Vision Statement For Voice of the Faithful

When I attended the first VOTF convention in July of 2002 I was invigorated by the speakers, the Mass, but most of all by the hope of the people gathered there in Boston. This is what the early Church must have been like, I thought. People encouraged into action by a common vision of love for one another and a passion for truth and justice. I needed to be part of this community. Through the next five years I worked with VOTF in many ways. I helped design the NRC which the committee hoped would give voice to all the members. Not all of those elected to the council shared the vision of the design and it splintered into different groups who could not find a common voice. 

The present strategic plan, Voices in Action, gives those individuals and affiliates who wish to work on
• Spiritual & Communal Growth
• Child Protection & Survivor Support
• Local Actions
• Networking & Partnerships
• Universal Church Reform

a place to start. The active affiliates still provide group projects. But who is listening to the thousands of voices who don’t belong to an affiliate and have not identified with a platform? I have listened to many of you throughout the past seven years and I have heard your weariness and growing disaffiliation. Where I could, I have intervened on your behalf. 

My vision of VOTF is still that of an organization that works from the ground up. Obviously we need a Board of Trustees to take care of the financial structure; that’s the culture of the USA. The Board also can keep an eye on our openness and transparency so that we model the Church we wish to see. What we need is a point person who will listen and help convey to all what the VOTF community wants and is working to do.

The above is why I would like to nominate myself for the position of President of VOTF. I have been involved in the local and national organization since April of 2002. I was a member of the original national council, representing the affiliate of Wayne, PA. I helped to design the defunct NRC. I served as secretary of the organization for at least three years. I started and still moderate the VOTFND listserve. I am still moderator of Prayerful Voice, which has amalgamated with Spiritual & Communal Growth. My activity has been limited over the past two years due to my hisband Bill's illnesses; but his improvement has been amazing. I wish to offer a position of moderateness as an alternative to a position of corporativeness.  My gift is as an enabler, not an enforcer.