From: Darrell128@aol.com
Subject: NR 97041: Kalamazoo Christian "Releases" Teacher for Supporting "Homosexual
Monogamous Relationships"
NR #1997-041: Kalamazoo Christian "Releases" 30-Year Veteran Teacher for
Supporting "Homosexual Monogamous Relationships"
Despite protests by nine of the thirteen Christian Reformed ministers in
metro Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo Christian School Association board has voted
not to renew the teaching contract of Don Bergman, a 30-year veteran social
studies teacher at Kalamazoo Christian High School, "because he takes a
position on homosexual monogamous relationships that the [association] board
believes is unbiblical." According to the formal motion passed by the school
board, "offering a contract to Mr. Bergman would call into question the
school's adherence and commitment to Biblical teaching and the authority of
scripture in all matters of faith and life."The March 25 school board
decision, which drew little attention until four weeks later when a letter to
teaching staff announcing the "nonrenewal" of Bergman's contract was leaked
to the news media, follows last December's decision by the Christian Reformed
denominational board of trustees to remove Bergman from a synodical study
committee on homosexuality because of his views on gay marriage.
NR #1997-041: For Immediate Release
Kalamazoo Christian "Releases" 30-Year Veteran Teacher for Supporting
"Homosexual Monogamous Relationships"
by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer
United Reformed News Service
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (April 29, 1997) URNS -- Despite protests by nine of the
thirteen Christian Reformed ministers in metro Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo
Christian School Association board has voted not to renew the teaching
contract of Don Bergman, a 30-year veteran social studies teacher at
Kalamazoo Christian High School, "because he takes a position on homosexual
monogamous relationships that the [association] board believes is
unbiblical."
According to the formal motion passed by the school board, "offering a
contract to Mr. Bergman would call into question the school's adherence and
commitment to Biblical teaching and the authority of scripture in all matters
of faith and life."
Bergman could not be reached for comment. In a previous interview, Bergman
said he supported his openly gay son's desire to find a life partner. "I
encouraged my son to remain celibate and when he said 'I don't have the gift
to remain celibate,' the rules are the same," said Bergman. "The conclusion
was to find one person for a relationship, and that was the context, commitmen
t first, then passion."
The March 25 school board decision, which drew little attention until four
weeks later when a letter to teaching staff announcing the "nonrenewal" of
Bergman's contract was leaked to the news media, follows last December's
decision by the Christian Reformed denominational board of trustees to remove
Bergman from a synodical study committee on homosexuality because of his
views on gay marriage.
"After the [denominational] board met in September, I received a document
[Bergman] sent to the committee on homosexuality of Classis Grand Rapids
East; in that document he's fairly critical of the church's position against
monogamous homosexual relationships, he says quite bluntly in there that the
church's stand is wrong," Engelhard said last December in explaining
Bergman's removal from the study committee.
According to Kalamazoo Christian school superintendent Dr. Bruce Hekman,
Bergman's removal from the synodical study committee and subsequent
widespread publicity in local TV and print media, as well as the official
denominational paper, were "irrelevant" in the school board's decision.
"The board has been somewhat aware of this since the fall of 1995; that
actually was the fall after Don had discovered that his son Brad was gay,"
said Hekman. "He was very forthright and came to us, [high school principal]
Larry Baker and I, and laid out what was going on."
Despite being "excruciatingly painful," Hekman said the board actions with
regard to Bergman were conducted in a "forthright and upright" way.
"Throughout this relationship the discussion has taken place frankly and
honestly and what I would call on a high plane," said Hekman. "What we have
here is a difference of opinion between a person of integrity and a school
system of integrity. The discussion has focused almost entirely on the
critical theological issue related to whether or not the Bible allows the
possibility of monogamous homosexual relations."
That wasn't the view of nine local Christian Reformed pastors who signed a
January 30 joint pastoral letter to the school board urging that Bergman not
be removed from his teaching position.
"I am quite confident in saying that not one of the nine signatories to the
letter agreed with Don Bergman's position, nevertheless felt that the action
on the recommendation of the board was uncharitable, unjust, and
unnecessary," said Rev. Neal Rylaarsdam of Lexington Green CRC in the
Kalamazoo suburb of Portage, who convened a meeting of local pastors to
address the Bergman case.
"They are releasing him because they do not agree with views," said
Rylaarsdam. "I do not agree with Don's views either, however, Don has signed
a rider in his contract a year ago and that was that he would abide by the
decision of 1973."
