Reflections – Jill Russell
As a long time advocate of the full inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community within the life of the Reformed Church in America, I came to the Room for All conference expecting to receive the proverbial preaching to the choir. Don’t misunderstand me, I need to hear that preaching! It is good for my soul to be in the company of people who labor with me in what feels like an arduous uphill battle in the RCA. Conferences like these can provide energy and healing, they can cultivate networks of support and give fuel for the journey. The Room for All National Gathering did not disappoint on any of those fronts.
Past President of the board, Rev. Shari Brink, gave a stirring opening address that set the tone for our time together. With humor, grace, and passion she recounted the winding road that brought us to this momentous place. The background and history of the formation of Room for All is complex and involves several strands, many people, and a whole world of pain. Shari wove those various strands into a beautiful tapestry that honored people’s experiences and lifted up people’s gifts. She found ways to welcome those new to the conversation and by the end of her presentation we all felt that we were on holy ground.
The opening worship service was a perfect example of why this road we walk in the RCA is so complicated. People come at this conversation from various entry points, find themselves on various places along a spectrum. What can sound empowering and brave to one can sound condescending and disappointing to another. At the end of the first evening, we had the opportunity to feel exactly where we are as a denomination: some passionately committed to throwing the doors of the RCA wide open to celebrate and welcome people of all sexual orientations in the life of the church and others cracking the door open tentatively and cautiously because of the very loud portion of the RCA who want to bar the doors closed and lock them from the inside.
At the risk of exposing my private arrogance, I will confess that I initially came to the conference expecting to hear things I had heard before. I came seeing myself as one who was there to support the cause more than one who was there to learn. Was I ever in for a wonderful surprise. The choice of speakers for the two plenary sessions of the conference was brilliant. Rev. Rebecca Voelkel and Vicki Wunsch were inspiring, creative, and engaging. But even more important to me, they had things to share that I needed to hear. They had experience in helping fledgling groups find traction and build momentum as a movement. And they understood the values of the Christian community. They built their principles and processes on nonviolent, strategic planning and that was a breath of fresh air. The Saturday workshop on strategic storytelling was powerful and will bear fruit in the life of my congregation far beyond the purposes of the Room for All agenda. The combination of lecture and instruction paired with the opportunity to practice what we were learning was more than good pedagogy. It was good community building. And the closing worship service brought all the stories, all the learning, all the pain and hope together in a simple and beautiful way.
I know that it took significant resources to bring the speakers and small group leaders to this conference. It took resources to bring those in attendance together as well. Those resources were well worth the effort to raise and represented some of the best stewardship I’ve seen in action in a long time.
Thank you to all who made this conference possible.
Grace to you and peace,
Rev. Jill R. Russell
Hope Reformed Church
Holland, MI