Announcing Our New Co-CEO Team
Dear Members of the One Spirit Community:
For the past six months, the Board Search Committee* has been engaged in profound contemplation, reflection and rich dialogue. Today, we eagerly anticipate One Spirit’s future as we are thrilled to announce:
Rev. Dr. Courtney Bryant and Rev. Gordon Brode will serve as Co-CEOs of One Spirit.
By adopting shared leadership, we model a governance structure that is the change we want to see in the world. We are excited to re-envision the way business is conducted; the way spirituality is taught; and the way that anti-racism, decolonization, and ultimately, belonging, are embodied in everything that we do. Courtney and Gordon are more than capable of guiding us into this transformative new paradigm.
Meet the Team
Rev. Dr. Courtney Bryant, a spiritual leader and educator, holds a Masters of Divinity from Duke University and a Doctorate in Religion: Ethics and Society from Vanderbilt University. She has served as Assistant Professor of Religion and Womanist Ethics at Manhattan College and Pastor of Righteous Relations at All Angels’ Church in New York City. As an academic, Courtney’s work has focused on the racial, gender, and sexual politics of embodiment. In her ministry, she fosters co-creation and discipleship through loving relationships and justice-seeking for the oppressed. Courtney’s expertise in spiritual education and personal transformation, as well as her skill in external communications and fundraising, will enhance the work we do at One Spirit.
Rev. Gordon Brode has dynamically empowered One Spirit’s mission for over 18 years with strategic innovations in every aspect of the organization. Gordon was ordained by One Spirit Seminary in 2015, earned his Master's in Positive Organization Development and Change from Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management, and specializes in adult experiential learning, reinvention methods, emergent strategy, and whole systems change methods. Gordon’s path integrates ancient and modern mysticism, and his ministry at One Spirit as thought leader, learning facilitator, strategic visionary, and integrator have all been fueled by his passions for learning as a spiritual practice and the awakening of collaborative wisdom in groups.
Together, our new Co-CEOs will offer a dynamic mix of organizational continuity and fresh perspectives through their complementary skills, qualifications, experience, and passion aligned with One Spirit’s vision, mission, and values.
The Transition Plan
Ilene Sameth officially retired on January 31st. During her last two months, Ilene worked very closely with Gordon to ensure continuity in leadership. Gordon is serving as Interim CEO until April 8th, when Courtney starts at One Spirit, and they join forces as Co-CEOs.
Courtney and Gordon look forward to deeply engaging, in partnership with the Board, Education, and Operations teams, to amplify One Spirit’s impact in the world. This work will begin in late spring with a listening tour to better understand the needs and perspectives of the One Spirit community.
To celebrate our new leadership, we are launching our first-ever CEO Innovation Fund!
Your generosity will help One Spirit to:
Engage the expertise we need to transition to a model of shared leadership as we welcome One Spirit’s first BIPOC executive.
Effect culture change and dismantle racist and colonist systems through curriculum development, educator training, and service-learning opportunities.
Convene One Spirit stakeholders to reinvigorate vision and mission and cohere around our educational core.
Initiate an improved, robust, and scalable technical infrastructure as the backbone of our adaptation to the world’s emerging needs.
Revitalize One Spirit's marketing, website, and recruitment functions.
Our goal is to raise $200,000 between now and the One Spirit Commencement Ceremony on June 8th
Please take this opportunity to celebrate One Spirit’s future and its new leadership by contributing to the CEO Innovation Fund.
Thank you for your generosity. Without you, we would not have reached this milestone. Together, we will raise the resources we need to steward One Spirit’s ongoing evolution.
As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to us at Listening@1spirit.org.
Yours, in service,
The One Spirit Board Of Trustees
Rev. Linda Bjork, Board member *
Rev. Annamma Abraham Kaba, Board member *
Rev. Brad Learmonth, Board President *
Rev. German Rodriguez, Board member
Rev. Emilie Unterweger, Board Treasurer *
Rev. Laurene Williams, Board member
Rev. Lina Ziurys, Board Secretary *
* Members of the Board Search Committee