Pastor Jill shares these words at the close of the 2017 General Synod Meeting: “Hope Church will continue to lift up the good news of the gospel that we belong – body and soul in life and in death – to our faithful savior, Jesus Christ. This is true for every single one of us….no exceptions. The expansive, liberating love of God will continue to lead us as a Room for All congregation to embrace and celebrate the lives, the faith, the witness of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. Thank you to Marilyn Paarlberg and Cameron Van Kooten Laughead for their pastoral words.”
A post from Room for All’s facebook page:
A brief word to LGBTQ friends from our Community Coordinator, Cameron, and our Executive Director, Marilyn:
As you’re likely aware, dear friends and siblings, the RCA is in the tail end of another General Synod. Not unusually around this time, tensions can run high and the Synod is often prone to making statements that are interpreted by LGBTQ friends and allies as hurtful and contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ as we know and understand it.
While this General Synod has arguably not taken actions as drastic as some in recent memory, there is nevertheless the chance that you’ll hear reports of one vote or another, possibly with little-to-no idea of how this practically impacts the church and your place in it.
Let us be clear: as long as we’re around, it does not. We, along with our colleagues and friends within Room for All, will enter each coming day with renewed commitment to making a fully welcoming and inclusive Reformed Church in America. You are seen. You are valued. You are beloved children of God. No one can take that from you.
We look forward to continuing to live into our calling in this work for and with you.
All our love,
Cameron VKL & Marilyn