What: Launching our 10th Anniversary with a Celebration Dinner When: Monday, June 22nd, 6 PM Where: Schenectady, NY Room for All traces our beginnings to the Reformed Church General Synod meeting in June, 2005 in Schenectady, New York; specifically, the ecclesiastical trial of Rev. Dr. Norman Kansfield for having presided at the same-gender marriage of…
RfA Board member Steve Mathonnet-VanderWell has written a thoughtful and, some might say, provocative post on “The Twelve.” He envisions a time in the not-too-distant future when, “Graciously, change is coming for us all” in the church’s stance on LGBTQ inclusion. But how will we get there? “Increasingly, I am becoming aware that the discussion…
Congratulations to Second Reformed Church in New Brunswick, NJ for their decision to join the growing roster of Room for All Churches, congregations that publicly declare their commitment to welcome and affirm people of all sexual identities and gender expressions! They are the 28th congregation to publicly declare themselves a Room for All church!
Today’s newsletter highlights RfA’s 10th anniversary, and ways that you can help us celebrate: a video, a written reflection, a photograph, your presence at our national conference in October, a contribution. Help us to look back in gratitude, forward in faith as we continue our ministry for the welcome and full affirmation of people of…
We’re pleased that our Executive Director will be co-leading a “Building an Inclusive Church” one-day workshop in San Carlos, California on March 14th, and also want to highlight all the other BIC trainings that are scheduled by our ecumenical colleagues in the coming months. These workshops are wonderful opportunities to learn how to widen your…
Nearly a year ago, we were pleased to announce that Ponds Reformed Church in Oakland, NJ had joined the roster of Room for All churches. Like other congregations who journey through this important decision-making process, Ponds’ conversation around becoming publicly LGBTQ inclusive was framed within their own unique context; in their case, a history of broad…
Trans*? MAAB? Binary? Femme? Terms and acronyms in RfA’s line of work can very quickly get confusing and overwhelming! In the Winter 2012 issue of the RfA newsletter, founding Board member Rev. Stacey Midge published an article along with a helpful glossary of terms. Three years later, it’s amazing how much has changed across the…
2015 has already begun to be a year of wonderful growth for RfA! We had previously announced the addition of three new people to our Board, and today are pleased to update our website with this addition. Eric Lawrence, Rev. Steve Mathonnet-VanderWell and Rev. Annie Reilly bring a wide array of gifts to our organization,…
At its annual meeting today, the Room for All Board of Directors expressed our gratitude to outgoing Board members. Eric Johnson and Jan Koopman have served for two terms (six years), investing countless hours on behalf of RfA’s mission for full LGBTQ inclusion in the Reformed Church in America. Rob Sweeney has served for one…
Room for All is delighted to announce that our year-long process of prioritizing, interviewing and prayerful listening has culminated in the selection of Cameron Van Kooten to be RfA’s first Community Coordinator! Cameron is rooted in the Reformed Church in America, and is a graduate of Central College in Pella, Iowa, where his multi-faceted studies…