What is Ethical Living

The Ethical Living Committee nurtures events and small group activities that foster fellowship and ethical development. We seek to connect every person, from the core of our congregation to our ever-growing community, to a group that supports the discovery and practice of ethical values.

Join us to learn and grow; make new friends; or simply relax and have fun! Below is a sample of what our multigenerational programming has to offer.

Have an idea for a new group? Something we’re missing that you’d like to see? Reach out today and let’s make it happen!

In-Person

Join us for our in-person programming at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture:

269 4th Ave (between Garfield Pl and 1st St), Brooklyn, NY

We’re near these subway stations:

Union St. (D, N, R, W) (2-minute walk)
4 Av-9 St (F, G) (11-minute walk)
Grand Army Plaza (2, 3, 4) (12-minute walk)

Community Song Circle

When: First Wednesday of every month, 7 PM – 10 PM

Info: website

Learn new songs and enjoy old favorites in a welcoming environment! Everyone gets a chance to play and sing a song of their choice at the Community Song Circle, organized by the Folk Music Society of New York. All skill levels are encouraged, from novice to expert!

Humanist Happy Hour

When: Second Thursday of every month, 7 PM – 9 PM

Info: website

Have fun and socialize with your fellow humanists, atheists and free-thinkers! The Humanist Happy Hour is a great opportunity to enjoy thoughtful conversation and make connections with other Brooklynites while unwinding with your beverage of choice. We offer light refreshments and snacks, and you are welcome to BYOB!

Songwriter Circle

When: Third Wednesday of every month, 7 PM – 10 PM

Info: website

Play and listen to original music! The Songwriter Circle at Brooklyn Ethical is a monthly gathering dedicated to musical expression and creativity. Everyone from beginners to pros are welcome to share songs in progress, exchange feedback, and jam together!

Prospect Park Board Gaming Club

When: Every other Friday, 6 PM – 12 AM

Info: website

Meet new people, enjoy refreshing beverages, and–of course–play board games at the longest-running and largest regular board game event in the city! We have Settlers of Catan, King of Tokyo, 7 Wonders, Codenames, Cosmic Encounters, Scrabble, and 100+ other games to play. You’re also welcome to bring your own!

All Ages Game Day & All Ages Movie Night

When: Roughly monthly, announced via email

Info: join the mailing list

Play games, watch a movie, eat pizza and make new friends! The All Ages Game Day and All Ages Movie Night bring together community members of all generations to say hello and have fun. Check out past events on our blog and stay tuned for the next one, which will be announced on our mailing list!

Zoom

View more online and hybrid events on our Eventbrite page.

Life & Death

When: Fourth Thursday of every month, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Info: website

We invite people from all backgrounds and ages to join us over Zoom to talk about an often-difficult subject. In doing so, we hope to lessen the fear and isolation that surrounds this inevitable event in everyone’s life. We aim to create a safe place where all ideas are welcome, all fears can be expressed, and all hopes can be supported.

Divestment from Fossil Fuels

divest

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture substantially divested its investment fund from fossil fuels in celebration of Earth Day 2015. We did so through the sale of our Energy Sector Mutual Fund, which constituted approximately 7% of our investment portfolio. 

According to our treasurer, Tom Castelnuovo, “We estimate that the sale of our energy fund has reduced our energy stock holdings from approximately 10% of our portfolio  to approximately 3%, a 70% reduction in our energy stock holdings achieved by this one simple act. (Since BSEC held no individual stocks listed on the Carbon Tracker 200, a list of fossil fuel stocks, our only remaining fossil-fuel holdings are held in broad market funds such as an S&P500 Index Fund as well as international mutual funds.)”

BSEC is proud to join hundreds of cities, universities and religious organizations in the worldwide divestment movement. We take our inspiration from our parent organization, the American Ethical Union, whose divestment resolution stated in part:

“The American Ethical Union shall divest itself of any investments in businesses that have a primary purpose of the extraction or distribution of fossil-based sources of energy… We urge [our member Ethical] Societies… and their… individual members to do the same.”

