Reconciling in Christ
"And Jesus said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach
the gospel to the whole creation." - Mark 16:15
RECONCILING IN CHRIST (RIC) is a program for Lutheran communities of
faith to answer the inclusive call of the gospel by welcoming gay and
lesbian believers.
In 1984 Lutherans Concerned/North America started the Reconciling in
Christ program to recognize Lutheran congregations which welcome lesbian
and gay believers. The Reconciled in Christ roster has grown at an
accelerated pace in recent years, since exceeding 100 Lutheran
congregations in the U.S. and Canada. The program has also expanded to
include 9 synods (ELCA) and other Lutheran organizations, such as the
Lutheran Student Movement - USA.
All people are welcome here. Why should we single out gay and lesbian
people? The Reconciling in Christ program doesn't seek special treatment
for gay or lesbian people. The reality is, however, that we live in a
time where the voices of fear and ignorance dominate the public
discussion on human sexuality issues in our society. Most often these
judgmental voices of irrational fear are all that is heard. In fact,
Lutherans Concerned continues to learn of Lutheran churches that shun
gay and lesbian people. Sometimes their parents and family are even
vilified and attacked by church members.
As a result, it is assumed by most gay and lesbian people that they are
not welcome in any church unless told otherwise. Even a general
statement of welcome is heard as really meaning "everybody but me." The
RIC program seeks to make clearer the policy of churches where all
people are welcome as full members, regardless of their sexual
orientation or their children's.
The
AFFIRMATION OF WELCOME
As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all
people of our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place.
Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to
reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be
agents of healing within our society.
We affirm with the Apostle Paul that in Christ "there is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor
female." (Galatians 3:28) Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this
reconciliation extends also to those whose sexual orientation is toward
a person of the same gender.
Because gay and lesbian persons are often scorned by society and
alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern.
It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:
- People of all sexual orientations share with all others the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God.
- People of all sexual orientations are welcome within the membership of this congregation upon making the same affirmation of faith that all other people make, and
- As members of this congregation, people of
all sexual orientations are expected to share in the sacramental and
general life of this congregation.