Synodical Committee on Human Sexuality Membership Announced

When the Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church met at the end of September, it was informed of the membership of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-Laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality.

Synod 2016 (the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church) appointed the committee to articulate a “foundation-laying biblical theology of human sexuality that pays particular attention to biblical conceptions of gender and sexuality.” Synod said that the members of the committee must “adhere to the CRC’s biblical view on marriage and same-sex relationships.” That view, first established in 1973 and reaffirmed in 2002, is that while homosexual orientation is not sinful, homosexual activity is.

The committee will report to Synod 2021, with an interim report to be given to Synod 2019.

Members of the committee are:
Rev. Mary-Lee Bouma, pastor, downtown friends CRC, Vancouver, B.C.
Pastor Charles Kim, leader, Home Missions Korean Ministries Team
Mr. Jose Rayas, pastor, Valley Ridge Community CRC, Socorro, Tex.
Rev. Paula Seales, pastor, Madison Square CRC, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Dr. Matthew Tuininga, assistant professor of moral theology, Calvin Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Mary VandenBerg, professor of systematic theology, Calvin Theological Seminary
Dr. Jim VanderWoerd, social scientist, Redeemer University College
Pastor Richard VanManen, campus minister, University of Alberta
Dr. Jeffrey Weima, co-chair, professor of New Testament, Calvin Theological Seminary
Dr. Albert Wolters, co-chair, emeritus professor of religion, Redeemer University College
Dr. Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen (promotor fidei, sometimes called “devil’s advocate”), recently retired from Eastern University, now living in Ottawa, Ont.

Related Article:

Synod 2016 Appoints a Committee to Study Human Sexuality