National Representative Council Meeting - April 25-27, 2008
Report by President, Dan Bartley

The Church is at a crossroads in the U.S. and we need to move decisively to wake up the Catholic in the pew.  We plan to build on the publicity we received with the ad in the NY Times on the occasion of the papal visit to increase our media presence and improve our image. 

We need to shift to a new image.  We should be realistic and, at the same time, hopeful about our Church.  We need to continue our message that the Church has many challenges and VOTF has solutions.  The bishops are still not held accountable and the laity are still not involved as they could be. 

Our media outreach at the time of the papal visit was impressive.  We reached an audience in about 230 major newspapers and had several calls for interviews with both print and electronic media.  New members and new money have come in as a result.

We will continue to use the quotes from Pope Benedict to press the bishops.

We need to find new ways to engage our members.  We should be surveying our members and ask them what they think we should be doing and how we should work.  And, finally and most importantly, we must remain a Spirit-centered organization.  We are doing God’s work and we must remain prayerful and hopeful.  We will be moving forward with a carefully designed strategic plan.

In the discussion the question of the resolution on the Role of Women in the Church was brought up.  Representatives wanted a clear statement from Dan about the Officers’ concurrence with the resolution.  Dan responded that the Officers had concurred, but with several conditions.  People asked for a wider publication of the results of the ad campaign.  Also mentioned was a need for continued communication so that we are not interfering with one another’s work.  Finally, it was noted that strategic planning should include all three centers: the Board, the Officers and the NRC.

To read entire minutes please click below

http://www.votf.org/vineyard/June5_2008/minutes.html