Wiccan Group Leads Services in Texas Prisons

On November 9^th, a group of Houston Area Wiccans formed a nonprofit corporation called the Greenman Ministry. Their goals include promoting Wiccan religion and education in the state?s prison system. Two members of the Greenman Ministry are already leading services and classes in three Texas prisons.  They started volunteering at the Jester III unit over three years ago. Now, after forming the organization, their plans call for providing Wiccan religious services, training classes and literature in every Texas prison that has any significant number of Wiccan offenders. They aren?t limiting themselves to Wiccans either. Their services are open to all offenders that wish to attend and learn about Wicca. In one unit they are even helping a group of Asatru offenders to hold their own services.

These Wiccans are a local group that is working in cooperation with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Chaplaincy. They are providing, at no cost to the state of Texas, a religious program that stresses individual responsibility. They are working with a group of offenders that the TDCJ Chaplaincy has been unable to reach. They encourage inmates to study, meditate, avoid conflict, become productive citizens, get out of prison and stay out of prison.

The Greenman Ministry hopes to raise funds through contributions to support at least one full-time Priest and Priestess to travel throughout the state to lead services and teach classes. They also expect to have a network of part-time and volunteer clergy. They welcome the donation of Wiccan books and financial support. They can be reached by visiting their website at http://www.GreenmanMinistry.org.