Dialogue on Homosexuality
At the instruction of General Synod 2005, the RCA participated in a denomination-wide dialogue on homosexuality from 2006 to 2009.
During that time, dialogue coordinator John Stapert and a dialogue steering committee listened to people in the church to identify various voices on this issue--different viewpoints and ways of thinking and talking about it. In response, the committee developed discussion resources and facilitated dialogue sessions in all regions of the RCA.
At the dialogue's official conclusion, General Synod 2009 declared that the work was not done and affirmed the value of continued dialogue and discernment within the church regarding the issue of homosexuality.
Coordinator John Stapert and several members of the dialogue team
continue to be available to facilitate the dialogue in congregations,
classes, and other settings. The General Synod office has set aside a
small fund (the remaining funds from gifts to support the three-year
dialogue) to provide matching funds to sponsors of the dialogue. The
funds are meant to assist with a fee ($100/session) and travel expenses
for a dialogue facilitator.
To request a dialogue facilitator or for financial support to sponsor a
dialogue, call or write to the General Synod office at 212-870-3243,
800-722-9977, kbradsell@rca.org or mrich@rca.org, or 475 Riverside
Drive, 18th floor, New York, NY 10115.
Online ResourcesBackground on the Dialogue
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