Annual appeal: a season of growth and change
Dear friends,
These last few months have been a significant time of growth and change for Call To Action. I’m excited to share some of these new changes with you today, and to invite you to join us in this work.
In March, about 100 people gathered at Union Theological Seminary for “(Re)Imagining Catholic Vocation,” co-hosted by our 20/30s community and East Coast region. This conference was the brainchild of Abby Rampone, an alumna of last year’s 20/30 Project for Mentoring and Leadership, and it’s just one example of the wonderful things that came out of that cohort.
Even while we’re still gleaning insights and experiences from last year’s 20/30 cohort, we’re also welcoming our new cohort of young leaders, now called the Re/Generation Project. This year’s “Re/Generators” are a truly phenomenal group of theologians, activists, writers and youth ministers. I hope that you’ll take some time to learn more about this year’s Re/Generators.
The Re/Generation Project is just one example of some of the new projects taking root at CTA. As you may know, our Vision Council recently announced that we have begun the hard work of reshaping our organization. Many of these changes, including the decision to reduce staff and sell our building in Chicago, have been deeply painful. During this challenging time, I have been grateful for the generations of members and staff who have contributed to CTA over the years. Their hard work, passion and care are what makes it possible for us to weather these challenges. This is a season of growth and change for us, and we will come out of it stronger than ever.
We’re re-committing ourselves to programs that boldly and effectively advocate for a more just Church. One way we’re doing that is through issue-based working groups, which will give CTA members an opportunity to engage more deeply in our five focus areas (Church Worker Justice, Lay Engagement, LGBT Justice, Racial Justice and Women & Girls Equality) and will ensure that Call To Action remains a leader in the Church reform movement.
We’re also taking CTA “on the road” this year. In addition to last month’s conference, we have one more regional conference planned in Sacramento, and for the first time, we’re planning a “border experience” in the Rio Grande Valley. You can learn more about each of these exciting events here.
Amidst all these changes, a few things remain the same: our commitment to justice in our Church, the dedication of our Vision Council and staff, and the support of our inspiring members throughout the country.
In years past, you partnered with us as we inspired Catholics and transformed our Church. Thank you for your prayers and action for justice! Will you consider renewing your support with a gift of $25 or more?
As always, thank you for being a part of our Call To Action community. If you have questions about our ongoing programs, or our recent restructure, I hope that you’ll email me at zach@cta-usa.org or call me at 773-988-2352. I would be thrilled to tell you more about our vision and exciting plans for the future.
Be well and keep in touch in love and prayer,
Zach Johnson
Call To Action Executive Director
PS: If you are 70.5 or older, making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA can be particularly beneficial under the new tax law, and it’s a great way to partner with Call To Action in our work. If you’re interested in this or other charitable opportunities, email me at zach@cta-usa.org.
