04-04-2024 Letter from Servant Leaders

04-04-2024 Letter from Servant Leaders

04-04-2024 Letter from Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

It has been six months since I assumed the office of National President of the Society. The time has flown by, and it is hard to believe that it has been that long (although to be honest, sometimes it feels like it has been six years!). I have been truly blessed to meet so many of you, and I am looking forward to meeting many more of you as we enter the 2024 Regional Meeting ‘season’ and I get out to many of the meetings.

Since I served on the Board of Directors for six years when Ralph Middlecamp was President, I was aware of what to expect as National President. But I must say that I have been saddened and disturbed by the number of situations that the Board, the Staff, and I have had to deal with in just six short months about individuals, Conferences, and Councils that have needed intervention or disciplinary actions.

As I reflect on these situations, many still ongoing, it has become obvious to me that they almost always stem from root cause failures in one or more of three areas: money, spirituality, or governance. In one case it is usually too much — money. And in the other two, it is usually not enough — spirituality and governance.

The money issues we deal with are not all what you might expect as you read this. They are not all about people stealing or diverting resources. No, most problems we see with money are the improper use of Conference and Council funds in violation of The Rule and hoarding. Coming out of COVID, we were (and are) blessed with bank balances in some places that are exceptionally large, well beyond the needs of the Conference or Council in the short or even medium term.

All too often, what happens is that, in good faith and with good intentions, they decide to see who else they might help. So, they decide to help the Parish get that new roof, or build a playground, or donate to the local Red Cross, etc. These are all wonderful things. The Rule also forbids them. If you have excess funds, reach out and find other Conferences and Councils in your area or beyond who do not — there are A LOT OF THEM! — and give them some help. Twinning is what we do.

Spirituality is another area that underpins so many of the issues I see as National President. Or rather, to phrase it properly, a LACK of Spirituality is what underpins so many issues. And it is not just that we do not focus on spirituality, it is that we focus on the wrong spirituality! If your Conference of Council is not using the Vincentian Spiritual resources provided by the National Formation Team to create your spiritual reflection periods at your meetings, then you are doing it wrong.

We are the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We are not the parishes’ Adult Education Program. You should not be using the Spiritual Reflection time at your meeting to be focused on those things that are not related to our work as Vincentians. If you need help in putting together a great spiritual time of reflection, contact Tim Williams or Sister Consuelo in the National Office. They will set you up. Oh, and if your Spiritual Reflection period at your meetings is a five-minute reading of the weekly reflection and then ‘on to the business stuff’ please give them a call — you need them!

Governance is the last and most complex area where we see ongoing issues. Governance can be tricky and complicated, and not everyone understands it. As the former Chair of the National Governance Committee, I have a special passion for governance and governance issues. It is an area that can quickly get you into trouble, both legally and internally with the organization. We have a robust and ready Governance Committee led by First Vice President John Hallissy. If you need any support, have any questions, or just want to have what you are doing checked out, contact John.

We can all do things a little better to make our jobs easier. I understand most of you are volunteers — so am I. But that does not mean we should not be doing everything we can to be the best volunteers we can and be doing things right, every time.

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

11 Comments
  • Totally agree Sir John, When my conference president decided to change officers and appoint her sister and brother in law and even though I mention it was not good and wrong and noted the article it didn’t matter, she and other said it has been done in the past and I agreed with them it had been done in the passed but that was the past and we don’t live the past. I can only now leave it up to God…Lack of respect, spiritually and governance is a big issue….but what can a Vincentian do…only note the wrong at every meeting. It makes makes me sad but I hold on….and truly believe in the One Society.

    • Lucinda Kanczuzewski April 4, 2024 at 7:25 pm

      So sorry to hear of these problems. Your stories at the National Assembly are always interesting, if you are the same Cathy Garcia I have met. I believe in the disaster preparedness meetings.

  • Marjorie Sigmon April 4, 2024 at 8:44 pm

    I like it! After reading the Rule and other SVDP publications and going to an annual meeting I came to the same conclusion. Spirituality has to be our major meeting focus, fraternity has to be next and then when more people are attracted to our conference we will have enough money and workers for our goals.

  • Thank you, John, for saying what needed to be said! You struck a responsive chord of what many of us are experiencing and the challenges that make our work less than enjoyable. Spirituality is one of the essential elements but to infuse that element into an organizational structure of laity with different views and work experience is a huge challenge. Many members talk about spirituality but do not walk that talk. They cannot shed their pre-retirement work shoes for sandals and learn to compromise. But then again, we are living in a challenging era of divisive politics in this country where compromise is as rare as platinum. We are victims of that environment and suffer the consequences. For me, it is complete exhaustion and the desire to never assume a leadership role again.

  • John, thanks for having the courage to address the issues you raise. May God be with you and may St. Vincent continue to inspire you and your board. Easter peace. fr. Louie Areneaux, c.m.

  • A clear, refreshing and open letter. We are in good hands under your leadership. God bless you.

  • Redetta Donaldson April 8, 2024 at 10:43 am

    John, I am very familiar with some of the issues you addressed . As a former President, Diocesan VP, etc., when my former Conference decided to give my former parish monies for operating costs I was against that move. Well, I was blasted in a very un Christian manner. Our Bishop at the time wrote to me twice and affirmed me. God bless you John in your time in this position and may He give you the wisdom needed.

  • John, though I am not as involved as I was before, I still follow you through your articles and posts.
    I am sorry that these struggles are still affecting the amazing work of SVP not just in the states but around the world.
    Some day soon, I hope to get back to this work. In the meantime, all the best in this new ministry.
    Gigi Rolfes, Macon

  • Linda Kindel Kindel, SVDP of East Texas Council President October 30, 2024 at 12:19 pm

    John, We have 2 conferences with large checking account balances in impoverished East Texas! While so many conferences here struggle without financial resources, the only 2 with thrift stores, struggle with the fear of unexpected expenses and short term expenses. One carries enough money (as our wise and kind Council Spiritual Advisor said “enough money to buy a house.’ Thank the dear Lord we will have a new conference president to train from the get-go.
    We all need prayers, since we have many volunteer officers with no financial background, the fear, and no faith that they will be able to meet the next several months expenses. That is especially true since the cost of food has skyrocketed.

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