BSEC understands the disastrous consequences to our climate of our continued burning of fossil fuels.  Our resolution on the subject states in part:

“Because scientists and the United Nations overwhelmingly agree that any increase of global warming more than 2°C (3.6°F) would be unsafe for the future of a livable world

Because we are concerned about the threat to life on our planet from catastrophic climate change resulting from the production and consumption of fossil fuels

Because environmental groups like 350.org (www.350.org) and Green Faith (www.greenfaith.org) are promoting fossil fuel divestment as a way to bring to broader consciousness the crisis created by an economy shaped by fossil fuels, pressure the companies to invest in alternative energy and stimulate governmental and social commitment to a clean energy world;

Because we are heeding the call of religious groups nationally – including the American Ethical Union, United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalists – and locally, including many synagogues and Quaker meetings, which have begun the process of divesting their portfolios of fossil fuel stocks and investing in alternative energy…”

We have decided to divest our portfolio from fossil-fuel stocks in several stages. We take our guidance from 350.org and GreenFaith.org, who envision a 5-year phased approach to divestment.

Said our treasurer, “For FY15, we decided simply to get the ‘biggest bang for the buck’ in taking our first step toward divestment through the sale of our sector SPDR Energy Fund.

On a go-forward basis, we will be looking at fossil-fuel investment alternatives proposed by our congregation including Socially Responsible Investment funds that are screened to exclude fossil fuel investments, greater use of non-energy sector funds, investment in social investments such as worker cooperatives, credit unions and supportive housing, and short sales of fossil fuel stocks.”

“BSEC is committed to fighting climate change through our congregational resources, and we are proud to have taken such a major step to achieving our goal of fossil fuel divestment,” said Jone Johnson Lewis, our interim clergy leader.

What is Ethical Action (Lucy’s Children)

What is Ethical Action (Lucy’s Children)

Purpose

Almost seven years ago, Lucy’’s Children (EAC/LC) was established for the study and discussion of American slavery, its rise and manifestation as well as its continuing impact on our lives. Further,  as the internationalization of economic interests converged early on regarding African labor in particular, EAC/LC also explores related histories in other countries.  Our goal is to provide not only information where there have only been questions, but to address our moving forward.

We are open to members, friends and guests. Our sessions and topics take many forms.   Historical areas are our benchmark.  Personalities, environmental conditions, music, travels, medical and scientific work are among our interests.  

Supported Projects

From time to time, we have engaged in public advocacy  through demonstrations, writings and voice. Some selected writings have been submitted for posting on the website.  Three ongoing projects with us are  Léogâne, Haiti, a joint educational and agricultural effort; the Harriet Tubman Byway,  and Gloves n’Stuff, a local response to migration needs. 

Presentations, Papers and Recordings

Selected presentations have been recorded via zoom. These presentations and selected researched papers, including commentaries can be found on the BSEC website, BSEC.org., go to the video tab and on the BSEC U-Tube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@bsec/videos. 

Who Can Join?

If you are curious reader and have a willingness to share knowledge and information come see us. Membership in BSEC is not required.  Questions and comments can sent to our email address:  [email protected].

When does EA/LC meet? 

The group will meets based on the readiness of presenters and discussion leaders on their topics of interest.  Starting in each season, EAC/LC is developing its calendar.  Let’s hear from you!

For some of Lucy’s Children media, visit https://bsec.org/lc/

Sample Syllabus

                                                                                            Year: 2017-2018

EXPLORING ETHICS SYLLABUS

Teacher: Simba Yangala

The world is changed by our examples, not by our opinions. Examples are one of the best ways to teach. Each one, reach one, to teach one

                                                                             -African proverb

One of the core values of ethical culture is to elicit the best in others and therefore in ourselves. How do we use that concept with young children here at Ethics for Children? I find the best way to teach this age is through plays and what we call “teachable moments.”

Play fosters intellectual, social, emotional, physical and creative development in children all at once!  When children engage in play, they are intrinsically motivated to learn. In an environment with children, the lack of proper stimulation creates boredom and too much stimulation creates uncertainty and chaos. The challenge is to keep the balance with short ethical discussions, storytelling and idea sharing. And also a snack is always a hit with children

Here is our Exploring Ethics group two semesters syllabus for September- January

SEPTEMBER

“Seeing the best in others to bring out the best in ourselves”

Theme: Welcome

Sun 10th: Meet and greet, how to create inclusion and our own spaces. Children will share stories about a time they’ve felt welcome and included. Together we will explore the importance of friendly welcomings
Story: A Sea of Pink
Song: Make new friend and keep the old one

Sun 17st:  The word “friend”, we use the word friend in ways to define our kind intention to others. When we meet in our Exploring Ethics group, we are friends. Children will draw a name from a box and that will be the friend to write a letter to that will be sent to them in a week. They will also write a letter to self.

