March 8, 2022
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Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
Thinking specifically about the Human Sexuality Report, would any of us be willing to offer our backs, tongues, mouths, and bodies for a specific definition of marriage?
Community Builder
Mark Stephenson
About Me:
After receiving an M.Div. degree, I served as pastor of two Christian Reformed churches for a total of 17 years. From 2006 through 2021, I was the Director of Disability Concerns for the Christian Reformed Church, and relish the close working relationship CRC Disability Concerns has with the Reformed Church in America Disability Concerns ministry. I have served as interim Director of the CRC's Offices of Race Relations and Social Justice since Feb 2020. My wife Bev and I have five living children, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren. Our oldest child, Nicole, was born extremely prematurely in the late 1980’s and lives joyfully with severe, multiple impairments. That label does not define her. She loves magazines, loves interacting with people, loves roller-coasters and wild amusement park rides, and she loves to worship and to pray with God’s people. In any group, she shares her own unique gifts.
October 27, 2021
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Racial Injustice or Racialized Injustice?
The new Race Relations mandate avoids the adjective “racial” to avoid giving credence to the false notion that humans actually comprise separate “races.”
September 23, 2020
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En la Intersección del Racismo y la Discapacidad
Mientras trabajamos por la justicia racial y el cambio sistémico, debemos mantener a los niños y adultos de color con discapacidades al frente de nuestras discusiones y acciones. El siguiente artículo adaptado analiza la interseccionalidad pasada por alto del racismo y el capacitismo. También tiene enlaces a otros recursos sugeridos.
July 31, 2020
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At the Intersection of Racism and Ableism
Social distancing has not stopped many of us from speaking out for an end to the killing of unarmed black men and women by police. Did you know that 30 to 80 percent of those killed have been persons with some type of disability?
July 26, 2020
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Happy Anniversary to the Americans with Disabilities Act!
30 years ago today, the US adopted landmark civil rights legislation called the Americans with Disabilities Act. The worst barriers faced by people with disabilities usually result from attitudes and environments that we all create and could change.
June 16, 2020
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We Must Not Go Back to Normal
Normal has not been good for everyone. It is time for a normal that restores an identity in Christ in us and all of our neighbors, especially our black neighbors.
May 8, 2020
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On the Path Toward a Fuller Welcome
Shortly after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, a team from CRC Disability Concerns recognized its importance for congregations, especially because the ADA explicitly excluded faith communities from its requirements.
March 4, 2020
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Inclusive Design: Simple, Inexpensive Changes. Really!
Many designers place form over function, thereby excluding some members of their congregation from participation in worship. Learn how your church can become more accessible.
September 2, 2019
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Silent Aspirations: A Nonverbal Son, His Art, His Mother’s Faith and Family’s Bond
From the title to the final, frightening story with which the book concludes, Shar Boerema clings to hope in God and God’s faithful plan for the lives of everyone she loves.
August 22, 2019
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A Foolish and Dangerous Assertion
In spite of facts, the president of the United States has been using his bully pulpit in recent days to finger mental illness as a cause of mass shootings. This assertion is foolish and dangerous.
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Hi John, thanks for your question, "How can we have clear theological thinking AND deep Christ-like compassion simultaneously?" It's always an excellent question, always relevant, especially in...
posted on: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love -
Anthony, thanks for the clarifying questions. The apostle Paul makes a particularly scary statement in 1 Cor 6:9, which has parallels with other verses about people engaging in sexual sins not...
posted on: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love -
Dan, your question assumes that I and all whose names are in the introductory paragraph to this blog disagree with the CRC's current position on same sex sexual activity. Your assumption might or...
posted on: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love -
Justin, thanks for this excellent and humbling analysis. To your recommendations, I would add one more, "Listen intently and learn from brothers and sisters in Christ who are Black, Indigenous,...
posted on: The NFL, Culture Wars, and Article 17's -
Intersection Ministries, Holland Michigan.
posted on: Where Did You Worship This Past Sunday? -
Stewart, Thank you for this question. The CRC has no official position on Critical Race Theory (CRT), and the CRC's office of Race Relations does not look to CRT to guide our work. Instead, we...
posted on: CRC Position on Critical Race Theory? -
Cassie, I'm so thankful that God gave you this song and that you have shared it with the world. Every time I listen I worship. I appreciate that you move from the quiet place with Jesus, to...
posted on: Quiet Place -
Friends, thanks for your kind words. I plan to close out my full-time work with the CRC around the end of 2021. I'm praying that in these last few months I'll pass the baton to current and future...
posted on: Announcing Mark Stephenson’s Retirement -
Ken, I have a child who was enrolled in Special Education from age 3 through age 26, and she benefited greatly from the services she received throughout those years. Through the course of all that...
posted on: Support Students; Don’t Villainize Them -
Jodi, thanks for this. Our church had been buying presents and distributing them to families for years. After reading When Helping Hurts, we decided that it would be more just and affirming for...