CRCNA Dignity Team

Respect for the dignity of each person, as equally created and called by God to contribute to the life of the church, is one of the core stated values of the CRCNA. When incidents happen that erode, infringe upon, or violate this dignity, there needs to be a place to go for help to address the wrong done and to restore respectful relationships.

This is the function of the CRCNA Dignity Team. The Dignity Team works with those who feel they have been victimized by abuses of power in the CRCNA to offer direction and support. This is done by listening empathetically, praying with and for those who reach out to them, providing clarity and direction, and identifying resources and processes available toward the goal of healing and reconciliation.

If you would like the support of the Dignity Team, click the "Contact Us" button and fill in the google form. This form is kept completely confidential and is only seen by Dignity Team members. Once you fill out the form, a member of the Dignity Team will contact you about next steps and a potential timeline.

Access the Dignity Team

Committee Members

Established in 2022, the Dignity Team responds to less tangible and less clearly defined abuses of power that occur within CRC circles, but may fall between or outside the scopes of the systems addressed elsewhere in the CRCNA’s system to prevent the abuse of power. The Dignity Team of the CRCNA is made up of four members from across North America.

The current members are:

Sherry Fakkema

Sherry is a retired teacher, school administrator, and public school superintendent. She is a member of Anacortes Christian Reformed Church in Washington state. She has served and continues to serve in various classical and denominational roles, including on the Council of Delegates and as Classis Safe Church Coordinator for Classis Pacific Northwest. She was a member of the 2019 Addressing Abuse of Power committee and the 2021 Ad Hoc committee on Abuse of Power. She has had training in mediation. Sherry has been married for 61 years and loves music, flowers, road trips, and her family.

Carel Geleynse

Rev. Carel Geleynse is a retired CRC pastor who served five congregations throughout Canada. During his years of ministry, Carel has gained insight into Safe Church matters. He has served on two different classical Safe Church teams and was a member of the 2018 Abuse of Power Taskforce. Carel has also served on various denominational boards including co-chair of the New Mission Agency board which led to the birth of Resonate Global Mission. Carel and his wife, Irene, have four children and two grandchildren, and are members of Community CRC in Kitchener, Ontario.

Lee Hollaar

Lee is a retired American-Canadian educator who taught in Christian schools in both countries and served a number of years as a principal. At his retirement nearly twenty years ago, Lee served as director of the Society of Christian Schools of British Columbia. While in that position he was involved in shaping conflict resolution mechanisms and developing and promoting procedural fairness practices for schools. He holds a MACS from Calvin University and a PhD in the area of organizational leadership. Currently he is involved in a local restorative justice program that seeks to advance healing rather than retribution. Lee and Ilean, his partner of sixty years, have four children, twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren scattered around the globe. Lee has taught Christian worldview and leadership courses in a number of countries, having spent quite a bit of time in Africa and in the Ukraine. Having completed a number of terms in church councils, he has been asked to be involved in some conflictual church and community settings. He is one of the charter members of Hillside CRC in Abbotsford, BC.

Sheila Holmes

Rev. Sheila Holmes is the pastor of Northside Community CRC in Paterson, NJ. She has been trained in trauma resilience and is a trained disaster Chaplain for Bergen County in New Jersey, a previous member of the Red Cross, Ceasefire, and Chaplain for Paterson Police and Fire department. She has been an advocate for those in need and has a heart to walk alongside those who are struggling. She has been president of the CRCNA Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of Synod, and on many denominational study committees and search committees. Sheila is currently a member of the Council of Delegates, Stated Clerk of Classis Hackensack, and has a master's degree in mental health coaching.