CONTROVERSY OVER LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT HOPE RISING MINISTRIES
Hope Rising Ministries is embroiled in controversy surrounding what the organization calls the termination of its executive director.
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According to Pastor Tim Webb, Hope Rising’s Chair of the Board of Directors, the board last week chose to terminate Hope Rising founder Sherri Clement from her role as executive director, along with all other roles at the anti-human sex trafficking organization headquartered in Washington County.
However, a law firm representing Clement contacted KWHI and stated it is in the process of filing a lawsuit against the board, alleging it does not have the authority to remove Clement from her position.
The law firm, Amini and Conant out of Austin, maintains that Clement is still the acting executive director of Hope Rising. Meanwhile, Webb says Clement “has no ties to the ministry whatsoever at this point”, and that the board does govern the authority of the executive director.
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Webb could not elaborate on why the board made this decision, but did say the board had “substantial reasons” for it.
The law firm said it intends to flesh out the details of the allegations in a court of law.
In a press release Friday, Hope Rising announced the naming of Lidya Kushner as interim executive director, along with plans for Hope Rising Haven, a new Emergency Assessment Center located in New Caney. Webb said Hope Rising will move forward with its decision to name Kushner as interim executive director.
The fact that she thinks the Board doesn’t have the authority to remove her, tells me all I need to know about why she is being removed. Best of luck to the new Executive Director as she undoubtedly cleans up the mess.
Non-profit board DO have the authority to remove executive directors just like school boards have the authority to remove superintendents. One of their main roles is to ensure effective leadership is in place to run the organization.