Twin Cities Voice of the Faithful

Minutes of Twin Cities VOTF Steering Council Meeting
11/20/08
St Joan of Arc Parish Center

Present: Terry D, Christina B, Jim A, Tim P, Shari S, Tom G, Suzanne (minutes)
Absent: Jim and Pat W, Colin L

1. Prayer: Reflective prayer by Oscar Romero
2. Oct 26th Event Evaluation
   
   • Strib article was key to success of event; got issue into many people’s hands; made public Michael O’Connell’s efforts; likely drew the Cath Spirit to send a reporter
   • Kind regret letters were rec’d from Andrew Eisenzimmer (counsel to the archdiocese) and Archbishop Nienstedt. The archdiocesan Chancellor attended the event.
   • Collected $247 at event for USCCB’s Causes and Content study. Total cost of event was $1466 (Merz travel and lodgings, publicity, award expenses)
   • Attendees have/will be contacted by SC members for follow-up (desire to volunteer/ need for pastoral care)
   • It was noted by all that the importance of an apology was again driven home by Merz’s positive and personal reaction to Tim’s brief apology on behalf of the Church to any survivors present
3. Financial Report:
   
   • St Joan’s does not wish to continue as our fiscal agent according to their parish administrator. Expenses for the Oct 26 event plus website maintenance thru Q2 2009 will bring our balance to zero. SC voted to approve final disbursements for event expenses plus Q1 and Q2 website maintenance. We will seek a new fiscal agent after the first of the year
   • We will not send out a member letter or seek donations until a new fiscal agent is in place
4. Next Steps
   
   • Continue with work supporting survivors (VFRG and Apology Service). The apology service recreates a forum to acknowledge the pain and experience of abuse
     
     • Action Item 1: Schedule and host an Apology Service in early 2009
     • Action Item 2: VFRG will continue its meeting schedule (Shari is contact)
   • Film Nites: First Film Nite ( April 2008) provided a forum for discussion and acknowledged the existence of the issue; it was evident there is a hunger for good presentations
     
     • Action Item 3: Schedule and host more Film Nites at various parish locations around the archdiocese
   • Website Improvement: Website provides public visibility of our affiliate and pastoral ministry to visiting survivors. Should be able to help a visiting survivor take the first step in seeking help. Should be able to provide some resource info (eg links to SNAP, resource list, other groups, etc).
     
     • Action Item 4: Each Steering Council member should visit our website and make suggestions for improvements (content, art, organization, added links). Send council members links to other websites with “best practices” for review and input.
     • Action Item 5: Write text for new permanent statement to survivors for the Homepage (assigned to Jim Ayers: ..if you are a victim of abuse by anyone in the Catholic Church (name positions) please click here. We can offer you...We believe you...If you’d like to have a confidential conversation...)
   • Maintaining Parish Relationships: Twin Cities VOTF should stay in touch with key pastoral ministers to let them know we are here as a resource and to facilitate keeping the issue of sexual abuse prevention and awareness of the pastoral needs of survivors of sexual abuse active.
     
     • Action Item 6: SC members will contact 10 Parish Directors of Pastoral Ministry and ask if they have any needs regarding ministry to abuse survivors or education/awareness of the issue. These parishes can also be asked if they are willing to host a VOTF Film Nite.
     • Action Item 7: SC members to contact the 70-odd parishes whose email addresses bounced this year for current Bulletin Editor email addresses (Christina will divide the list and give to members)
5. Next SC meeting is set for Jan 8, 2009 5-7 pm at St Joan of Arc. There will not be a meeting in Dec.
6. National VOTF Rep Council: It was noted that the growing discord in the National VOTF Representatives Council is reminiscent of a group who doesn’t have enough to do. We agreed to continue with our concerned endeavors towards healing and ministry for survivors and to not engage in this fray.