The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. The Guild serves approximately 275 chapters and 12,000 members throughout the United States and abroad. The Guild has, for many decades, publicly affirmed its commitment to non-discrimination. Many of its documents, including the Code of Ethics, assert that members shall respect each other "regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, socio-economic status, disability, or medical condition."

However, the AGO regularly posts job listings through its members-only portal which use language, sometimes coded and sometimes overt, that actively discriminate against members of the Guild based on some of the above categories. A recent posting stated that the position would only be open to applicants who "glorify God everyday by affirming and valuing the Christian faith as affirmed by the worldwide Anglican Communion, which emphasizes the Holy Scriptures as the primary authority and guide for individual faith and practice." This is language frequently used to distinguish between the Episcopal Church, which affirms LGBTQ people, and portions of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which do not. 

Why would the AGO agree to list job postings (for which the AGO receives a fee) which would not be open to all its members, if in fact the AGO listings are ONLY available to be seen by members? 

Members of the AGO have contacted the Executive Director, James Thomashower about this dissonance. ​We have asked if there is any circumstance under which a job posting would NOT be accepted by the AGO? Might a church specify that they would only consider men for the position? Or exclude black applicants? There is no room for discrimination of any form in the AGO. Mr. Thomashower's responses to us were disheartening, and the AGO has refused to remove the post and uphold its Code of Ethics.

It is time for the AGO to stop promoting discrimination by posting job listings from organizations that violate the civil rights of AGO members. Discrimination against LGBTQ persons as well as the guild's many non-Christian members has to stop. 

We, the undersigned, urge the National Council, Executive Director, and all the leadership of the AGO to implement a non-discrimination policy for all who wish to use the AGO's services and job board. This is already a settled practice among all major job posting websites, and it is time for the AGO to do the same. 

There are 102 active ads posted right now on the AGO Jobs Board. Each one between $100-$300. How much does the AGO profit every year from its discriminatory job postings?