Convening Board Minutes 5/19/04
Members present: Steve Amann, Dave Cooper, Mike Erwin, Alan Jurkus, John Lukaszewicz, Brian Mason, Ken Mich
Excused: Bill Burkert
The meeting was held at St. Matthias Parish and was called to order at 1:30 PM. Alan Jurkus led an opening prayer.
The minutes of the April 23rd meeting were reviewed. The minutes were then approved with one spelling correction
Brian Mason reported the following:
Balance as of April 23rd meeting = $904.20
Revenues:
No expenditures for the month.
Balance = $1509.20
It was evident to the members of the Convening Board that many priests who have attended the two general meetings feel they are already members of the Alliance. However, we cannot presume that attendance at one or two meetings automatically means membership. We need an up-to-date membership and email list. Brian Mason passed out lists of those who have registered to date as well as their interest in working with a particular focus group. Steve Amann will post the membership form on the website. Dave Cooper will send another email through the chancery office to push for membership registrations.
All were pleased with the number of priests who stopped by on Tuesday afternoon and we all felt the name badges were a big benefit (thank you Ken Mich!). Nineteen priests registered at the assembly. We also heard that there are a number of priests who have a fear of joining the Alliance. There also seems to be an inaccurate perception of the Alliance among the seminarians.
Mike Erwin asked the advice of the Board members. This is turning out to be a very difficult focus group as there are so many different issues that fall under this heading. He is finding it difficult to focus the group around one or two issues. He was very pleased with the Archbishop’s announcement at the assembly that he wanted to establish a review committee to examine the process that is in place once a priest is accused of sexual misconduct from the perspective of the priests and to see whether or not their rights were being upheld. The Board’s advice was that the members of this focus group need to prioritize their issues and come to a consensus about which issues they would address. It was suggested they follow through on their proposed pamphlet on what to do and not do when one is accused of sexual misconduct. It was also suggested that Mike contact the Archbishop and ask if a member of this group could be on his review committee. Other Board members, on the other hand, felt it would be best if the Alliance worked outside of official channels. Our existence and raising of issues seems to be helping make things happen; we are more of a “prod” toward making things happen.
The Board also suggested that Mike contact Bob Silva, president of the National Federation of Priest Councils as they had addressed this issue to Archbishop Dolan at their meeting in Florida. Find out what their next step is. It was also suggested that a list of attorneys be compiled who are willing to work with priests who are accused.
Brian Mason contacted the priests who had attended the breakout sessions on overworked priests at the February meeting. Only two responded that they had any interest in continuing to work on this issue. None of the priests who registered at the assembly chose to work with this focus group. Brian and Bill had spoken with each other and wondered if people felt this focus group’s work had been accomplished when the letter was sent to the Planning Commission and the Council of Priests.
Other members of the Convening Board asked if it was possible for this group to strategize how we support priests who turn down more work in an assignment.
This group will meet June 3rd at St. Monica Parish.
Dave Cooper will contact the new members who have indicated an interest in this focus group.
Joe Aufdermauer wants to take on the leadership of this issue. There is confusion about what this focus group is meant for: who may be ordained or recruiting more men for the priesthood. As the issue was originally formulated, it was intended to address the issue of who may be ordained. It was suggested the focus group choose a new name to clarify this confusion.
Alan Jurkus reported that Jeff Theilen, Bill Burkert and Larry Sepich had all offered to be part of this group. They have had two meeting via email to work on a position statement. Alan also had a conversation with Jim Connell. The Faith and Organizational Structures Committee is in agreement with this issue. The FOS Committee wants to see the 2.5% that was cut from our salary increase this year reinstated next year.
The question was then raised whether or not we could get this accomplished using the channels that already exist without sending out a new position statement? It was decided that a proposal would be sent out in July or August to the membership of the Alliance for a yes or no vote. If approved, the proposal will be sent to the FOS Committee and the Archbishop in time for planning for next year’s salary discussions.
The next meetings of the Convening Board will be held on Friday, June 4th at St. Matthias Parish and on Friday, July 9th. Both will run from 1:30-3:00.
The next General Meeting of the Alliance will take place on Wednesday, September 30th at St. Matthias from 1:30-4:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting will be to look at and/or clarify the existing issues, to add or drop issues, and to report on progress that has been made. It also offers us the opportunity to ask whether or not there is a step beyond where we have been. We will also use the meeting to get the membership ready for election of new Convening Board.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian Mason,
Secretary/Treasurer