Trustees serve terms of three years, and may serve for two consecutive three-year terms. A total of 11 trustees may be appointed and elected.
Some seats are reserved for specific functions. Thus, the current President and immediate Past President of VOTF fill two positions.
Bylaws
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Board members serving today are:
| Elia Marnik, Chair | |
I have been happily married to my wife, Ellen, for over 21 years. We have three children, Kris (19), Carolyn (17), and Paul (14). I joined VOTF on
Although a CPA by training, my passion for the church led me to earn my Master’s degree in theology at my local seminary. I am also a graduate of the Pastoral Formation Institute, an intensive, two-year program that integrated theology, spirituality, human development and psychology. Additionally, I completed an optional third-year Pastoral Formation track in evangelization. Prior to becoming “unwelcome” due to my involvement with VOTF, my wife and I were very active in ministry on both a local and diocesan level. We helped design the diocesan training program for leaders of marriage preparation programs, and subsequently served as instructors for the program. We also facilitated groups and served on the coordinating team for marriage preparation in our parish. We helped to pilot a diocesan interfaith marriage preparation program. My wife and I also designed and presented workshops and retreats based on the Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) for which we are both qualified administrators. The workshops have centered on various topics such as conflict resolution, communication and spirituality. I served on the Diocesan vocations committee and was my parish coordinator for RENEW 2000.
My focus on
Bill Casey and his wife Kris have three adult daughters and reside in
Bill has co-chaired the
Bill holds Masters degrees in Theology (
Bill currently serves as a volunteer mediator, Restorative Justice facilitator, and jail Bible Study leader. The needs of survivors of clergy sexual abuse, along with VOTF’s inspired response to the crisis through the lens of survivors, initially drew Bill into VOTF, and he is committed to fostering and advancing its core goals through his role of the Board of Trustees. (back to top)
I was a Maryknoll priest for 13 years, teaching in seminaries in this country and working as a missioner in
I have been involved with VOTF since the Convention in July of 2002. I am chair of the Paulist Center Affiliate in
I have over 20 years experience with non-profit Boards of Directors. I am currently President of two non-profit Boards and secretary of a third. I am familiar with the Guidebook for Directors of Nonprofit Corporations and fully understand the duties of care and loyalty that are expected of Directors. As a Representative of VOTF’s national council, I participated in the revision of the by-laws. (back to top)
Mary Pat Fox is a member of St. Ignatius of Loyola parish in
Mary Pat has served as the chairperson of the local VOTF affiliate in
Mary Pat says “I joined VOTF and ran for office because I believe that VOTF is the organization to mobilize Catholics in the pews. I firmly believe that in order for our Church to be a healthy sustainable Church the laity must re-examine our role and take on greater responsibility in the governance and guidance of the Church. Our Church must be a loving community where we can find spiritual, emotional, and intellectual nourishment. We cannot expect this to be delivered to us—we need to create it. We have an obligation to learn from the many survivors who have been so brave in showing us the problems and issues our church must address.” (back to top)
A resident of Saunderstown RI, Mary has been a member of VOTF since the 2002 convention. She co-founded the southern RI affiliate, was a charter member of the Structural Change working group, and has served as treasurer of the Indianapolis convention, as national treasurer from 2006 – 2008, and as chair of the 2008 convention in Providence RI. Presently Mary is a member of the committee Emily & Rosemary Fund for Women in the Church.
Mary is a member of Christ the King Parish in Kingston RI where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister, was a member of the parish council, and has served as chair of the council.
Mary is a former Sister of Saint Joseph and taught secondary math for 19 years. She has a master degree in computers and worked in the hi-tech industry before retiring. (back to top)
Pat is a member of Holy Family Parish in Concord, MA. Originally from Wisconsin, she has lived in Colombia, S.A., New Orleans, and New Jersey, and in Massachusetts for the past 17 years. Pat has served many faith communities on parish councils and planning teams and has taught every level of religious education from pre-school to adult. At Holy Family, she currently teaches Baptism preparation classes, sings in the choir, and serves as Eucharistic minister. She also makes pastoral visits to patients at a local hospital.
