Printed in the Fall 2023 issue of Quest magazine.
Citation: Keene, Douglas "President’s Diary" Quest 111:4, pg 9 & 47
On July 1, I stepped into the office of president of the Theosophical Society in America. It is a great honor to be recommended, nominated, and elected to this office. It is with humility and gratitude that I take this next step in my work with the TSA. I hope to serve all the members and the Society with patience, earnestness, compassion, and inspiration. I feel the future for our organization is bright in expanding the work of the founders and remaining relevant in the world today.
As I step into office, our former president, Barbara Hebert, steps down. She has been a dedicated, industrious, and wise leader for us as well as a teacher, mentor, and friend to me. She has generously offered to remain involved in the development of the Society to which she has given so many years of her life. Still, she will be greatly missed as a guiding influence in our day-to-day operations. Best of luck in your retirement, Barbara.
We have a number of transitions in Olcott this summer. Juliana Cesano had been moving into the role of national secretary. She had been in this position part-time for the last several months but assumed full-time obligations on June 17.
There is also a new board of directors, elected this spring, as reported by Barbara in the previous issue of Quest. They met in Wheaton on July 11‒13. The board is made up of four new members and four returning members, two of which are in new roles: Rozi Ulics as vice president and myself as president. This was the first time the board has met in person since 2019, and it was wonderful to be in each other’s company again.
The 137th Summer National Convention was held on July 14‒16. It was the first face-to-face convention that we’ve had in four years. There was an excellent turnout, and enthusiasm was high. The theme was “A Shared Journey: The Heart of the Spiritual Path.” There were superb talks by Ravi Ravindra (representing the Hindu tradition), Pamela Ayo Yetunde (the Buddhist tradition), Rabbi Rami Shapiro (the Jewish tradition), Carl McColeman (the Christian tradition), Iman Jamal Rahman (the Islamic tradition) and Pablo Sender (Theosophical teachings). There were panel discussions, meditation sessions, tours, and many other collective activities.
During the conference, a memorial service was held for John Algeo, president of the TSA from 1993 to 2002 and international vice president from 2002 to 2008, led by his daughter, Katie Algeo. John was a gifted orator and writer, and his contributions to the mission and growth of the TS were immense.
This convention was a hybrid event, and I want to express my thanks to the webinar department and all the staff for their extraordinary work in preparation for (and during) the program.
The 2023 Parliament of World Religions was held from August 14‒18 at McCormick Place, Lakeside Center, in Chicago. The parliament was founded 130 years ago in this city and returns after a thirty-year absence to its birthplace. Annie Besant famously spoke at the 1893 event, and we are told there was great difficulty finding a room large enough for all that wanted to hear her speak. “Convenings attracts participants from more than 200 diverse religious, indigenous, and secular beliefs and more than 80 nations,” says the parliament’s website. The theme for this event was “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights.” The program was targeted to bring together “faith and religious leaders, academic and industry experts, and institutions and grassroots organizers committed to interfaith dialogue and action.”
The TSA had a presence at the parliament. A booth explained and promoted our activities for the full five days. The Society also presented a ninety-minute panel discussion on the theme of “Strength in Unity: Perspectives from the Ageless Wisdom.” Participants on the panel were Barbara Hebert, Juliana Cesano, and me, with Justin Tanksley serving as moderator. I hope some of you were able to attend.
Participating in interfaith events—both those that we host and those hosted by others—provides an opportunity to present Theosophical perspectives to an open-minded audience. It also generates and sustains bridges between different faith traditions, which are so necessary for the present and future of our cultures. Open and respectful dialogue is a primary step for improving understanding of various traditions. Furthermore, it reflects the Second Object of our Society: “to encourage the comparative study of religion, philosophy, and science.” We were fortunate that this program was held in our backyard, so to speak.
I recently had the opportunity to attend the meetings of the General Council, the governing body of the international Theosophical Society. This occurred on June 17‒20 in Naarden, the Netherlands, the home of the European School of Theosophy. The meetings were held over four days, with wide-ranging discussion of a number of topics. Sessions were attended by Section heads and other members from a variety of countries across the globe, both in person and virtually. International president Tim Boyd reported that the international headquarters at Adyar is strong and developing. Although many challenges persist, substantial progress has been made in the rehabilitation of buildings, educational projects, and outreach. The 148th TS International Convention will be held December 31, 2023 through January 4, 2024. The program is titled “Exploring and Understanding Universal Intelligence.” All members and friends are encouraged to attend.
As you may be aware, the 150th anniversary of the Theosophical Society is rapidly approaching in 2025. This corresponds with the Twelfth World Congress of the TS, and the anniversary will be commemorated at this event. It is also the centenary for the Canadian Section. This event is to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, with the Congress running July 23‒27, 2025, followed by convention of the international Theosophical Order of Service on July 28‒29. The theme will be “Toward Insight and Wholeness: Our Role in Shaping the Future.” It should be a unique opportunity to learn, share, and celebrate our historical and international connections in a location very close to the U.S. There is great interest across the continents in attending this event, and we hope to have a substantial American representation. Please consider putting it on your calendars now; additional information will be forthcoming.
As you can see, there is a great deal happening in the TS, nationally and internationally. A number of regional and local events are also being held, some of which are described in this issue’s News and Notes, and others that will be registered in the future. It is an exciting time to be part of the Theosophical movement, both for our own individual spiritual unfoldment and for joining with like-minded individuals to have a positive and perhaps even transformative effect on our communities. Please remain active in your groups and network with others, both inside and outside the Society. I hope to meet with as many of you as possible over the next three years and to help create a vital and vibrant organization that we can all be proud of. I ask for your assistance in this effort: it falls to each one of us to do our part. Please take care of one another, and we’ll talk soon.
Douglas Keene