that someone with your Tude isn't.

We get people who want in on events because they're concerned with some social politics pecking order, not because they want the event to accomplish something. All they do is drive the good people off, and leave the major work to everybody else.

That's the part you need to process, sport – NOBODY is "claiming" to represent anybody.

You attend on your own. You may be part of a formally recognized group of some sort, but you don't speak for anyone other than yourself. And you get on the board the same way you get on any decent organizational board; you prove you're worth the trouble of having by busting your tail to make the thing happen. Some of it is probably who knows who; people remember who has actually contributed real effort, and who sat around picking their noses while everybody else worked. That's how I recruit for the stuff we do if I can.

The idea here is to foster dialogues among various belief systems, and recognize that the planet has a diversity of them. The only representing happening is that PHAs are being represented as having a place in the world religious community, by virtue of participating. Frankly, I'm relieved that someone with your Tude isn't.

We get people who want in on events because they're concerned with some social politics pecking order, not because they want the event to accomplish something. All they do is drive the good people off, and leave the major work to everybody else.

As for diversity, there are around two hundred Pagan delegates there, from a number of different groups. That includes a Heathen, a Hermetic Magician, members of Feri, Reclaiming, COG, Romuva, The Pagan Federation, Circle, the World Congress of Ethnic Religions, EarthSpirit, and Solar Cross. It isn't everyone, but it also isn't the theologically narrow picture that some are painting.

Peace,
Pax

In that case, I'll be there in 2014 with bells on.