John was an international corporate lawyer with a large
During his tenure with ElPaso, John managed its expansion into energy infrastructure projects in more than 20 countries in the developing world. John continues as a management consultant, but his principal “occupation” since retirement has been working on a graduate degree in theology. He completed the work for a Masters Degree in Theology-Sacred Scripture in December 2005 at Washington Theological Union (WTU). He has been teaching in
John is a trustee/board member of the WTU where he is active in finance and strategic planning (particularly the revision of the curriculum to accommodate the demands of collaborative ministry and the education of those who are or will be non-ordained ministers in our Church). He also is active in the
John is a member of
VOTF has been a part of my life for over nine years. As a lifelong Catholic, I am deeply committed to the three goals of VOTF, which are a dramatic response to the shocking sexual abuse crisis in our Church. VOTF has emerged as a united “voice” for faithful Catholics.
Since the early spring of 2002, I have been a member of VOTF, starting with my attendance at the weekly sharing meetings at St. John’s in Wellesley, then the first working group meetings. I then helped to staff the Summer 2002 Conference. Since that time, I have been active in many different initiatives: as a charter member of the Structural Change Working Group; as a member of the Protecting Our Children Group; as a facilitator at the Indianapolis convention; as a presenter at the Newton conference; as a member of the VOTF team which met with (then) Archbishop O’Malley; as a representative and member of a parish affiliate; as a director of the Boston Council; and for two years as the chair of the Nominating Committee for national officers.
I continue to see the need for the laity to have an integral and meaningful role in our Church, and I am willing to work vigorously toward that end.
Outside of VOTF, I am an educator. I have substantial experience serving on state, municipal and private boards, and have served for more than four years as President of a non-profit corporation. My most important role in life, however, is that of wife, mother and grandmother. (back to top)
Mark and his wife Kathy have three adult sons and one granddaughter. After almost 25 years in Wellesley MA they now reside in Wayland MA. Both were founders and present at the first meeting of Voice of the Faithful in January 2002 at St John the Evangelist Church in Wellesley.
Mark has been active in the establishment and ongoing development of VOTF. He has served as Chairman of the Search Committee for all three Executive Directors of VOTF and also served as Interim Executive Director for eight months in 2005.
Mark is a graduate of Boston College and has served on its Alumni Board. He is the President of Resolve Associates, LLC, a business advisory service to small and mid-sized business owners and companies. He is an Accredited Associate of the Institute For Independent Business (AAInstB). He is a member of the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees and was awarded its Professional of the Year award in 2009.
Mark has been involved with developing the infrastructure and improving the administrative efficiency of the VOTF office since its inception. He served on the original VOTF Representative Board and has served on several regional and national committees. He has been and continues to be active in the VOTF Development Committee.
Mark remains active in VOTF because he simply wants to see and effect an inclusive, relevant and vibrant church for his children and their children. The church has its role as does the hierarchy. They each need to be clear to all that their major theme is service for those we know and for those in need.
The opportunity to serve VOTF on the Board of Trustees is an opportunity to continue his commitment to the goals of VOTF and a way to provide service to those in need now and in the future. (back to top)
A parishioner of the
Jayne graduated with a B.A. from
An active member of VOTF since May 2002, Jayne co-founded the Greater West Hartford VOTF affiliate, serves as the VOTF Regional Coordinator for
She resides in
Jesuit-educated at Regis HS, NYC and
Four Years VOTF:
Attended ’02
Co-founder,
On team that negotiated lifting ban on VOTF meetings using church property ’03;
Dialogue with diocese continues.
With wife Anne, Co-leader Brooklyn affiliate.
On national Governance Committee that proposed present NRC.
Member: National Structural Change Working Group.
Legislative Accountability Advisors.
Tri-State VOTF group that organized Fordham
Convocation, ‘03 and
National Representative Council since 2006.
Marketing & Communications (MarCom) Group
Member of the Oratory
Two adult daughters. Two small grandchildren
