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Reflections from the 110th AEU Assembly

Louise Jett, Ethical Culture Leader

Louise Jett – selfie – with Audrey Kindred at the Podium and (bottom right) Joe Farkas – the troika of new leaders presenting “Uplifting Our Ethical Futures” Platform

What a powerful and heartening weekend in Philadelphia! The 110th Assembly of the American Ethical Union was a vibrant celebration of community and the creative energy that drives our movement forward. 

On Friday night, Speed Deeding brought energy and connection to the Philadelphia Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square, where the Assembly was held. Attendees of all ages networked with people from other Societies and organizations to explore ways we can turn our values into action. Light-hearted and deeply meaningful, it reminded us that ethical action can (and should) be both playful and powerful. 

Workshops throughout the weekend covered some of the most important questions facing our movement today: How do we build on our legacy while looking boldly toward the future? and How do we strengthen identity, partnerships, and community engagement? I especially enjoyed the National Ethical Service luncheon which featured thoughtful consideration of our ethical commitments, fun music, and delicious Ethiopian food. 

I was honored to lead a colloquy on change Sunday morning and give a talk about the movement’s future during Platform, Uplifting Our Ethical Futures, which offered a collective reflection on what’s possible when we imagine boldly and act ethically. Leaders-in-Training Audrey Kindred and Joe Farkas collaborated with me on the Platform, during which we all spoke. We also had very uplifting music performed by Robert Edwin. 

Saturday evening’s Awards Dinner was a highlight, honoring extraordinary Ethical Society members with Anna Garlin Spencer Awards, including Bill Aul from Ethical Society of Mid Rivers and many others whose leadership and service is inspiring. Their stories emphasized the richness of our shared commitment across Ethical Societies nationwide.

The Assembly also marked important progress in our governance and planning. Voting results, finalized on July 26, reflect the collaborative spirit of this gathering:

Matters of Business

• National Ethical Service “Rights of the Child” Resolution: PASSED
• FY26 Budget – Finance Committee Proposal: PASSED
• Bylaw Amendments – All Articles: PASSED

Board Officer Elections

• Scott Wright was elected president 
• Rhiannon Johnson was elected secretary 

These results, reviewed and validated via ElectionBuddy, reflect the thoughtful participation of our Society delegates, Board members, and Leaders. I give my thanks to all of them. Special thanks to the AEU Governance Committee, Assembly Planning Committee, Finance Committee, and the National Ethical Service for their essential contributions to the Assembly. 

As we look ahead, I’m filled with gratitude for old friends and new connections, for vision and accountability, and for the collective courage it takes to shape a more ethical future.

With deepest thanks to the AEU, the Philadelphia Ethical Society, and every person who made this gathering so meaningful, 

Louise 

Workshop Updates:
110th Assembly Highlights Bond between Ethical Culture and NES

Audrey Kindred

The 110th Assembly highlighted that all Ethical Culture members are inherently members of the National Ethical Service (NES).  Ethical members are invited to engage their global hearts and minds in creating society-based structures to support NES engagement. 

Supporting a proposal from NES, Ethical Delegates affirmed the importance of Ethical Culture paying renewed attentiveness and activism to The United Nations convention on the Rights of the Child. To support this, NES members contributed to the formation of an ethical coalition to support the rights of the child, and with funds from the Rose Walker Grant was able to host a workshop on child rights advocacy at the Assembly led by Lindsey Price Jackson and Therese Folkes Plair.  The coalition, working through NES, aims to support Ethical societies in this mission.  

Here are some first steps for all societies to take towards this aim: 

1. Join the NES mailing list: info@nationalserviceaeu.org
2. Gather those at your Ethical community who have a particular awareness and care for children’s needs to talk together about the resolution & coalition named above,
3. Make a contact list and designate a society liaison to connect to NES.
4. Familiarize yourself with these helpful documents by printing this simplified version of the UN Rights of the Child →
5. The Ethical Resolution and the UN Rights of the Child
6. Engage in conversations and internal planning that regards the world’s children and the dilemmas and solutions at work in your midst. 
7. Designate a few platforms to highlight people in your community, who are doing profound work to stand up for children’s voices and their rights.
8. Designate Activism toward two days that highlight the international call of respect for children’s rights: November 20 & June 8th.
9. Buy a copy of the children’s version of child rights printed by UNICEF for your Ethical Educators, so they may integrate it in lesson planning.

