Leader
Opportunity: The Ethical Society of St. Louis is seeking a full-time Leader, comparable to a senior minister/pastor/rabbi.
Who We Are: The Ethical Society of St. Louis (ESSL) is a humanist congregation, founded in 1886 and affiliated with the American Ethical Union (AEU). Our mission is to inspire ethical living by affirming the worth and dignity of every person and advocating the primacy of ethical behavior above any creed. The Ethical Society functions like a traditional religion, but our programs are non-theistic and involve no prayer or traditional religious rituals. Each Sunday morning, we hold services for adults and provide ethical education for children from preschool through high school. Our membership of about 300 adults includes people of varied backgrounds, faiths and beliefs, many of whom self-identify as humanists and consider themselves agnostic or atheist. Through careful stewardship, and out of consideration for future generations, we are financially solvent and have significant endowments. We own our building outright. In addition to gathering together on Sunday morning, our members connect with each other and with the Society’s mission through affinity groups, community gatherings, social justice initiatives, and much more. We believe in the capacity of human beings to work together to create a better world. We are an intergenerational community, providing education, inspiration, social action opportunities, support, and friendship for all stages of life.
Principal Responsibilities − Give an engaging, inspiring, and intellectually stimulating talk, 20 – 30 minutes long, on Sunday morning, about twice monthly. − Engage actively with the congregation and foster a sense of community and the involvement of current and new members. − Deliver pastoral care and perform weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies. − Represent the Ethical Society of St. Louis to the broader community. − Provide an array of administrative functions including staff and volunteer supervision, budget development and oversight, and oversight of youth programs.
Desired Qualifications − Bachelor’s degree or higher, with a preference for study in the humanities or the helping professions. − Congregational leadership experience or leadership in a similar type of organization. − Training, background or understanding of humanism, Ethical Culture, or comparable religious traditions. − Leader certification or willingness to seek leader certification from the American Ethical Union. − Experienced public speaker and excellent communicator.
Compensation Minimum salary of $90,000 plus benefits, including housing allowance, medical insurance, self-employment offset tax, retirement contribution, and, if appropriate, relocation allowance.