THE GENERAL SECRETARY SELECTION PROCESS
Amended 2007
(Note: Changes for the 2007 process are starred and listed below as an addendum.)
The General Secretary Selection Process attempts to work out
of the spirit of Rudolf Steiner’s words from
We have not the right to give people anything else than what they themselves are longing for. It is most important for us to gain this spirit. We have no right to place ourselves above the people to whom we have something to bring. We must wean ourselves of the habit of appearing in a doctrinal fashion or as agitators. We must be able to make it true, that insight – pure insight – is the fundamental element of the life of the Anthroposophical Society.
But the Anthroposophical Society must also be administered – that is to say, the spiritual treasure must be administered, and to this end human beings are needed. This too has had to be provided for by the Christmas Foundation Meeting. And those who support and sustain the administration of the spiritual treasure must be precisely those who come into the Classes, who will attach themselves in doing so to the Executive or Vorstand that has been chosen, and to the leaders at the Goetheanum. You see, my dear friends, to understand Anthroposophy, confidence or trust is not needed, but for the administration of Anthroposophy, it should go without saying, you must have the fullest confidence and trust in the human beings who have this work to do. Precisely where the classification into Classes begins, there must be the atmosphere of complete confidence. It is on confidence that we must build. There is no contradiction in this. Have I not said it again and again, ever since the Anthroposophical Society existed: “Anthroposophy itself is to be accepted, not on the basis of authority or trust, but on the basis of true insight. At the same time, the administration of the anthroposophical cause can only be founded on trust and confidence.”
PRELIMINARY NOTES (on the Role of the General Secretary):
* (1) The position of General Secretary is not mentioned in
the bylaws of the Anthroposophical Society in
(2) The person taking up this role and responsibility must be an active member of the School for Spiritual Science.
* (3) The General Council, according to the bylaws, is to
maintain a close relationship with the membership as well as with the
leadership of the General Anthroposophical Society. The person holding the
position of General Secretary holds primary responsibility, working collegially
with the Council, to see that a close working relationship with the members is
fulfilled. In addition, one of the tasks of the General Secretary is to
participate in the extended Executive Council in
The General Council will provide further duties and qualifications of the General Secretary to the nominating committee once it is formed.
* SELECTING THE GENERAL SECRETARY:
(4) Whenever it becomes necessary to select a new General
Secretary for the
(5) The Nominating Committee will consist of 5 persons:
Two (2) persons to be chosen by the General Council from among its own members, one of whom shall be a regional council representative
Three (3) persons, one from each region, none of whom may be Regional Council members, to be chosen by the respective Regional Council.
The Nominating Committee shall remain in existence until the General Secretary is selected and begins his/her term after which time the Committee shall be disbanded.
The General Council will recommend guidelines and timetables for the nominating process to be used by the Committee.
(6) Immediately upon the formation of the Nominating
Committee, the General Council or the chair of the Nominating Committee will
notify all members of the Anthroposophical Society in
The identity of the Committee
members;
The process they will subsequently undertake, and ways in which members can communicate with them.
(7) The Nominating Committee will receive recommendations of names and/or other input from members, Groups, Branches, Regional Councils and the General Council through mail correspondence, e-mail or other means.
The Nominating Committee will meet together at least once in
person, and, upon completion of its work, shall make a written report of its
activities to the members of the Society in
After a period of approximately six (6) months, the Nominating Committee will present its recommendations of at least three names to be considered by the General Council. In a timely manner, the General Council shall choose the new General Secretary from among those persons brought forward by the Nominating Committee. If the General Council does not feel a suitable candidate has been presented, they may request that a new slate of candidates be developed by the Nominating Committee.
Once a candidate has been selected, the General Council will
consult with the Regional Councils.
After this, the General Council will consult with the Executive Council
of the General Anthroposophical Society in Dornach. After its affirmation of
the General Council’s selection, the General Council will promptly, by
TERM LIMITS:
(10) The General Secretary will serve an initial four (4) year term.
After the initial term, the General Secretary may, at the invitation of the General Council, serve up to two additional three (3) year terms for a total of ten (10) years. When a General Secretary has served three terms (ten years), a new Nominating Committee will be formed, according to the selection process described here. The incumbent General Secretary may be re-nominated.
REVIEW OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY:
It is understood that a General Secretary review process will be established by the General Council and implemented in the course of the first term.
REGARDING AN UNEXPECTED VACANCY:
If for any reason the General Secretary is unable to complete the term of office, the General Council will call for the nomination process to proceed and will appoint, if necessary, an interim General Secretary who will serve until the next General Secretary takes office.
-- The General Council,
Addendum for 2007 Nominating Process:
(Numbers refer to sections above)
* (1) At this time the Society has two General
Secretaries, and one is to be replaced through the current nominating process.
One serves as Chair of the General Council and the other as President of the
Board of Directors. In addition, there is now an Administrative Chair of the
Council who, along with the Director of Administration and Member Services and
the Administrative Committee, carries much of the administrative responsibility
for the Council.
*(3) The General Council, according to the
bylaws, is to maintain a close relationship with the membership as well as with
the leadership of the General Anthroposophical Society. The persons holding the
positions of General Secretary hold primary responsibility, working collegially
with the Council, to see that a close working relationship with the members is
fulfilled. In addition, one of the tasks of the General Secretary is to
participate in the extended Executive Council in
*(4) SELECTING A NEW GENERAL SECRETARY:
Amended by the General Council
March, 2007