Reinvigorating a Movement

Washington Ethical Society Chooses Young Minister as Its New Leader

In picking their first new leader in 34 years, members of the Washington Ethical Society agreed on one thing: to return to their roots.

To racial justice, which inspired members of the humanistic religion to meet in Washington's few integrated gathering places in the 1940s. To religious freedom advocacy, which led to a Supreme Court case in the 1950s when a society member refused to swear a belief in God for his job. To social justice work, which members took part in after the District riots in the 1960s.

So they chose someone who wasn't alive during those times.

With her first official sermon -- or "platform," as it's called in the Ethical Culture movement -- tomorrow morning, Amanda Poppei, 29, takes charge of the movement's second-largest congregation in the country.

"We want to reinvigorate our social justice program, and that's a very big passion for Amanda," said Mary Herman, community leader of the society on 16th Street in Northwest Washington. There are smaller congregations in Vienna and Baltimore.

The arrival of the Unitarian Universalist-trained minister is part of a two-year process of redefining and focusing for the Ethical Society, which also rebuilt its facility. After their longtime senior leader retired in June 2006, members went through months of consensus-building workshops and exercises to clarify their core goals. During the past six months, committees held "identity" groups, asking questions such as: What is your urgent message of hope? How has the Ethical Society made a significant difference in your life?

Such introspection is typical for congregations of the 132-year-old Ethical Culture movement, whose members share broadly defined creeds, such as living ethically, supporting freedom of religious beliefs and nurturing community members through life's cycles.

The redefining process at the D.C. branch did clarify some goals, members said. While they have continued to do service projects, particularly overseas, and have supported for many years a major fundraising crafts show, they want to energize local social justice work and plan more multigenerational events. They want focus, members said.

Poppei said that over a series of seven get-to-know-you dessert parties while she was being considered, she noticed that congregants wanted more specifics from her than commentary about theism.

"People here are interested in: What are you going to do? How will you act? How is your life changed by Ethical Culture?" she said in an interview this week.

Poppei hails from Upstate New York and was raised in Unitarian Universalism, which has its roots in liberal Protestant Christianity but is humanistic with room for those who believe in a higher power and those who do not. She received religion degrees from Yale University and Wesley Theological Seminary and said she has been drawn to religious leadership since junior high school.

The young minister describes herself on her page at Friendster, an online social networking site, as a fan of knitting, social justice work and hostessing.

"I have missed my true calling as a socialite -- my favorite thing to do is invite lots of people to my house and make them wear bizarre themed outfits," she says on the site.

Poppei said that the next generation of humanists seem less interested in labels defining their spiritual beliefs.

"There is a real movement of young adults wanting to say, what's important is what I do; that I'm with people who value what I value and want to act with me," she said.

A more complex mosaic of interfaith relationships is another hallmark of her movement, she said.

Poppei's platform is titled "Homecoming." It will explore how people find a home in their religious community.