October 2007

Twin Cities VOTF Steering Council Minutes, October 26, 2007, St Joan of Arc Parish Center

Present: Shari S, Jim A, Pat W, Jim W, Colin L, Suzanne S (Minutes)

Absent: Tim P (out of town)

1.  Meeting opened with a reflection reading on last Sunday's Gospel reading.

Luke 18:1-8

Jesus’ teaching today is all about prayer.  Good teacher that he is he uses a story to get his point across. A story about a widow.

You know widows just like I do.  Some of you sitting here are widows. But what was a widow in Jesus time? Why would Jesus choose a widow to talk about unceasing prayer and never losing heart?

The word “widow” in Hebrew means “silent one”; “one unable to speak”. Like other women at that time, a widow was not permitted to assume a public role, or speak on her own behalf in the courts. She needed a male advocate to be her voice. While widows were not technically heirs under Jewish law they did have a right to continue to dwell in their husband’s home provided they remained a widow. They also had a right to some support from their husband’s estate. Despite the teachings in the Hebrew Scriptures regarding the respect and care that was to be given widows, the widow’s state was one of deprivation, exploitation and need.

Now see the widow in Jesus parable!  Look at what Jesus tells us she did.  She stepped out of all the roles prescribed for her by society, culture and the religious establishment of the day. She was out of place; didn’t follow the rules; stood in public asking for her right to justice.  Where only men’s voices were heard in the courts she spoke for herself. She was alone! This widow is no victim. She is strong and self assertive as she assumes responsibility for her own well being. No frail, timid, lady here.

Further more she kept coming, the Gospel tells us despite being turned away.  She came back time after time before this corrupt judge, who she knew, respected neither God nor the people. Again and again she took her stand and asked for justice for herself.  She did not give up, did not lose heart.   What a woman! What a role model Jesus gave us for how we are to pray.

It’s easy to see ourselves or our wannabe selves as the widow in this parable. That’s one way of reading it.  But what if we turn the parable upside down as we are meant to do with parables? What if God is the widow who day and night, without ceasing, without ever losing heart, pursues us? Then like the judge we finally respond to God’s persistent call and give our prayer not just hands but feet. Could it be that like the poor widow our God is impoverished? That without us the kindom of justice and peace will not come.   Is this perhaps what Jesus meant when he posed the question at the end of the parable, “When the chosen one comes will faith be found on earth?” A strange question to end the parable.  What Jesus really seems to be asking is: Will you be faithful in pursuing justice until the end?  Will you respond to Widow God?

2. Introductions of Steering Council members and invited guests Jim and Pat Whalen of Buffalo who gave a very thorough and reflective report of the Voice of the Faithful National Conference they recently attended.  They brought a collection of books bought at the conference and gave brief reviews of each.  Colin also attended as the videographer and did have some broad perspectives to add.  In summary, the conference was said to have been very well planned and organized with meaningful content.  Colin commented that the organization seems to be at a crossroads:  whether to continue with the course of the past five years focussing on the 3 main original goals, or whether to turn a corner and embrace some the the more contentious topics that fall under Goal 3 ( structural change) such as mandatory celibacy.  Colin commented that there was some obvious tension felt surrounding this dilemma.

3. Suzanne reported that her lunch meeting with George Bouchey of the Greater Philadelphia VOTF Affiliate along with Bob Schwiderski was a great experience and provided a good exchange of ideas for George and Bob before both attended the National Conference.

4. Discussion of Annual Apology Service for November 3rd:

•  Shari is handling all details and passed out an outline of the service as well as the flier of the Service which will be included in the attendees info packets.

•  Will be held at the conclusion of the NAPSAC conference at Hamline University in the same room as the conference.

•  Light refreshments will be served and provided thru Hamline's food service

•  Apologizers will include priests, sisters, lay persons representing educators, grandfathers, and lay persons in general in order to present a broad spectrum of abuse experiences, rather than only those experienced within the Catholic church.  Tim and Shari re-worked the text of the service to de-emphasize the Catholic aspect and be more inclusive of the participants' experiences.

•  Jim Ayers agreed to give the introductory comments on why it is important to offer an apology from a therapist's standpoint.   Memorable quote from this discussion:  "Reconciliation requires acknowledging the truth".

•  Suzanne has contacted the Pioneer Press, Tribune, Catholic Spirit and our members via email and letter.  No press release will be going out to the other media to avoid a recurrence of Channel 5 news showing up again.  Napsac emails are including info on the Apology Service.

• Phone will be turned on after the conference

5. Tom Garvey passed out copies of a Commonweal article entitled "  Shared Burden, A Manifesto for the Laity" outlining the past 5 years of VOTF's history.  Discussion followed and continued our previous discussions on the National VOTF conference about the organization being at a crossroads.

6.  Suzanne passed out copies of the 4 resolutions passed by the National VOTF Representatives Council at the recent conference sent to her by our Region VIII rep Bob Schwiderski.

7.  November meeting date is CHANGED to Nov 29 ( from the 15th)  to accommodate member conflicts.