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The American Ethical Union is Working for You!


AEU Listening Session...You Spoke, We Listened!

In October the American Ethical Union held its first Listening Session to hear what Ethical Society members would like in the way of big picture ideas and to address concerns about how the AEU is doing. AEU Board members Randy Best, Tony Hileman and I met with close to 30 members of WES, the Baltimore Ethical Society, and the Northern Virginia Ethical Society.

Randy Best, Leader, Ethical Society of the Triangle (N.C.), kicked off the session by describing the AEU's programs and activities, as well as the challenge of a difficult budget year. The programs include: training for Leaders, and summer school for lay leaders; providing resources for religious education and youth programs; supporting the Ethical Society Without Walls and the Ethical Societies' President's Council; having a presence in Ethical Action, such as at the United Nations, joining with other organizations in amicus briefs on legal issues and signing on to positions of interest to the Ethical Culture movement; maintaining publications and materials archives, and holding an annual Assembly.

During the two-hour session several themes emerged:

The need for movement-wide leadership: Many participants expressed a sense of yearning for leadership from both the AEU and the National Leaders Council (NLC), which includes all who have completed the training and been certified by the Leadership Committee of the AEU.

Ethical Culture Leaders need to address critical issues not only to their members but beyond the Ethical movement. This would help inform the public about the largely unnoticed ethical implications of the challenges of our day and would also attract like-minded people to our Societies. Some discussion centered on the question of who needs to be leading us. For example, should the "leader" of the movement be a certified Ethical Culture Leader or an Executive Director from outside the Ethical Movement? Also, much interest was expressed in having the NLC serving as a more unifying voice in articulating who we are and what our vision is, internally and externally.

Animating issues and communication: Many voiced the need for identification and articulation of animating ethical issues and our spiritual values that will serve both to revitalize the Ethical movement and bring positive attention to our social and cultural causes.

It was emphasized that it is best if we do not put every social justice issue out there, but really focus on one or two that do not currently have the attention of our nation in a big way. The Quakers' banner of 'Peace and Nonviolence' is an example of how a religious organization is identified with a particular issue or value. While this was seen primarily as the role of certified Leaders, many participants stressed the role of the AEU in communicating our social justice work both internally and to the general public through traditional means and through enhanced use of technology (Web 2.0).

Support for new and existing societies: Echoed among the three Societies was the need for the AEU to better facilitate ways the Societies can share best practices. Areas of focus might be Web site designers, newsletter editors, and strengthening infrastructure, preferably in face-to-face conversation rather than conference calls or listservs. Given scarce resources, some questioned the AEU's priority of paying dues to be affiliated with external organizations, rather than using the money internally to assist our Societies. Participants also asked the AEU to assist Societies in conflict resolution, and to demonstrate vision and leadership so that the Movement can grow.

We closed the meeting as we began it, with a reminder that the AEU is us, and we are all the AEU. Similar sessions will be held with other Ethical Societies over the next six to nine months, and will inform the AEU Board in its strategic planning and decision making on how best to meet the needs of Societies going forward.