On July 4th, the AU’s Barry Lynn will be one of several speakers near the White House and the Veterans’ Administration.  The gathering is to “celebrate” the “victory” of getting the VA to add the pentacle to its list of approved symbols, demand that the VA add more pagan symbols, and advocate for a pagan military chaplain.The call for a pagan chaplain is problematic, since the military requires that chaplains be ordained in their faith.  Since paganism is, by definition, an unorganized belief system, it is difficult for them to create an organization that is consistent with their dogma (or lack thereof).  Even the “world’s largest public school of Wicca and the Magical Arts” (Our Lady of Enchantment) makes a point of saying that their program is designed for those “interested in creating their own spiritual tradition.”  They say they can meet the requirements of legal recognition of ministerial rights without “making a commitment to any particular Wiccan or Magickal tradition.”  Thus, they are “priests” of only their own belief system.

Of the four scheduled speakers that are listed as “reverends,” only Barry Lynn is legitimately ordained in his own faith.  Neither Fox nor Ellison list the source of their “reverend” title.  Akin is ordained through the Universal Life Church–which will “legally ordain” anyone with a valid email address.