Board Members
Board Members
Room for All is a non-profit corporation organized to engage in charitable, educational, religious and community activities. As a 501(c)3 corporation, it is governed by a board of directors.
The following people named represent the current board of Room for All. New members of the Board are elected annually to represent the full diversity of the Reformed Church in America.
Miriam Baar Bush graduated from Hope College and Western Theological Seminary. She co-pastored Covenant Community Church in Muskegon, MI for 25 years with her husband, Mark Bush. In 2009 she was granted the title “Pastor Emerita” by Covenant (where Mark continues as the solo pastor) and she’s been working with the development of The Center for Action, Contemplation and Transformation (C-SAT). In addition to her husband, Miram’s family includes three young adult children. Outdoor activities in nature, along with Camp Sunshine, fill her life with wonder and joy.
Cyndi Boertje works at Central College in Pella , IA, Coordinating the Tutoring & Writing Center and also works with TRiO students. Previously she was a governess, a youth director, graphic/web designer, and continues to be a schedule juggler. She is married to Bruce Boertje and they have three children, Rachel, Jessica and Nathan.
Thomas G. Dibble is an Elder of the United Reformed Church in Somerville, New Jersey and lives there with Sandy, his wife of 27 years. Tom grew up in Minneapolis, and is a retired Lt. Col. of the Air Force reserve and has worked for the New Jersey Judiciary for 16 years. He has six children, a granddaughter and a great granddaughter. His undergraduate degree in Sociology was from the University of Minnesota and he earned a Masters in Public Administration from Auburn University. Tom has been a member of the RCA General Synod Council since 2009.
Jane Dickie has been a Professor of Psychology at Hope College since 1972. She served as founder, and has directed Hope’s Women’s Studies for 17 years. It has been through this work that she has discovered a calling and passion for seeking justice for all people regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, class, and ability. Jane has been a member of the Reformed Church in America ever since the denomination decided to ordain women at a General Synod in the mid-70s. Jane is the mother of two, grandmother of three. Her great joy is living on her 20-acre farm, as well as traveling and living internationally with her life partner, Larry.
Patty Fox is an ordained clergy in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and serves as a co-pastor at the Reformed Church of Highland Park in NJ. Her work on behalf of the LGBT faith community includes the creation of the Room for All Christian Camp which provides youth ages 14-17 who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender an opportunity to discuss and understand sexuality alongside their own spirituality. She is also involved in education and advocacy on behalf of transgender youth. Patty and her partner Lisanne have two beautiful and spirited girls. She loves playing the mandolin and taking her dog to the park.
Rev. Tom Goodhart is the pastor of the Trinity Reformed Church in Ridgewood, Queens.
Karis Granberg-Michaelson serves as an AmeriCorpsVISTA volunteer at Life Services Parent Center/Deanna’s Playhouse in Holland, MI. She majored in English with Creative Writing Emphasis at Hope College, a skill she put into good use when she co-authored the Hope is Ready petition to remove Hope College’s Institutional Statement on Homosexuality. She now serves on the field organizing team of Holland is Ready, working on legislative advocacy and community organizing. Karis loves to write, paint, play music and wonder about possibilities.
Rev. Eric Johnson is an RCA pastor serving in specialized ministry as a hospital chaplain at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, IA. Eric is a graduate of Northwestern College and Western Theological Seminary. He has served RCA churches in Iowa, New Jersey and Michigan. He’s also served on the General Synod Commission on Christian Action. Eric is married to Misti Johnson, who is a social worker/therapist in Des Moines; they have three young children; Drew, Will & Lydia.
Rev. Jes Kast-Keat is the Associate Pastor at West End Collegiate Church in New York City. Originally from Michigan, she is a graduate of Western Theological Seminary and currently serves on the Belhar Confession Implementation Task Force for the Reformed Church in America. Jes has previously served Hope College as a dormitory Resident Director, where her passion for LGBT inclusion was ignited. She and her life partner, Jim, enjoy exploring unique coffee shops and used bookstores.
Jan Koopman grew up in West Michigan, graduated from Hope College in 1974 and George Washington University in 1977. She lived in the Washington, DC area for over twenty years working in legislative and executive branches of government. Jan moved back to West Michigan in 1991 and has worked for non-profits, primarily in health care, specifically HIV/AIDS and aging issues. She is a member of Central Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, and is married to Brian Whalen. Jan and Brian have two children, Daniel and Julia.
Robert Mutch is a groundwater hydrologist, and a partner in Mutch Associates, LLC, an engineering consulting firm. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia University and Manhattan College. Bob and his wife, Carol, are members at Wyckoff (NJ) Reformed Church, where Bob has served as an Elder for several years. His interests are tennis, off-road running, mountain climbing, and perennial gardening. He and Carol have two children–one straight (Matt), one gay (Ashley)–both wonderful gifts from God.
Marilyn Paarlberg is Room for All’s Executive Director. Previous professional directions have included freelance writing, teaching English, directing Christian Education ministries, and office management. Marilyn has several off-hours interests, including reading and writing poetry. She lives with her husband, John Paarlberg. They are the parents of three adult children.
Brad Redeker serves as an elder and clerk of Consistory at First Reformed Church in New Brunswick, NJ. He graduated from Dordt College and then went on to Western Theological Seminary’s dual-track program (Master of Divinity/Master of Social Work). At present, he is finishing up course work for the MSW portion at Rutgers, and will graduate from both Rutgers and Western Seminary in May 2012. Brad’s discernment process has revealed a passion for working in healthcare. In his spare time, Brad enjoys the fine arts, taking day trips into NYC, along the Jersey Shore, or wherever else the beauty of God’s world beckons.
Rob Sweeney lives in a little Dutch house on the banks of the Hudson River along with his partner of the last 12 years. He works in Millbrook, NY as a private estate manager. As an Elder of the Old Dutch Church in Kingston NY, he is able to put his skills to good use as both chairperson of the Hospitality Task Force and Property Committee. Besides his church activities, he is a passionate worker within historic preservation circles. Rob prays that Room for All will become an obsolete organization before his Board term is up.
Rev. Adriene Thorne is an Associate Minister at Middle Collegiate Church in New York City where she provides for the spiritual care, nurture, and development of her congregation. Adriene serves on the Reformed Church in America’s Commission on Christian Worship and joined the board of Room for All in 2010. Prior to ministry, Adriene pursued a nearly 20-year career in theater and dance, including a stint as one of the World Famous Radio City Rockettes – she was the tall one in the middle.
David VanHeest is a retired public school English teacher. He has worked with a grassroots HIV/AIDS agency in Ottawa County. He is on the steering committee of Holland is Ready, runs a garden club, Lakeshore Gardeners, in Saugatuck. David helped start the local Room for All group in Holland. David and his partner Doug are members of Hope Church in Holland, MI.
Other (non-board) Positions:
Mary Kansfield is a former (and founding) Board member and continues to serve as the RfA archivist.
Rev. Robert Williams is a former (and founding) Board member and continues to serve as the RfA bookkeeper and development officer.
RfA Development Team: Rev. Shari Brink, Tom Folkert, Rev. Patty Fox, Karis Granberg-Michaelson, Richard Glendening, Rev. Norman Kansfield, Marilyn Paarlberg, Rev. Peter Theune, Rev. Marlin VanderWilt, Rev. Rob Williams