In part-one of this interview Phil Wyman shared with us how he was kicked out of the denomination he was involved with for the last two decades because of his ministry with Neo-Pagans in Salem, Massachusetts.

In the final part of our interview Phil shares how these events have impacted him personally, and how Pagans in Salem have responded to these events.

SMULO: How has this situation impacted you emotionally, physically, and spiritually?

WYMAN: Check out my blog [Editorial note: Phil has a second blog here]. It is my observations on the emotional impact of treachery, and stress over the last year. I theorize that the same mental disorders which afflict those struggling with mental and emotional diseases effect all of us in heightened times of stress. I have found that I have had moments of feeling bi-polar. I've dealt with minor post traumatic stress symptoms. I have had short mental/emotional lapses which felt like I was autistic. These strange phenomenon come upon most of us in deep seasons of stress. It is unfortunate, and scary to consider that failed, and sometimes self-serving Christian leadership could potentially bring such disorders upon people. I have a new appreciation for the many people I have heard say over the years, "I love Jesus, but I hate the Church."

Of course during this same season this has not been the only stress. Our son Elijah came down with a life threatening kidney disease, and may soon need a kidney transplant. This happened while the National Board was discussing our situation without my knowledge, and of course, none of our "friends" came to visit.

The sense of treachery, and disenfranchisement has been deep, but through it all we gently attempted to defend ourselves without threat. Some people think we should have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit for libel, and wrongful termination, but we even worked diligently to follow the procedures of Matthew 18, and tried to help the denomination do the same.

Spiritually things have been a struggle as well. Prayer is different than it used to be. I read the Bible differently than I used to. I find myself praying less, reading less, but practicing lectio divina scripture meditation and journaling far more. It is taking a bit of time for the joy of serving God to rekindle in my heart, but I can feel it beginning to surge once again - after a year of this struggle.

SMULO: How have these events impacted The Gathering, and you as a pastor?

WYMAN: Well, we are non-denominational for now. I have been re-ordained under John Paul Jackson's Streams Ministries, and we are navigating our relationships with other churches, and other Christian groups. I have a new name for my closest friends - the Hill Men. These are the guys who stood by me through the hardest times, and even were willing to sacrifice their own reputations on our behalf. They took a stand on the hill with me.

The gang from Streams Ministries did that. Our friends from an emergent house church called Sinners and Saints did that for us. Some of the guys from the church I pastored in Southern California did that. A few people inside Foursquare did that as well.

Our church is filled with Hill People. No one left the church, in fact we've gained people since that time, and our little church is growing bit by bit through it all.

Among the positive things it did is make us less fearful of pushing the edge of radical loving ministry. The best shot against us has been taken, and now we're free to serve God unrestrained, and uninhibitedly. We've faced the Pharisees. We've seen the teeth of the lion, and as threatening as it has been we are still here.

Our big hurdle for this year is finances. We signed a lease in a new space to establish a postmodern evangelism outreach and training center, and we knew it would take about three years to make it happen. After year one, our former denomination has abandoned us, and we still have this dream location with a pretty high overhead, and a small church which was stretched by a grant to start it off. So, this is the year we cry out for God's provision to help us finish what we started, and help us survive this lease we initiated under Foursquare's encouragement.

SMULO: How has the media responded to this story?

WYMAN: We love Suzanne Sataline from the Wall Street Journal! I can not say enough good about her. The media in Salem has been great as well.

SMULO: How has the Neo-Pagan community reacted to this?

WYMAN: On Samhain eve, a group of Witch friends who had been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal before the story broke came down to The Vault (that's what we call our meeting place), and spent time late into the night with us.

I have received e-mails from Pagans all over the US, and even from other countries telling us how they appreciate our stand, and how they are appalled by the treatment we've received.

SMULO: You have been judged and ex-communicated for loving and developing friendships with Witches. As we’ve discussed previously, I’ve also had similar responses to my friendships and research with Witches and also Satanists. Why do you think Christians have responded this way?

WYMAN: We have had many Christians write in support of us. In fact, not one Christian has written to tell us of our errors following the Wall Street Journal Story. So, I know that there is a groundswell of believers looking for a more sensible way to navigate relationships with our generation, and its plurality of spiritual paths.

Yet, this could not have happened to us without a serious dose of superstition filling the heads of Evangelical, and Pentecostal minds. Many people in the church have believed lies spread by evangelists and Christian teachers who have told tales about Neo-Paganism only worthy of grocery store tabloid newspapers. The church has sucked up these tales about Halloween, Witches, and devils, and pastors have believed unsubstantiated (and sometimes clearly disproven) stories, and spread them in their teachings over the last 30 years. The result is that we are afraid, superstitious, and consequently offensive in our actions toward Neo-Pagans.

It is a tragedy that the very denomination which ex-communicated us on one hand, endowed us with a grant on the other hand to begin helping us teach the church that there is a better way to reach Neo-Pagans than with fear, and anger.

SMULO: Your love, friendships, and involvement with being a Jesus-follower amongst Neo-Pagans is to be commended. If Jesus were walking the earth today I have no doubt he’d be interacting with Pagans and others that Christians have, more often than not, wrongfully shunned. I greatly appreciate your willingness to share with us your response to what I believe is a shameful situation that you should have never had to experience.

WYMAN: Thanks John. I appreciate someone who has been there - done that - bought the T-shirt like you. If you ever want to mix it up and have some fun together you've always got a place in Salem. We are looking for people who think, and walk like you do bro.