The 1973 reference is to the 24-year-old official CRC position urging
pastoral care for homosexuals but declaring that "homosexualism -- as
explicit homosexual practice -- must be condemned as incompatible with
obedience to the will of God as revealed in Holy Scripture."
"Don has abided by that, he has not promoted his view in the school, in his
teaching, in his role as a teacher," said Rylaarsdam. "It was only when his
personal correspondence with Classis Grand Rapids East was leaked that it
became public."
While the school superintendent said the media attention to Bergman's
removal from the synodical study committee was not a factor in his release,
the nine pastors disagreed. "In fact, the timing of this decision makes us
fear the appearance for our community that the decision was a response to
media attention which was no fault of Mr. Bergman," wrote the nine pastors.
According to Rylaarsdam, Bergman's view as expressed to him is that "just as
divorce is a result of sin and not God's desire or will for mankind,
nevertheless at times divorce may be the more morally ethical choice. So also
homosexuality is a result of sin and not God's desire or will for mankind,
nevertheless, a monogamous homosexual relationship may be the more morally
ethical choice for those who are unable to remain celibate."
Rylaarsdam said the position articulated is substantially that of CRC
minister Dr. Lewis Smedes, retired theology professor at Fuller Theological
Seminary in California.
The joint letter, signed by Portage minister Rylaarsdam and Kalamazoo
ministers Rev. Robert Arbogast of Comstock CRC, Rev. Gary Stevens of Heritage
CRC, Rev. Mark Scheffers of Immanuel CRC, Rev. Robert Boersma of Parchment
CRC, Rev. Ronald Vanderwell of Southern Heights CRC, Rev. Kenneth Baker of
Third CRC, and Revs. Mark Van't Hof and Steven Van Heest of Westwood CRC,
failed to accomplish its desired objective.
"I'm keenly disappointed in the decision of the board because I personally
believe they acted in an unbiblical manner with a fellow member of the body
of Christ," said Rylaarsdam. "Even though we may disagree with him we should
not summarily dismiss him. He was willing to abide by the decision,
nevertheless, they decided not to renew his contract."
The school superintendent concurred that to the best of his knowledge Bergman
has never taught his views in class. A commitment not to teach his views
about homosexual relationships on school time wasn't enough for the board,
however, which has a contractual requirement that teachers must "model
biblical faithfulness and an exemplary Christian walk in speech and acts,
within and outside the school."
Hekman noted that neither the board nor administration had any problem with
Bergman's teaching competence. "Don has asked for a recommendation, and the
high school principal has been happy to provide that recommendation," said
Hekman. "Don obviously has many gifts and we hope he will find a place he can
freely serve the Lord with those gifts."
Rylaarsdam said Bergman has consulted an attorney, but Bergman's future
plans are unclear.
What's next for the Kalamazoo Christian school system? "I guess my hope is
that the board decision will affirm our commitment to the biblical integrity
of the Kalamazoo Christian school," said Hekman. "I hope that we have modeled
a biblical way to disagree among brothers in the faith. That's a really
difficult thing to do, manage conflict and keep that on a high principled
plane. As much as that's possible, I think [the high school and association]
boards have modeled that."
Complete Text of the Pastoral Letter to Kalamazoo Christian High School
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We write you because you will be considering an appeal by Mr. Donald L.
Bergman to the recommendation of the Kalamazoo Christian High School Board
not to extend a contract to Mr. Bergman for the 1997-98 academic year. As
pastors who care for and are committed to the Kalamazoo Christian Schools,
and who also serve a segment of the Christian community which shares that
care and commitment, we feel led to raise several concerns that we ask you to
consider as you assess Mr. Bergman's appeal. Although we cannot possibly
know all the facets of this case that you must weigh in your deliberations,
our reading of the board's decision and its grounds causes us to be concerned
that this action, in spite of the board's intentions to the contrary, has the
appearance of being uncharitable, unjust, and unnecessary.
Uncharitable because the issue of homosexuality in his own family has made
such a personal and powerful impact on Mr. Bergman. Naturally this has led
him to engage in an ongoing, conscientious wrestling with Scripture and the
position of his church (Christian Reformed Church of North America).
Considering the intensity and relatively short duration of Mr. Bergman's
personal involvement with this issue, we fear that his release from the high
school after nearly three decades of excellent service will unwittingly
undermine our shared desire to surround suffering persons [i.e. persons
suffering with sexual disorder; in this case a father and fellow-believer
coping with the reality of such disorder in his son] with a compassionate
community' ("Our World Belongs to God", par 47).
