Letter from the President and CEO November 2026

Dear Reader,

Last week, I attended the memorial service of a former member of the Institute’s Board of Trustees, W. Temple Webber. The Church of St. John the Divine was packed to capacity, and loved ones paid homage to the life of a man who made an outsized impact on the communities and individuals he touched. Temple was one of those people who always showed up in a spirit of servant leadership, and he had fun doing it. We will miss him, and it is comforting to know that Houston shines brighter because of his life and legacy.

Since the service, I have been reflecting on some of the themes that were present. The one that was perhaps most apparent was the fundamental and irreplaceable power of close person-to-person relationships. One of Temple’s superpowers was a relational one - he never met a stranger, and he actively sought opportunities to connect people to find alignment and foster togetherness. The other major theme that was present was that of spiritual fortitude in the face of difficulty. Those who knew Temple knew that his life was filled with challenges. But through his innate ability to connect - with other people, with the environment, and with God - he was able to persevere and transform almost any situation into an opportunity for hope and renewal. That ability, if anything, is the essence of the connection between spirituality and health!

We will soon launch our year-end giving campaign, “Kindle Hope.” We chose this name because we see hope at the very core of our mission. Our spiritual care volunteers kindle hope among the families and clients they serve in long-term care settings. Our FaithHealth network partners kindle hope among their congregants by advancing health ministries. Our internship opportunities kindle hope for future healthcare professionals who want to push against the mechanization of medicine. And millions of individuals, just like Temple Webber, kindle hope across the region by showing up day after day for the causes they are most passionate about.

I encourage you to look for an opportunity to kindle hope today as you sit with these themes. You may find that by kindling hope for others, hope is kindled within you, too.

Warmly,
Stuart

Stuart C. Nelson
President & CEO
Loise Henderson Wessendorff Chair