Workshop Updates:
The NAACP and Ethical: Bridging a Proud Past to a Productive Future

Marlene Williamson

Here are a few guiding pointers for Societies wishing to partner with their local NAACP or National Urban League, since NYSEC shares historical roots with both organization’s inception.

1. Reach out to the oldest Black church nearest to your Society. Provide data of our shared history as the conversation’s initial focus.
2. The communalities uniting both organizations needs to be part of the second communication. Matching committees from each nonprofit is a central linking area.
3. Inform not-for-profits of Dr. Adler’s role in the First Universal Races Congress of 1911 as our DEI history.
4. Identify who will remain the point person at the Society to communicate with and welcome the other organization(s) into partnership.

I’m available to discuss.

Marlene B. Williamson (she/her/ella)
Chairperson, Ethical Neighbors
Community Outreach Coordinator
Director, External Partnerships
New York Society for Ethical Culture

Email Marlene →

Workshop Updates:
Two Concepts of Ethical Culture: The Legacy of Felix Adler

Terry Smith

Beautiful Rittenhouse Square, across from PES

I appreciate this opportunity to summarize what I have been trying to say in workshops given at the 2024 and 2025 AEU Assemblies. 

Adler’s early concept of the Ethical Movement was immediately perceived by others as original and important. These included Henry Sidgwick, one of the most influential philosophers of ethics among philosophers of ethics. Sidgwick’s ideas are difficult, and therefore, he is not as widely known as (say) J.S. Mill. He is a philosopher’s philosopher. But the fact that he was influenced by Adler’s early concept provides evidence of its cogency. 

Now, over a century later, there is further indication of its cogency. A 2018 article by Bert Heinrichs in HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY QUARTERLY gives Adler credit for founding modern applied ethics. Much of the basis for Heinrich’s claim is due to those same early articles. 

By contrast, Adler’s books, including AN ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE and RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SPIRITUAL IDEAL, have not enjoyed this degree of acknowledgment or influence. The few peer-reviewed articles about them argue that they fail to solve the problems they address or else make claims that are so vague as to defy critical assessment. 

Nonetheless, for decades, whenever the Ethical Movement has attempted to derive inspiration from Adler, it has turned to his books while ignoring his early articles.  

I am saying this is a mistake. 

I’m not claiming that those early articles answer all the questions we might raise about ethics or that they contain the formula for reviving the Ethical Movement (although I think they point us in the right direction on both scores). I am, however, claiming that they are an under-appreciated resource that is worth far more attention than the Ethical Movement has been giving them.

Terry Smith

Washington Ethical Society

110th Assembly: Community and Compassion

Stan Horwitz

Stan Horwitz with Mike Huff, Recipient of the Elliott-Black Award.

My reflection on the 110th Assembly focuses on the deep sense of community and compassion I experienced from everyone I encountered there. We certainly had some rough spots during the Assembly such as inadequate WiFi, but the friendly atmosphere and the meaningful conversations were priceless! My two favorite parts were the Societies Helping Societies workshop that Pattie and I cohosted and the NES lunch. The colloquies were also special and the collegial way in which all the delegates behaved towards each other at the business meeting was amazing!

We need to get started with planning the 111th Assembly this year. I am happy to chair the Assembly 26 planning committee. I am looking forward to working with all of you to do it again if you’re willing. Greg and I will be meeting at NYSEC fairly soon to get the ball rolling.

Vandra, it’s not possible to thank you enough for all the hard work you put into planning the 110th Assembly. I hope your health allows you to attend the next Assembly.

Warmest regards,
Stan Horwitz