Victoria (Marple) Cobb, Witherspoon ‘99 alumna and President of the Virginia Family Foundation, speaking at a rally against a legislation permitting abortion at the moment of birth.
Decisive Not Disruptive
A heart for leadership and desire to create change were signs Victoria (Marple) Cobb’s early life was heading into political winds. As early as the sixth grade, her interest in pro-life issues began to set her eyes on Washington, DC—the epicenter of the public policy battles surrounding abortion. In college, she majored in political science and leadership studies. In the summer of 1999, between her Junior and Senior year of college, she secured a place with the Witherspoon Fellowship (now the John Jay Institute). To Victoria, the intellectual rigors of the program and practical, hands-on interaction would shape aspirations into a reality. Living out those ideas in Christian community and adopting new daily rhythms and rituals became foundational to her future postings.
But like most young activists, time and experience would chart a different path—away from the center of national power.
As Cobb now reflects, her time at Witherspoon exposed a deeper reality: Christian leadership is a calling in every arena. The same passions she held could be played out in any number of fields— from journalism to business. The same knowledge base could launch leaders in any direction. It was a realization that came from many hours of discussion—engaging with ideas and combining perspectives. “You get a much richer experience than just sitting in a classroom,” she says of her Witherspoon experience. “There’s a richness there you just can’t get another way.” Friendships built through an intense, perpetual exchange of ideas developed Victoria’s own approach to leadership. “I’m an extremely collaborative leader, and I’m convinced that the Witherspoon/John Jay experience is part of why I’m such a collaborative leader.”
Her time in the fellowship and its intellectual grounding equipped her to deal with the culture in unique ways. In an era where “chunk-sized tweets” form the basis of most populist opinion, Victoria believes Christian leaders must be more thorough and thoughtful in their responses to cultural issues. For her, research, multiple sources, and understanding the arguments of the other side form a solid alternative to the kind of reactive comments that harden hearts. Reading, analyzing, and discussing issues before they’re posted or Tweeted is a far better approach.
Leadership, Not Popularity
But Victoria is still a realist. Even the most winsome arguments won’t diffuse every incoming attack. The positions she advocates aren’t primed to make her—or most conservatives— popular. As the president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, her issues tend to push against the cultural trends. “You will be disliked,” she says simply. In fact, she argues that if nobody dislikes your Christian leadership, then you very well might be on board with the secular agenda. That difference of opinion, however, should not translate to agitation and anger. “We want to be the light, not the aggressor.” Victoria believes that Christian leaders should use Christ’s leadership as a model, embodying humility, bravery, and sacrifice.
Instead of provoking, the focus should be on strategically doing and saying the right things at the right times to lead others in the right way. “It’s hard,” she confesses. Being “decisive but not disruptive” is a delicate balance, and often the most effective work is not fun or glamorous. Doing the right thing may not always be on the big stage, much like Jesus ministering to twelve humble fishermen, but the small steps are often what moves mountains in the long run.
Callings for a Lifetime
To Victoria Cobb, her convictions are a matter of callings—plural. Everyone has multiple callings that define their vocations, but Christians are not called to simply work, she argues. Each is called to be a parent, a spouse, a leader, or a member of the Body of Christ in addition to their working vocation. Each of those callings must be ordered and prioritized for maximum effect, a practice that necessitates a level of personal discipline. Victoria looks back on her time with Witherspoon/John Jay as formative in her own development of discipline. Though her background was not in the high church, she found the morning and evening prayer routines to be refreshing and beneficial, particularly using the Book of Common Prayer.
When it comes to her future, Victoria isn’t planning to retire. No matter the occupation, your callings remain unchanged—pursuing Christ and bringing glory to His kingdom.
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