“John Lovejoy Elliott and a Ministry to Man”

Felix Adler, the founder of Ethical Culture, chose as his first lieutenant someone quite different from himself. John Lovejoy Elliott did not display the academic precision or vigor of his mentor Adler. Instead Elliott was best known for building caring relationships and friendships that served the marginalized for New York and other urban centers. Elliott’s focus on developing the skills and confidence of young people was particularly legendary. As the Ethical Society strives to grow our mission, what can we learn from one of our most beloved Ethical Culture Leaders. Hugh Taft-Morales explores this at a time that we strive to help our own children’s program flourish.

Hugh Taft-Morales joined the Baltimore Ethical Society as its professional leader in 2010, the same year he was certified by the American Ethical Union as an Ethical Culture Leader. He also serves as Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia. His presence in Ethical Culture has been termed “invigorating.” Taft-Morales lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife Maureen, a Latin American Analyst with the Congressional Research Service, with whom he has three beloved children, Sean, Maya, and Justin.