General Synod New Business:
"Engage in Dialogue or Hold Us Accountable, Too"

Dear Elders, Deacons and Pastors in the Reformed Church in America,

My name is Seth Kaper-Dale. I am co-pastor of the Reformed Church of Highland Park. I have come to the conviction that I can not live on in the Reformed Church in America any longer with my mouth closed on issues of justice and peace in relation to human sexuality. Injustice is being done on issues of gender and sexual orientation, and it is time for those who are quietly infuriated by this to open their mouths as prophets. Too often, it seems to me, inclusive Christians within this denomination are, at best, looking to insure that there is a quiet space for open ministries within the RCA. Very few are standing up and saying to our denomination, "we, as a denomination are doing injustice that is an affront to the gospel of Jesus Christ." It is time to stop worshiping the false God of False Christian Unity, and to instead worship the God of Holy Freedom. As long as I remain silent on this issue I feel as if I am bound in ropes of sinfulness. I imagine others feel the same. The situation that unfolded this year with Rev. Dr. Kansfield was the last straw. For the sake of the gospel let’s take a risk and be honest.

I invite you to send "Engage in Dialogue or Hold Us Accountable Too" to any person you want to, whether they agree or disagree with the substance of the document. To be included as a signatory, please email Seth Kaper-Dale at seth.kaper-dale@juno.com. The intent is that this document will be read from the floor, during General Synod.

Engage In Dialogue or Hold Us Accountable Too
Dear Reverend General Synod 2005,

We, the undersigned Elders, Deacons and Ministers of Word and Sacrament, write to you as brothers and sisters deeply concerned about the way that issues regarding homosexuality are being dealt with in our denomination.

Over the past 7 years the Synod has either not dealt with homosexuality at Synod, or it has dealt with it by singling out as deviant one individual or ecumenical partner church who has taken an open and affirming position on the issue. This year Rev. Dr. Norman Kansfield is potentially being brought up on charges for performing the wedding of his daughter Ann and her spouse Jennifer.

We share common biblical interpretation and theological and ethical convictions concerning homosexuality and Christian faithfulness with Rev. Dr. Kansfield. These convictions have informed, and will continue to inform, our actions as ordained leaders in the church.

We feel that it is not only the actions of Rev. Dr. Kansfield that are on trial, but a set of convictions as well. Because we share these convictions with Rev. Dr. Kansfield it would be unethical for us to remain silent. To be silent would be a grave injustice to the true unity of the church.

Here are our convictions:

We believe that the vast majority of people in the world are heterosexual in orientation, and it is God’s desire that heterosexual persons live in lifelong covenant relationships, one man and one woman, or that they live lives of celibacy.

We believe that God has created some persons with an orientation toward persons of the same sex, and that it is God’s desire that homosexual persons live in lifelong covenantal monogamous relationships, or that they live lives of celibacy. We believe that God has created some persons with a bi-sexual orientation, and that it is God’s desire that bi-sexual persons live in lifelong covenant monogamous relationships, or that they live lives of celibacy.

We believe that the Spirit baptizes persons of all sexual orientations, and that the Spirit works in and through persons of all sexual orientations. We believe that the Spirit calls some persons of all sexual orientations to be ministers and deacons and elders—leaders for the Spirit-filled church.

We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ, full of the Spirit, should bless covenantal same-sex relationships, as it does heterosexual relationships.

We believe that committed homosexual relationships are not sinful, but rather a blessing from God.

We believe that the Reformed Church in America ought to confess its sinfulness in adhering for too long to an oppressive position on homosexuality and ought to seek the forgiveness of its Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgendered brothers and sisters.

We, the undersigned, have silently carried our convictions about homosexuality for too long. We too ask God to forgive us for the oppression that has resulted from our silence. Even when faithful interpretation of God’s Word, prayer and discernment have all pointed toward fully embracing homosexual persons living in committed relationships within the life of the church, we were mum. We, the undersigned, want to begin anew, speaking with honesty and integrity about this issue.

We call on the General Synod of the Reformed Church to commit to a process of honest engagement and intentional dialogue about homosexuality and Christian faithfulness, recognizing from the start that there are many who share the convictions of Rev. Dr. Kansfield.