Sun 24th: NO EFC

OCTOBER

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

Theme: Courage

Sun 1st: Yoga Sunday Before Yoga teacher comes, we will do our mantra leading into children sharing what they would like to be when they grow up. After yoga, children will do the Flowers and candles meditation.

Sun 8th: NO EFC (Indigenous Day previously called Columbus Day)

Sun 15nd: NO EFC (Ethical Education Retreat Weekend)

Sun 22nd: Gardening Day: “Families Care for the Earth Day” Leaves and roots for the fall

Sun 29th: Ethics For children Service Sunday

NOVEMBER

“A feeling of gratitude and seeing ways to find richness in every moment.”

Theme: Abundance

Sun 5th: Yoga Sunday. Share a dance for abundance: Children will share their dance moves and create a wave of combine dances together.
Story: Stories about things they’ve received

Sun 12th: Cooking Day, children will be in the BSEC kitchen cooking something to taste and share with others at lunch with the bunch. (Congolese cuisine: Smoked spinach)

Sun 19th: Intergenerational Platform: WAMPANOAG Native American Ceremony!

Sun 26th: NO EFC (Thanksgiving Break)

DECEMBER

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, this moment today is a gift, that’s why we call it the present”

Theme: Hope

Sun 3rd: Yoga Sunday. After yoga, children will do “Hope message on a rock”, it’s an activity in which they will write hopeful messages on a rock and place it somewhere outside for someone to find.

Sun 10th: Hopes for our families, (will get note from Lea’s class)

Sun 17st: Intergenerational Platform: WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION!

Sun 24th: NO EFC (Winter Break)

Sun 31st: NO EFC (Winter Break)

JANUARY

“A storyteller make up things to help other people, a liar make up things to help themselves”

Theme: Intention

Sun 07th: Yoga Sunday for all EFC together and after is Gardening Day: “Families Care for the Earth Day” seeds for the winter

Sun 14th: NO EFC (Martin Luther King’s Day)
Monday January 15th 2017, Families Celebrate Africa on Martin Luther King Day

Sun 21st: Ethics For children Service Sunday

Sun 28th: Children will do the Yes and No game, will do activity in which they share things that are Yes okay to do and things that are No. We will explore the question, what do you do when you want to do something that’s a No?
Story: Things we like to do

 

Storytelling: communicating an ethic of love. 

2017-2018 September- January Syllabus

Teacher: storäe michele.

We carry our stories with us into every aspect of our lives. They engage in our personal and social relationships. Inevitably, the stories we tell ourselves manifest into the selves we present in the world. Thus, nurturing ourselves with stories that serve to produce our best self, set in motion interactions that allow for brave space to be intentional in our actions, and approach situations with the willingness to grow and have healthy reflective perspectives.

This year our storytellers will write stories of love: for themselves, family and community—investigating ways in which love is ethical engagement.  As Dr. Cornel West declares, “Justice is what love looks like in public,” and as an ethic, provides a deeper meaning for the heart-work we do—not just simply right-actions but embodied right-relations that demonstrate our stories of love.

You will notice the Semptember class descriptions are quite specific, while the November-January plans are more general. This is intentional. As we continue to work together as a group I want to allow room for the class plans to reflect new thoughts ideas and opportunities.

I am honored to be on this journey of sharing stories, activism and ethics-making with our Growing Ethics group!

September. Chapter 1 [Welcome: “bringing out the best in others, brings out the best in ourselves.]

This month will welcome each other, discussing our year-long goals.

9.10 After exploring our syllabus, we will create a landscape roadmap of our hopes and dreams for the year, marking any special or noteworthy moments on this journey. We will also engage in writing a hopes and dreams letter to ourselves, which will be mailed at the end of the year to encourage thoughtful reflection.

