Welcome to The Order of Hildegard

A Web of Life in the Wilderness

An interfaith, unaffiliated community of practice dedicated to transforming spiritual leadership by supporting those marginalized by traditional religious structures.

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Who We Are

About Our Community

The Order of Hildegard is an unaffiliated, progressive interfaith spiritual community. It is designed to support cross-vocational leaders and those marginalized by patriarchal religious structures, such as the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. Founded by Rev. Dr. Frances Smathers, the group trains Community Chaplains and practices "Viriditas" (a greening life force).

Chaplaincy Program

At The Order of Hildegard, a Community Chaplain is someone of any vocation or any spiritual path trained to support others of diverse backgrounds and spiritualities in mutual community.

Wisdom Council

Our Wisdom Council surrounds our organization and provides us with resources, relationships, teaching and review. Board members ensure the organization is operating within its bylaws, ethics and legal obligations. Our Peer Leadership Team Advises the Programs.

Membership/Join

Our Values

At The Order of Hildegard, a Community Chaplain is someone of any vocation or any spiritual path trained to support others of diverse backgrounds and spiritualities in mutual community.

Membership/Join Us

Our Wisdom Council surrounds our organization and provides us with resources, relationships, teaching and review. Board members ensure the organization is operating within its bylaws, ethics and legal obligations. Our Peer Leadership Team Advises the Programs.
The Order of Hildegard logo is simply the words spelled out with a blue bird resting on the second line "r" and a leaf popping out of the third line "l."

Welcome to The Order of Hildegard

A Web of Life in the Wilderness

The Order of Hildegard is an unaffiliated community of practice which exists to center, celebrate and develop the interfaith cross-vocational spiritual leadership of those marginalized by traditional religious structures such as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, people with disabilities and neurodiversities and those otherwise disillusioned with harmful, puritanical patriarchal religious structures.

We transform public and private spiritual ethics and practices in a wide range of settings and traditions, cultivating a vibrant, widespread community while sharing resources for the thriving of our members and to impact the larger culture.

Some Titles in Rotation

AND INSPIRATION