Second Leader Search Update

Dear Ethical Society members,

Right now, every one of us is in the midst of coping with the effects of the coronavirus. The circumstances are changing rapidly, and the impact on our daily lives is immense. It is my sincere hope that you are all well. The pandemic is central in all of our minds, but there is still work to be done. With that said, I wanted to send an update regarding our Second Leader search. 

As you know, a group of dedicated Society members has been actively searching for a new Second Leader over the last several months. This task force has done AMAZING work! After reviewing applications and conducting interviews, they came to the Board with an excellent candidate recommendation. With unanimous support from our task force, Leaders, and Board members, I reached out to the candidate to discuss next steps. Unfortunately, having such a highly qualified candidate meant they were in high demand. We were not the only congregation to express interest, and they decided to accept a position elsewhere. 

I know this is disappointing news for all of us, especially right now. It can feel disheartening to go through such an extensive search and not have it end with the position filled. Even if the outcome isn’t what we hoped for, we feel good about the steps that were taken and the process as a whole. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard on this search!

So what happens now? The March 29 candidate Platform address and Board forum will not happen as planned, and the Special Member Meeting on April 19 has been cancelled. For now, we will conclude this search, and we will take steps to explore options in the interim before starting another search. In the longer term, we have some time to take a deep breath and regroup. As we know more, we will let you know.

Our goals remain the same. We want to continue to have strong Leaders in our community. We want the transition of Kate’s departure to go as smoothly as possible. We want to make sure the needs of our congregation are met. Know that we will continue to support each other as a community, and together we will make it through!

All the best,
Amanda Verbeck
Ethical Society Board President