<p><img alt= src=https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/images/faces/duddy-m.jpg style=float:right; height:108px; margin-left:3px; margin-right:3px; width:108px />by Marianne Duddy-Burke Executive Director</p> <p>As we hang fresh calendars and anticipate the 12 months of a new year there is always a sense of wonder and questions about what lies ahead. We already know some of the major events that will make 2015 a very exciting and full year for DignityUSA. In just a few weeks we will begin our next election cycle. Lourdes Rodriguez-Nogues and Lewis Speaks-Tanner will be finalizing their remarkable four years as President and Vice-President respectively so before the end of the year we will have new Executives. We will also elect three Directors-at-Large in a process that ensures accountability to our members and supporters. Every time we go through this process I am struck by how seamlessly we implement elections and mutual accountability in our communities locally and nationally and I wonder why the larger Church cannot offer similar mechanisms for shared authority.</p> <!--break--> <p>In addition this is the year we will gather in Seattle for our 22nd national convention. Now&rsquo;s a great time to mark your calendar and start making your plans to be a part of what is sure to be a rich life-changing event featuring Sister Simone Campbell of NETWORK columnist Dan Savage and well-known spirituality author Fr. Paul Coutinho. From July 2-5 2015 we will explore and experience God&rsquo;s abundant love for us in the inspiringly beautiful Emerald City; your experience and ideas will enrich this event! Registration opens later this month. Keep an eye out for alerts!</p> <p>We will also be joining with the larger Church as it focuses on families through the World Meeting of Families in September 2015 in Philadelphia and the second phase of the Synod on the Family the following month. We will be lifting up the ways in which Catholics committed to equality and justice for LGBTQ people do so because of our belief in the importance of families. We will be looking at our connections with the families we come from the families we create and how we interact with our Church family. Almost a dozen families have already committed to be part of the World Meeting of Families Pilgrimage. They&rsquo;ll start telling their stories in the weeks ahead and invite you to be part of this pilgrimage with your prayerful support messages and financial contributions. And we will continue to raise our voices during preparations for throughout and following the Vatican Synod insisting on a truly responsive theology that appropriately addresses LGBT people and our families.</p> <p>It is clear that the U.S. bishops will be working hard in 2015 to find ways to expand religious exemptions from many laws giving organizations like Catholic Charities Catholic hospitals and colleges/universities the legal ability to refuse to hire fire or deny equal benefits to LGBT people to deny services to people they believe are morally unfit and to continue to undermine the legal protections offered by marriage equality even where it is legal. DignityUSA will keep working to ensure the voice of the majority of Catholics who believe quite differently from Church leaders is carried to all the places it needs to be heard.</p> <p>And of course we know that there will be many things we are not able to anticipate at this point and we will speak out on those issues and events as well. Whew! That&rsquo;s a lot to do in one year! Meeting all of these challenges will require a broad level of energy ideas and participation. Where do you see yourself in this list? How can you be part of these efforts and those that will occur close to where you live? I hope you will make active involvement in Dignity one of your resolutions for 2015!</p> <p>Please be in touch with any of us listed on the masthead with your ideas your offers of help your suggestions of how we can be more effective.</p> <p>And on behalf of the Board and staff of DignityUSA best wishes for a healthy fulfilling and justice-filled 2015!</p>