The Peace of Christ to you,

Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale

Rev. Jill Russell
Rev. Robert P. Mitchell
Elder/Deacon Karen Vaughan
Deacon Joyce D. Gartrell
Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale
Rev. Jay Carroll
Elder/Deacon Cheryl J. Gowie
Elder Curtis Gruenler
Rev. Stacey Midge
Rev. Dr. Robert D. Williams
Rev. Jody Bretten Rice
Elder Ralph Voorhees
Rev. Ron Van de Bunte
Rev. Joan Mitchell
Elder Mary Kansfield
Deacon Barbara Voorhees
Elder Miranda Rand
Rev. Jeanne Boland
Deacon Kris Witkowski
Deacon Sarah Peacock
Rev. Stephanie Kaper-Dale
Deacon John Seidl
Deacon Catherine Moore
Elder Bill Barth
Rev. Kenneth Walsh
Elder David G. Myers
Rev. Jaqueline J Lewis
Elder Bobby Lin
Rev. Dr. Carl Kleis
Elder Carol Myers
Rev. Gordon R. Dragt
Elder Nancy Post
Elder Jane Barber
Rev. Holly Vollink-Lent
Rev. Charles D. Morris
Elder Ann Kansfield
Elder Betsy Matthias
Rev. Nelson R. Murphy
Mae Hamersma
Rev. Richard Tiggelaar
Elder Kenneth D. Gibson
Deacon Duane Kooyers
Carmen Diaz
Rev. Jim Anderson
Rev. Kathy Davelaar
Elder/Deacon Kyle Vohlken
Deacon Melissa Brandes
Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church of the Town of Brooklyn (Old First)
Elder Carol Babinsky
Mary E. DeJonge – Benishek
Rev. Anne L. Guild-Donovan
Rev. Louis LaFazia
Rev. Dave Risseeuw
Elder Cynthia Baine-DeMaagd
Rev. Brent W. Backofen
Elder Lee Selden
Rev. Scarlet Gorton
Andrew D. Lent Great Consistory
Elder Peg Luidens
Deacon Linda Bloomfield
Rev. Christine Dyke
Rev. Abigail Norton-Levering
Elder Don Luidens
Rev. Freeman Palmer
Rev. David Crump
Deacon Jane R. Dickie
Elder Robert Callender
Elder Dr. R. Don Rorapaugh Jr.
Rev. Gordon Wiersma
Deacon Peggy Funderburke
Elder Joan Hoff
Deacon Christy VanHorn
Elder Loren Hoekzema
Elder/Deacon John Poole
Elder Patrick Beckford
Elder Mary Toppen-Palma
Rev. Dr. Robert Fois
Ann Piet-Anderson
Deacon Joan Molnar-Tuers
Rev. Robert Palma
Elder Bobby Linkowski
Elder Beth Laurano
Elder Maria Austin
Elder Ruby Kickert
Deacon Ralph Kickert
Rev. Patricia Weatherwax
Deacon Doug Abell
Elder Jan Smith
Elder Tom Smucker
Deacon Cheryl Cochran
Elder Clair Zak
Deacon Seth J. Antin
Rev. Allan B. Ramirez
Rev. Richard Ruch
Rev. Stanley F. Craig
Deacon Philip Ridder
Elder Cheryl M. Racanelli
Elder Theresa Parsons
Albert Dean Miedema
Great Consistory
Rev. Celaine Bouma-Prediger
Elder Susan L. Fisher
Rev. Dr. Harold M. Delhagen
Elder Judith Faber
Elder Jack Faber
Rev. Linda Lachesnez
Rev. Donald J. Bruggink
Rev. Dan Plasman
Elder Matt Howley
Deacon Donna Howley
Rev. Dr. Christopher Kaiser
Elder Frederick G. Leaske
Elder Dwight Rangeler
Deacon Audrey Goodleaf
Elder Daniel W. Fish
Elder John Wispelwey DMD
Rev. Debra Jameson
Deacon David DeBlock
Rev. Arvin R. TenBrink
Deacon Richard Petrie
Rev. Dr. Lynn Japinga
Rev. Andrew DeBraber
Rev. Scott DeBlock
Elder Robin Callan
Elder Hennie Kohut
Elizabeth De Braber
Deacon Pattye Craig
Rev. Robert E. Dahl
Elder Candi Weinberg
Elder Irma Krohn
Deacon Marey L. Bailey
Elder Susan Cissel
Deacon Donald Bailey
Rev. Paul R. De Maagd
Elder Helen D. Gabler
Deacon Robert H. Gabler
Deacon Sue Castellvi
Elder Erma Van Roeckel Bruggink
Rev.Doug Leonard
David Medema
Rev. John I. Itzen
Rev.Cheryl Molhoek
Elder Elaine Bird
Deacon Scott Simpson
Elder Richard Wallace
Rev. Michael Russo
Rev. Martin L. Weitz
Liz Alexander
Elder Fran Schell
Rev. Harlan E Ratmeyer
Rev. Bonita Zobeck
Elder David Allen
Elder Warren Otto
Frances Ryder, Great Consistory
Rev. Dr. Steve Young
Stanly A Rock
Elder Cynthia Baine De Maagd
Rev. Dr. Leonard Kalkwarf



ecclesia reformata, sed semper reformanda