![](https://ethicalfocus.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Curt-Collier-150x150.jpg)
By Curt Collier
Greetings, everyone. A little end of the season review: First, I appreciate the fact that the Society’s past presidents, the Board, and the Program Council, as well as key stakeholders are interested in getting together for some strategic planning. I look forward to engaging more folks in exploring new programs and added directions for our community!
Congregations face demographic cliff
Currently, the US is experiencing a dramatic drop in congregational membership, down from 76 percent two decades ago to approximately 33 percent today. That’s a dramatic drop, to be sure. In addition, as I’ve been reporting, civic engagement in community-based organizations has also plummeted–to 23 percent participation nationwide, and 16 percent here in New Jersey. Fifty seven percent of Millennials (those born between 1981-1996 and currently with young children at home) report “no interest” in religious affiliation. Our own Society is facing a “demographic cliff,” as more and more of our members “age out” of active congregational life. (Only 25 percent of Americans today were born before 1965). So, plan we must!
However, and mindful of the internal and external challenges facing our community, some things seem to be going extremely well. When a clergy leader leaves a congregation, membership plunges in the majority of churches and synagogues, which is understandable. The average drop is 20 percent in membership following the clergy’s departure. In 2020, when Joe Chuman left, our Society had 157 members. Currently, we’re down to 139, which is a 12 percent drop, better than the national average. But having 139 members is a challenge when you consider the drop nationally in congregational membership. Nevertheless, it appears we didn’t drop as much as is typically seen in 70 percent of congregations.
We see robust participation in our activities
A common indicator of the health of a congregation is the percentage of members (able-bodied, in town) who participate in the life of the community. Nationally, it’s considered healthy if you can get over 50 percent of your membership to engage in an activity in a given year. We had 87 percent membership participation this year.
Another indication of our health is overall pledging. To begin with, 2024 will be the first year in several that we may actually end up taking in as much as we spend, as long as we meet the goals I presented at the Spring Membership Meeting, which I believe we will. I’m happy we have a realistic plan for a balanced budget, as we cannot afford to operate with a deficit for much longer. Had I not gone after grants, had we not instituted a plan for additional fundraisers, and had we continued to pay our 2024 apportionment to the AEU, the Ethical Society would run a deficit of nearly $40,000 in 2024, leaving only $30,000 in the bank for 2025. Instead, we most likely will not have a deficit at the end of the year.
Total pledging is increasing
Pledges have started increasing again. In fact, using data from our financial reports, we see an 8 percent increase in pledge totals in 2024. This chart tracks Total Pledges Received over the last five years:
![](https://ethicalfocus.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Total-Pledged.png)
Pledges are already back to 2021 levels. But what is most interesting is that in 2020, 121 people pledged, with an average pledge of $915, while today 89 people have pledged, but the average is $1,088. So, not only are we beginning to see an increase in total pledging, but most members are giving more, which is an indicator of some contentment with the Society.
Another indicator that things are going well is attendance at Sunday Gatherings. Adjusting for adults who were downstairs (and not counted) prior to2021, we are seeing very good attendance numbers.
![](https://ethicalfocus.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Total-Attendance.png)
More people are attending Gatherings today than in the last eight years and we are bucking national trends! In fact, average attendance on Sunday has increased 37 percent from 2015 to today (from about 43 people attending then to about 58 this year). Thanks also to Elaine and the Gathering Committee.
Finally, by all accounts, the Society is more active today than in at least a decade. The number of festivals has increased four-fold, and there are more opportunities for intergenerational mixing than in recent memory. The Ethical Culture Society actively engages more civic partners today than in over a decade (at least). To date, the Ethical Society has netted $26,000 in grant support (in two years and delivered $50,000 on community-service projects and workforce development, all paid for by 20 grants awarded to our Society by 12 outside agencies and funders.
Hard work by so many is paying off
This year we have three LGBT groups who now call the Ethical Society its home, including a Secular AA group, a men’s group (LGBTQ seniors), and Lavender Treks, who routinely bring up to 50 women into our building to support the lesbian community. This year we provided youth mental-health training to 12-plus outside organizations.
Lisa Schwartz and the Social Action team has engaged scores of volunteers in social action projects, delivered $1,500 (this year alone) in donations, and led community reconciliation projects that were noted in the Washington Post. Our Skills Auction team, led by Ed, raised $4,000 more than the target goal, with tons of new activities. The Open Mic team, led us by Susan Lesh, has engaged hundreds in this monthly performance event, and the 2024 Spring Arts Festival, also led by Susan and her dedicated team, brought in 107 folks. Diane and Afina have ensured that each Sunday we host dozens of people in our social hour, and Diane’s artistic skills have also put the Society in a national publication. Perry and Beth have brought the Ethical Brew roaring back, including with the appearance of a Grammy-nominated artist. Rob and Christina pulled together an amazing Fall Festival while balancing career changes and a strike(!), and Rob recently has provided yet another benefit concert for our community.
Sunday School attracting new families
Finally, we are one of the few Ethical Societies with an active Sunday School program; our attendance has remained robust and we are attracting new families. Samantha and Mary have engaged our families and created a ton of activities, including perhaps the best summer schedule ever! (And shshhh….we may have up to seven young adults engaged in a newly revamped coming-of-age program). Jessie Glass has pulled together the amazing House Band, offering our Society original music, and Ron and his team of volunteers have ensured music nearly each and every Sunday! And I don’t want to forget our breath group (Silvia and Diane), Anne’s work with women changing careers, Silvia‘s Spanish language group, and Terri‘s Socrates Café. Our building is in great shape thanks in large part to Javier and David’s nonstop attention to it, and David has also brought in many new renters. Theresa and Terri have created the most professional communications work I’ve ever seen, and our newsletter open rate would be the envy of any organization.
I could go on and on, and apologies to all the other amazing individuals not named here who have given of their sweat and time to support programs in this community. The point of this message is that things are not simply good, they’re great! We seem to be heading in the right direction, and we’re one of the healthiest congregations in northern New Jersey, as well as perhaps the healthiest in the Ethical Culture movement! Our Community Weekend set for this week is sold out!
We’ll brainstorm new ideas and directions
Can we do better? Certainly, and I welcome your input. What I’m hoping to do is to pull together a large number of you on Sundays after Gathering this fall to continue to brainstorm new ideas and new directions. Our innovative president, Eric, I’m sure is up to this task as well. Using “open space” facilitation, we can collectively explore how to increase membership, ensure we’re raising $50,000 more each year, and reach out to those 70 percent of local residents who don’t have a congregational home. We need fresh ideas to convince those 57 percent of young families that we have an amazing youth program and engagement opportunities that meet the needs of families today. I will keep these brainstorming sessions open to all, informal, and innovative. If our Society can continue to figure out how to buck national trends, as it has been doing, other organizations will beat a path to our door. I guarantee it!
‘I love this community’
Finally, I love this community. I appreciate all the hard work and kindness. Change is scary, but a necessary part of life, and I appreciate all the risk-taking. We collectively need to explore new models of governance that meet the needs of hyper-scheduled younger adults who statistically spend more time with their children than any previous generation.
Authentic, ethical, diverse, intergenerational community-building is a spiritual practice, one I deeply recommend, and our country needs more than ever. It’s transformational. This will be a scary year in our country, for many reasons, as we move into uncharted political waters, and our Society will continue to be a refuge and a beacon of hope with your help. Looking forward to an amazing future, and thanks for an incredible year.
Yours in ethical fellowship,
Curt Collier