VOTF At Work in the World

VOTF San Francisco, CA is planning a discernment to take place in October (see the Bridgeport, CT report on their own discernment process as well as coverage on the subpoena issued to San Francisco Archbishop Levada – In the Vineyard, August 11). Kris Ward reports below:

Seek and you shall find; ask and it will be given to you; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Our affiliates in California have heeded the Lord's words and in a move that might be considered the first fruit of our national convocation they have decided to hold a "discernment" regarding the next archbishop of San Francisco.

The San Francisco post has become vacant because Archbishop William S. Levada was appointed to the post of Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop Levada took up residence in Rome on August 17. It is in this Congregation that the decisions are made, subject to papal approval, regarding the defrocking of priests.

Voice of the Faithful convenes this discernment and calls all Bay Area Catholics -laity, religious and priests,- to join together in a time of seeking the Spirit's guidance on October 9 at St. Matthew in San Mateo from 11:30 AM to 3 PM.

The How and Why of it are:

WHY? To gather, to pray, to listen, to speak, to hope, to propose, a new Archbishop of San Francisco. The next Metropolitan Archbishop is the concern and responsibility of all Catholics in this Province.

How? First, prayer and then listening to church historians and theologians share the history of how laity, religious and the ordained were able to have input into the selection of a new bishop. Then in small groups, those assembled will try to put together a list of qualities and men that will help the Church, heal, grow and be holy. VOTF recognizes and honors the Catholic tradition of Episcopal governance as outlined in Lumen Gentium and our process will respect that tradition.

This initiative is spearheaded by VOTF leaders Ed and Peg Gleason, Jim Jenkins and Peter Davey.

All members of Voice of the Faithful can be part of this initiative, no matter your geographic location.

First, we are bound together by prayer. Please consider adding this discernment to prayer in your daily life and our communal prayer in parishes and at affiliate meetings.

Second, if there is not a vacancy in your diocese at this time, consider the model that Bridgeport has provided for us (see Vineyard August 11). Also, affiliates and unaffiliated members can hold educational discernments if there is not a vacancy in your diocese at the current time. Invite theologians and church historians to speak on this topic to lay the foundation for a discernment.

Please consider these possibilities in your affiliate discussions as you consider the resolutions that came out of our convocation in Indianapolis and begin your conversations about where VOTF energies will be spent and what directions we will take.

Courage and wisdom abounds in California in this effort. There is support for the discernment from a pastor who is widely known and respected in the Bay Area. We seek the movement of the Spirit. More news as the plans progress.

 



In the Vineyard
August 25, 2005
Volume 4, Issue 9
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Page One

VOTF At Work in the World

Commentary [What do you think? Respond to pthorp.ed@votf.org] VOTF members, attorneys Bob Morris and Sharon Harrington, consider the ramifications of legislation that would require a church to open its books.


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