St Joan of Arc Parish Center

Present: Shari S, Jim A, Pat W, Jim W, Colin L, Tim P, Suzanne S (Minutes)
Invited Guest: Christina Bumgardner

1. Prayer: National VOTF Prayer

2. Introduction of invited guest, Christina Bumgarder, who is interested in joining the steering council. All members spoke briefly about why they came to sit at this table and where their focus of work is concentrated. Christina gave us her background and why she is motivated to work with us towards our goals.

3. Recap of the Nov 3rd NAPSAC conference. Much praise went to Jim Ayers for his remarks about the value of an apology at that service. Best presentation and content of all 4 years of offering these services. SC members who attended gave their own impressions of the speakers and content. Discussion of how/when to hold a subsequent Apology Service at future conferences offered two suggestions: 1) To offer it the morning of the second day ( if a 2–day conference is held in 2008) as a sort of Morning Prayer Service, or 2) To be part of the Open Mic portion when survivors tell their stories. To have persons present to apologize for a category of perpetrator named (eg, Priest, teacher, father, neighbor, etc).

4. Working Group Reports:
Voices of Hope (Colin): Difficulty in getting Order leadership to want to offer the program to their communities. Keep hearing “We’ve covered sexual abuse”. After several mailings of invitations to the same orders and some follow-up calls, have concluded that need to work with individuals who have connections or ties to specific orders. VOH group has decided to pursue working with Catherine Bertrand and the SSNDs(hopefully also gaining access to the LCWR), and with Noel Larson’s connections into the CSJs.

VFRG ( Shari): Has contacted the archdiocesan Pastoral Ministers thru Deacon Schroeder of Pax Christi to get on an upcoming agenda. Is also preparing a list of what to say to callers. Colin suggested writing an article of introduction and explanation to local secular newspapers of the group.

5. Discussion of Archbishop Flynn’s invitation to Suzanne for further discussion on how to work together on issue of sexual abuse in the schools; how to approach the invitation to discussion. SC recommended that Suzanne request Tim Power( as co-moderator and with Jesus’ model of sending disciples forth two-by-two) to be present and also Shari Steffen as a survivor during the discussion. Suggested that Suzanne draft a letter with this request and outline the points we wished discussed. Topic will be on our December agenda.

6. Discussion of invitation to sponsor Progressive Catholic Voice: Twin Cities VOTF was invited via an email to Suzanne to be a sponsoring group for this organization. A short discussion was held on this request, and after two members had expressed reservations, Suzanne as moderator called the discussion as this council operates on a Consensus-minus-one model. Further discussion would have been desired, but due to meeting time constraints, Suzanne as moderator requested to table discussion and also requested affirmation to communicate with Progressive Catholic Voice that this advocacy was not part of the VOTF Goal Base, and although many members were in support of its agenda privately, consensus was that we would not endorse our support as an organization.

7. 2008 Meetings : The following meetings were set for Steering Council:
Jan 17, Feb 28, (skip March), April 17, and May 15

8. Motion to nominate Christina Bumgardner as a member of the Twin Cities VOTF Steering Council was offered by Suzanne (following her assent) and seconded by Shari. There was no discussion and the motion was carried.

Meeting was adjouned at 6:45.

Respectfully Submitted,

Suzanne Severson