9.17 Working towards [re]introductions: embodying the narrative of those who love us.  In our group, we will [re]introduce ourselves after delving deeper into discussions on who we are. Using performance theory exercises, we will introduce ourselves while embodying someone who loves us. Answering the question, “who are the people you are bringing into the room?” recognizing that we carry the stories that others tell about us. How does this change our perspectives of self?

9.24 No EFC.

October. Chapter 2 [the courage to speak our truths]

This month will begin to unpack our personal stories, questioning how they evolve or stay consistent—grounded in inquiries around self-love, honoring peculiarities, and speaking our truths.

10.1 We will begin our alter-ego books—which will be our year-long tool for reflection and artistic response to each weeks’ topic.  Alter-ego books are created from old books that we will [re]construct to develop a brave space, taking off our everyday mask and speaking to our truths.  What are our truths? How do they align with the self we show in public? In community?  What are tools we already have when speaking to difficult situations? How do we acknowledge our courageous acts? We will have yoga with Heather from 12-12:30pm.

10.8 No EFC.

10.15 No EFC.

10.22   Family Care for the Earth Day.

10.29   Service Day.

November. Chapter 3 [We live in abundance]

This month will begin to unpack our community stories, questioning how to approach the needs to thrive in our society. Our guiding inquiries are: What is our role? Can we have an impact? How do we learn to glean understanding from each other?

11.5 Sharing our collective wisdom: we are each other’s medicine. We will discuss our do-it-yourself methods of caring for ourselves and one another. Looking at the word medicine in an expansive sense, what aliments do we see in community? What are methods of healing for special circumstances that we want to see change? Are there always opportunities for change? We will have yoga with Heather from 12-12:30pm.

*We will also create a book or video together that speaks to our own DIY medicinal recipes. This project may carry over into December. *

11.12 Revisiting tough conversations: creating brave space. Sometimes we experience circumstances that cause responses that surprise us. Living in a climate that is at once hostile and nurturing can cause us to react in ways that communicate lacking something that in actuality we always have. How can we trust the abundance that we already contain? How is a healthy dose of self-confidence and recognizing interdependence beneficial for the community at large? How do we trust our gifts are enough? How do we engage in sharing our medicine?

11.19 Intergenerational Platform: WAMPANOAG!

11.26 No EFC for Thanksgiving Break.

December. Chapter 4 [Igniting hope, Activating Love-in-Action]

This month we will work as a team to solve an interactive exploratory challenge that effects the EFC community [this well be decided on as a group]. As a team, we will explore different ways of starting and enacting a process of change. We will discuss who is affected, what difference the change will bring and what the possible ripples in the community could be.

12.3 – 12.10 How to unpack a challenge. Using different modalities that engage the imagination, such as Silent Tableaus [games for encouraging students to think physically as a group and as individuals, encouraging different methods of non-verbal communication], mixed media constructs, and strategies around approaching research. How is solving a challenge as a group, also an act of love? How does everyone thrive in these moments? How do we make sure all voices are heard? What are our learning curves? What was our process?

12.3 We will have yoga with Heather from 12-12:30pm.

12.17 Winter Solstice.

12.24 No EFC.

12.31 No EFC.

January. Chapter 5 [Setting intentions for the future, Honoring journeys in years’ Past]

1.7 Family Care for the Earth Day. We will have yoga with Heather from 12-12:30pm.

1.14 No EFC.

1.15 [Monday] Families Celebrate Africa.

1.21 Creating vision boards of the intentions we wish to see and memorials for the markers of our journey of the past year. How will the story of our past inform this year? What growth do we wish to see? Who have we seen demonstrate these strengths? What can be learned from their stories? How are we the protagonist in our stories? In what ways do we support our ability to thrive?

1.28 Service Day.

a sneak peek into the months of February to June…

As the first months together focused on understanding ourselves and those in our immediate community, this year will center in how we can remember those in society who we may not interact with personally but our daily actions affect. As the upcoming months celebrate Black History, Women’s History, Earth Day and days of remembrance of those we love, we will continue to ignite love-in-action as a social justice using art to point to those who are not always seen, but voices are necessary to be heard.

Coming soon…