And that's not the only important news; we're sharing below a letter from our partners at Hope Church in Holland, MI. We share their deep concern for actions and decisions made within the denominational leadership this past year.
Note: While current RfA Board Member Jeremy Simpson is named in this correspondence, he was not a party to the communications.
June 2025
Dear Siblings in Christ in the Reformed Church in America,
As our denomination convenes its General Synod, the Consistory of Hope Church RCA, Holland, MI, feels compelled to share our problematic experience over the past year in dealing with RCA leadership. We have attempted to address issues of concern directly with RCA leadership, but have been met with delay and redirection. The impetus for our attempt at dialogue was the back-to-back occurrences of the dismissal of Rev. Jeremy Simpson as Director of Diversity + Belonging, and the hiring of Rev. Hanoi Avila as Chief Ministry Officer. As little information was provided about Rev. Avila, we did some research and found disturbing engagement with and leadership of a Christian nationalist and anti-LGBTQ organization. The two events--the dismissal and the hiring--made us question the RCA's commitment to racial justice and inclusion. Our further conversations did not allay this concern.
Our intention is to fulfill the ordination vows taken by all Consistory members, “to be loyal to the witness and work of the Reformed Church in America, using your abilities to further its Christian mission.” Our concern is that the actions of RCA leadership have compromised the witness of the RCA, and we are advocating for a faithful path forward that reflects God’s grace and gifts given in Jesus Christ. We share this communication because of our deep concern and faithful hope that General Synod will listen closely and use its voice to hold the RCA leadership accountable to the guidance of the body.
