Keith Porteous Wood
Encyclopedia
Keith Porteous Wood is the Executive Director, formerly General Secretary, of the National Secular Society
in the United Kingdom
, a position he has held since 1996.
In 2007 he received the Distinguished Service to Humanism Award from the International Humanist and Ethical Union
for his work in building up the National Secular Society and campaigning for secularism both nationally and internationally.
Wood is in a civil partnership with Terry Sanderson
, the president of the National Secular Society. They had been together for over two decades before civil partnerships were introduced in 2005, and they entered into a civil partnership in 2006.
, following the retirement of Terry Mullins (who had held the post since 1979). Describing him as a "radical campaigner in a business suit", Peter Brearey
, then editor of The Freethinker
, welcomed Wood's appointment, noting his campaigning track record and background of "25 years in senior managerial and professional roles covering administration, accounting, legal and company secretarial issues."
As an international representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, he has criticized the activities of the Holy See within the United Nations system
and accused the Vatican of not fulfilling its political obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
National Secular Society
The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a position he has held since 1996.
In 2007 he received the Distinguished Service to Humanism Award from the International Humanist and Ethical Union
International Humanist and Ethical Union
The International Humanist and Ethical Union is an umbrella organisation embracing humanist, atheist, rationalist, secular, skeptic, freethought and Ethical Culture organisations worldwide. Founded in Amsterdam in 1952, the IHEU is a democratic union of more than 100 member organizations in 40...
for his work in building up the National Secular Society and campaigning for secularism both nationally and internationally.
Biography
Before his appointment as National Secular Society General Secretary in 1996, Wood had been director of finance for companies in the wholesale and retail food distribution, financial services and insurance sectors.Wood is in a civil partnership with Terry Sanderson
Terry Sanderson (writer)
Terry Sanderson is a leading UK secularist and gay rights activist, author and journalist. He became president of the National Secular Society in 2006 and is a long-standing columnist for Gay Times.-Early life and career:...
, the president of the National Secular Society. They had been together for over two decades before civil partnerships were introduced in 2005, and they entered into a civil partnership in 2006.
Secularist and humanist activities
In 1996, Wood was appointed General Secretary of the National Secular SocietyNational Secular Society
The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
, following the retirement of Terry Mullins (who had held the post since 1979). Describing him as a "radical campaigner in a business suit", Peter Brearey
Peter Brearey
Peter Leslie Brearey was a British secularist, socialist and journalist.He was born in Dewsbury. Although his family background was Methodist, Brearey rejected religion as a teenager. He was a member of the Young Communist League and subsequently the Communist Party of Great Britain...
, then editor of The Freethinker
The Freethinker (journal)
The Freethinker is a British secular humanist magazine, founded by G.W. Foote in 1881. It is the world's oldest surviving freethought publication.It has always taken an unapologetically atheist, anti-religious stance...
, welcomed Wood's appointment, noting his campaigning track record and background of "25 years in senior managerial and professional roles covering administration, accounting, legal and company secretarial issues."
As an international representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, he has criticized the activities of the Holy See within the United Nations system
Activities of the Holy See within the United Nations system
The activities of the Holy See within the United Nations system officially began on April 6, 1964, when the Holy See was granted the status of permanent observer state...
and accused the Vatican of not fulfilling its political obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Writings by Keith Porteous Wood
- Secularism at the end of the 20th century (1997). Leicester: Leicester Secular Society.