Unjust because the decision not to renew Mr. Bergman's contract does not
appear to stem from any violation of his contract or of the addendum attached
to it. In fact, the timing of this decision makes us fear the appearance for
our community that the decision was a response to media attention which was
no fault of Mr. Bergman. Furthermore, although the addendum may well have
been applied with Mr. Bergman's consent and with the purest of motives, it
seems unfair to have set Mr. Bergman apart from the rest of the staff by
stipulating guidelines or conditions which, in effect, would hold for all
staff members.
Unnecessary because we believe that there are other measures which the board
could consider to provide assurance to our community that Kalamazoo Christian
Schools continue to adhere to and are committed to Biblical teaching. For
example, a clear communication of the school's biblical position on the issue
of homosexuality, a public affirmation of the entire staff's commitment to
honor that position inside and outside of the classroom, plus a statement of
the school's guidelines in providing counsel to students who are struggling
with questions of sexual orientation, would restore or bolster the community
trust which our schools have enjoyed for so long.
As friends and supporters of Christian education, and as pastors familiar
with the handling of delicate ethical issues, we want to assure you that we
understand and appreciate the board's struggle with a difficult, complex
issue and we truly honor the desire to maintain a faithful course for the
school. Our intention in addressing these concerns to you is not to take
sides, nor to question the integrity of the board, nor to offer quick and
easy solutions from the sidelines, but rather to press and invite you as
co-leaders in our Christian community to prayerfully reconsider the board's
decision in the light of our observations to see whether the Lord may be
leading us in a different direction in bringing resolution to this stressful
and awkward situation. Regardless of that resolution and your determination
of God's will, we pledge to continue praying that through this process He
will bring glory to Himself and shalom to our community. Finally, please
know that we stand ready to assist you in whatever way we can.
As this process proceeds, we respectfully request that this letter be
forwarded to the appropriate body for consideration.
Respectfully yours,
Robert Arbogast
Kenneth Baker
Bob Boersma
Neal Rylaarsdam
Mark Scheffers
Gary Stevens
Steve Van Heest
Mark Van't Hof
Ron Vanderwell
January 30, 1997
Cross-References to Related Articles:
#1995-100: Grand Rapids East Attempts Compromise on Question of How to
Minister to Christian Reformed Gays
#1995-101: Text of Classis Grand Rapids East Study Committee Report on
Ministry with Persons who are Homosexual
#1995-113: Calvin Seminary Professors Urge Classis Grand Rapids East to
Affirm CRC Synod's Ruling that Homosexual Practice is Sin
#1995-114: Text of Calvin Seminary Faculty Letter on Homosexuality
#1996-010: Classis Grand Rapids East Follows Calvin Seminary Faculty Urgings;
Reaffirms 1973 CRC Position on Homosexuality
#1996-081: Tempers Flare as Christian Reformed Synod Appoints Committee to
Restudy Homosexuality
#1996-122: Calvin Theological Seminary Terminates Pro-Gay Professor
#1997-030: Calvin College Chimes Runs Four-Page Homosexuality Insert; Gay
Alumni Group Denied Ad Space in Alumni Magazine
Contact List:
Mr. Larry Baker, Principal, Kalamazoo Christian High School
2112 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49007
O: (616) 381-2250
Mr. Don Bergman, Teacher, Kalamazoo Christian High School
234 Stuart, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
O: (616) 381-2250 * H: (616) 381-6975
Dr. David Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North
America
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560
O: (616) 246-0744 * H: (616) 243-2418 * FAX: (616) 246-0834 * E-Mail:
engelhad@crcna.org
Dr. Bruce Hekman, Superintendent, Kalamazoo Christian School Association
2112 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49007
O: (616) 381-2044 * FAX: (616) 381-2406
Dr. Melvin D. Hugen, Chairman, CRC Homosexuality Study Committee
3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387
O: (616) 957-6025 * H: (616) 942-0001 * FAX: (616) 957-8621
Rev. Neal Rylaarsdam, Pastor, Lexington Green Christian Reformed Church of
Portage
3752 Black Creek Dr., Hudsonville, MI 49426
O: (616) 327-4206 * H: (616) 669-9876 * FAX: (616) 327-0128 * E-Mail:
REV123@aol.com
[Local Portage home number available upon request to news media]
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