PEBBLE Minutes - 30 September 2006

The Public Bodies Liaison Committee for British Paganism

PEBBLE Minutes - 30 September 2006

Date: Saturday 30 September 2006
Location: Oxford
Time: 11am

Present:

Jacq Dobson (DP)
Pat Dunnicliffe (DP)
Angela Grant (TDN and Web Editor)
Emma Restall-Orr (TDN)
Belinda Winder (PF)

Further Abbreviations Used Throughout:

CoBDO : Council of British Druid Orders
DP : Derbyshire Pagans
HFP : Heathens for Progress
PA : Pagan Association
PF : Pagan Federation
PN : Pagan Network
TDN : The Druid Network

MINUTES

Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Steve Wilson and Liz Murray (CoBDO). It was acknolwedged that the PN's representatives have both stepped away from the PN. We await news from their forthcoming AGM. In addition, the PA and HFP were absent, with no apologies received.
PEBBLE partnerships
Derbyshire Pagans were welcomed to the meeting. It was agreed that they met all eight criteria and their affiliation with PEBBLE was approved by a unanimous vote.
A discussion took place with regard to current and possible partners of PEBBLE. It was agreed that, due to the lack of contact and communication from Heathens for Progress, it would be wrong to continue to include them as PEBBLE partners. AG was consequently tasked with updating the website to this effect. It was mooted that PEBBLE partners should aim to recruit some Heathen organisations to ensure that they were represented by PEBBLE (although, it was noted that many Heathen did belong to current PEBBLE partners, such as the PF and TDN).
In addition, it was decided that two large Pagan organisations missing from PEBBLE were the Children of Artemis (CoA) and The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD). CoA have expressed an interest already, while OBOD may not meet the eight criteria. It was agreed that representatives of both of these organisations would be invited to the next PEBBLE meeting. BW would contact CoA, while ERO would contact OBOD.
2011 Census
Jon Randall (Pentacle magazine) had contacted both ERO and BW with regard to his initiative to ensure that the numbers of Pagans in the UK were accurately recorded in the next UK Census. This was following a successful campaign by Australian Pagans to get people to respond to the religious orientation question in the Census as Pagan - (termed Pagan Dash), encouraging individuals to add their particular path after the Pagan if they wished to give more details. There was a unanimous agreement to support Jon and his campaign. BW was to write to Jon to request information for the PEBBLE website, that could perhaps also be used by partner organizations on their websites.
Diversity / Equality
SW had submitted a request from ??? to link to the PEBBLE webpages. This request highlighted the fact that PEBBLE did not have their diversity / equality statement displayed on the website currently. BW to circulate the equality / diversity statement, with a view to PEBBLE members formally agreeing to adopt the statement, which would then be published on the website.
In addition, it was agreed that we should also link to INFORM, an organisation set up by the Home Office to disseminate information on religious movements. ERO to send AG information on INFORM.
Pagan Oaths
From 3 August 2006, it became possible for Pagans to be sworn in at tribunals and courts using the new Pagan oath, rather than having to affirm (i.e. make a non-religious oath). This means that anyone appearing as a witness, defendant, or accused in any kind of court or tribunal (e.g. magistrates' courts, crown courts: anywhere you have to swear an oath to tell the truth in a formal setting) can now state that they wish to swear by the Pagan oath.
The oath is 'by all that I hold sacred' and should be added to the traditional words of 'I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth … by all that I hold sacred'.
An advisor from the Department for Constitutional Affairs informed us "there is no need for further discussion as the wording for the Pagan oath has been circulated. People can start using it from this moment".
It was agreed that a new page be put on the website disseminating this information. On the page, we would ask for feedback from anyone who has used the Pagan oath, in order that we monitor any deleterious (or positive) effects.
Media coverage of Pagans and Paganism
It was agreed that any specious coverage of Pagans, Paganism, or acts attributed to Pagans in ignorance, should be directed towards the PF or TDN to deal with. Tolerance in this regard is not the best course, as the media then believe they can get away with such talk, or continue in their ignorance. Although media coverage has become more accurate and fair over the last few years, it appears there are still some widespread misunderstandings about the religion.
Festival of Remembrance
BW reported that she had been contacted by a Pagan ex-serviceman who was dismayed to see no Pagan representation at the Festival of Remembrance (which takes place every year at the Cenotaph). All agreed that this was something that should be addressed and BW agreed to contact the Dept. of Constitutional Affairs with a view to opening a dialogue with the relevant government department.
Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting was scheduled for Saturday 31 March 2007 at 11.30am, in Oxford.