Menu
Log in

Northern Virginia Ethical Society


"Act so as to bring out the best in others, and thereby in yourself"
Log in

Welcome to NoVES!

We are a humanist congregation that practices Ethical Culture, a movement begun in 1876 by Felix Adler.

The mission of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society is to bring out the best in others and thereby in ourselves, strengthen our relationships with one another, and build a more humane world by offering a program that promotes ethical growth and learning, builds and sustains community and implements ethical action beyond our Society.

We invite you to visit us on a Sunday morning.  You might find the kind of caring, welcoming community you didn't even know was out there - just waiting for you to become part of it!

  The American Ethical Union (AEU)

NoVES affiliates with the AEU along with more than 20 other Societies across the country from New York to Silicone Valley. 

Each of these Societies share the culture of Ethical Humanism and work to implement Humanist values in their communities.  

The AEU is administered by a Board of Directors, and has an office in New York City, with one staff Administrator.

More information at AEU.org 

A Board of Directors represent all the member societies, and members are elected for two year terms at the Annual Assembly held each summer.  

The 2025 AEU Assembly will be in Philadelphia July 25 - July 27, meeting at the Philadelphia Ethical Society. More information will follow about this important gathering. 

The AEU has recently created a roadmap for reorganizing and refocusing it's work. 

The roadmap project is explained in this video

https://youtu.be/EO1zkqFsEG4


   Be the Change    Take Action Today!

      “Action is the antidote to despair.” — Joan Baez                    We are not powerless in this moment, even if it feels that way. We are not alone. We have community and that community has power.  We can keep fighting and building knowing we're doing it as part of a committed network of people who will not comply in advance, who will not normalize this violence, who will band together to resist when the times seem bleak.

ACT LOCALLY - THINK GLOBALLY.   All action begins close to home. 

ICE Issues:  State legislators have the power—and responsibility—to stop secret police tactics and ICE abuses in our communities. Email your VA Representative and Senator and ask that  lawmakers ban masked law enforcement, strengthen sanctuary protections, and increase oversight of federal immigration activity. The threats are real, and the time to act is now.  The model is California's "No Secret Police Act". 

The State Assembly will open in Jan 2026 for it's regular legislative session. But the elected officials are busy meeting with constituents and drafting legislature to introduce next year.  Now is the time to express your opinion about many of the issues facing society today.  

School Board, Town Halls and County meetings:  Sign up for the newsletter from your elected representatives.  If they have a town hall - attend it and ask questions.  Find out when the School Board meets and attend that meeting. Ask about LGBTQ policies. Watch for actions from the Board of Supervisors, and visit their office to discuss your opinion. 

*********************************************

Actions you can take individually to spread empathy: 

  1. Make a donation to a local food pantry or clothing drive
  2. Plant a tree  or clean up a park area.
  3. Donate blood
  4. Volunteer to drive someone from Assisted Living out for shopping. 
  5. Hold conversations with friends about current events. Try to listen with empathy. 
  6. Join a postcard writing group to work on getting out the vote this fall. 


Check website Calendar below for more information about upcoming events.

Weekly Platforms

  • No upcoming events

Upcoming Events

Blogs and Articles

Sign up for Weekly Announcements

Subscription form

* Mandatory fields
*First name
*Last name
*Email
 

Announcements 

New Bylaws Adopted June 8, 2025

At our General Membership Meeting on June 8, 2025, the members present approved changes to the Bylaws that end Board term limits. You can view this updated version of our Bylaws in the Members only section.  

Volunteers Needed

  • Do you enjoy weddings? Consider being a NoVES officiant. Contact Randy Best if interested.
  • Do you have time to spare to deliver a meal, provide a ride, or just be a companion to a fellow member in need? If so, contact Iris Woodard with the Caring Committee.
  • Sunday Sound System Setup team, BookkeeperPlatform CommitteeFestival Planning, and Publicity committees- contact Chris Van Dyke or any board member if you are interested and can help out. 

Directions to Sunday Platform

Green Hedges School

415 Windover Avenue NW

Vienna, VA

Driving Directions: Take the Nutley Street North exit from Route I-66.  At the fourth light, cross Maple Avenue (Route 123) and start watching your odometer.  At 0.2 miles, you will see a driveway with “Watch for Turning Vehicles” and “Green Hedges” signs.  There will also be an Ethical Society sign next to the driveway.  Turn right into the driveway, park in the lot, and take the nearest entrance into the building. Do not turn onto Windover.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software