VP Outreach (VPO)

Karen Annis Weires
VP Outreach

outreach@viadecristo.org

My name is Karen Weires and I am currently the Region One Coordinator.

I was born in Indiana and spent most of my growing-up years in Iowa. I currently reside in Henderson, Nevada where for the past 30 years, I have worked as a school psychologist for the Clark County School District. Karen is married with two grown children, an add-on son (my son’s best friend lives with us), two dogs, and a plethora of fish. I attend Community Lutheran Church where I am an usher.

I am the current  Communications Chair and Tech Coordinator  (webmaster/media controller/zoom meeting handler) for Light in the Desert (LITD) VdC in Nevada.

The daughter of an Episcopalian priest, I was very active in my church and diocese youth movements, including Teens Encounter Christ (TEC – the Catholic/Episcopalian youth version of VDC/Cursillo) as a teen and young adult. In 1985 I attended my first and only Episcopalian Cursillo. Then, life happened. I left Iowa and moved to Nevada. In Nevada, I quickly became active in my home church as Sunday School Lead Teacher, Acolyte Director, and Choir Member, but it was not until the death of my father in 2014 that I began to participate in Via de Cristo. My parents had been very active in the movement in Nevada and it was this group that walked the journey of my dad’s cancer diagnosis (and subsequent passing) with my mother. This led me to want to become involved and in September 2014, I served on my first VdC weekend.

In March 2019, I was Rectora of my own weekend and in July 2019, I attended my first annual gathering. In the spring of 2020, I was asked to take over the position of Regional Coordinator, just as COVID 19 was ramping up and things were shutting down. During COVID19, I was blessed to have the opportunity to participate in planning and running tech for several virtual Ultreyas locally, regionally, and nationwide. Although I have not had the opportunity to meet my regional compatriots in person, these occasions to meet in virtual space have been wonderfully fulfilling and I look forward to the time when we can all gather in person again for a proper VdC fellowship!

Role Description

The Vice-President for Outreach (VPO) is a responsible servant of Jesus Christ who wishes to glorify God by coordinating outreach activities for the development of new Via de Cristo (VdC) communities and assists exiting VdC communities fulfill their call.

  • Elected by the delegates at a National Lutheran Secretariat (NLS) Annual Gathering to serve a two-year term. Renewable by election for a second two-year term
  • Serves without compensation
  • Accountable to NLS President and the Executive Committee (EC)
  • Vice President #2

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

  1. Prays regularly for the leaders of NLS affiliated Secretariats and the members of the NLS Executive Board.
  2. Participates as an active member of a Renewal Group
  3. Search out possible areas of the country and world where Via de Cristo could have a positive influence on their local environments.
  4. Trains, oversees and coordinates the interactions and efforts of the Regional Coordinators to assure necessary liaison and functions are maintained.
  5. Visits communities and explains the mission and ministry of VdC and the role of the NLS. First visits to new movements should be informative in nature. Subsequent visits or communications should be organizational in nature.
  6. Communicates frequently with potential leaders of new communities.
  7. Solicits experienced VdC community members, who will freely give of their time, to begin new secretariats.
  8. Provides NLS materials to potential secretariats.
  9. Along with the Regional Coordinators, works with new secretariats to ensure they adhere to the VdC Essentials.
  10. Asks and schedules opportunities to present temple talks at churches or pastoral functions. Help with other activities to promote VdC.
  11. Keeps the entire VdC community informed (through emails, newsletter and web site) about new secretariat activities.
  1. Ask others to pray for the new movements and to offer help where possible.
  2. Jointly with the Regional Coordinators, communicates frequently with leaders of existing communities.
  3. If necessary, support the NLS Secretary, VPA and Regional Coordinators to provide accurate number and names of eligible delegates to the VPA by July 1 of each year for the Annual Gathering.
  4. Maintains an accurate and timely manual for this position including a timeline of responsibilities.
  5. Provides an annual report of activities to the Vice President of Administration for inclusion in the Annual Gathering binder no later than June 15 of each year.

Other Duties

As assigned by the NLS President

Supervisory Responsibilities

Participation in the Vision Committee, as needed, and the National VdC Annual Gathering Host Committee for outreach and long range planning.

Knowledge, Skills, and Related Gifts

  • Responsible for outreach documents on the NLS website
  • Extensive knowledge of the VdC ministry and history
  • Coordinate public relations programs to promote VdC
  • Good leadership, organizational and facilitator skills
  • Ability to work well with people
  • Ability to teach and nurture leadership
  • Flexibility and preparedness
  • Reasonable computer knowledge in order to keep current with email on a timely basis and keep information on the web site current.

Fiscal Responsibility

The VPO will manage the NLS Outreach budget as it relates to the expenses of the Regional Coordinators to assure appropriate support is provided to affiliated secretariats and will approve appropriate expenditures and expense reports with necessary documentation filed with the NLS Treasurer.

Also, the Outreach budget for travel – assure appropriate expenditures/expense reports or receipts are filed with the NLS Treasurer that relate to the position, travel and needs for meetings.

Extent of Public Contact: High

The VPO will have extensive contact with people from all walks of life. As an official representative of VdC, the VPO will come in contact with people who are curious about VdC and people who are excited to begin a new secretariat. The VPO may also make contact with Church officials, government officials, educational leaders, representatives from other countries, as well as many pilgrims who wish to make use of the resources VdC has to offer.

Physical Demands

Due to the nature of the position, there will be significant physical demands placed on the VPO because of travel, long meetings, and lengthy phone conversations.