For the past two years our congregation has been listening, learning, asking and wondering what we mean when we say “Everyone is welcome here.”  We heard from our beloved youth as they shared their experiences in the LGBTQIA+ community at the high school and around town; our beloved siblings shared about their family, friends, neighbors and coworkers; we have explored and learned how our culture uses pronouns, talks about gender, and more.  Together we crafted, revised, and ultimately approved an official Welcome Statement that proudly proclaims:

We are a community of people sharing God’s love through Christ and growing together in faith.

We are delighted to report that our good work has been recognized: we have been named a Partner Congregation in the Reconciling in Christ Program, a “holy ministry of welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy."

The purpose of the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Program is to ensure the welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; work for racial equity and commit to anti-racist work and support the national program. Since 1983, the RIC program has been a public way for faith communities to see, name, celebrate, and advocate for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions in the Lutheran church. 

As a result of this recognition our congregation is now listed in a searchable national map, which provides people in the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies the ability to search for a faith community in their area. This inclusion in the directory is an important way for us to extend welcome and invitation to the people we have specifically named in our Welcome Statement.

The RIC program notes something we’ve already experienced during the “Deepening our Welcome” process:

Many RIC partners report the demographic most often drawn in by the RIC status is young couples with children. These folks are seeking communities prepared to help them raise their children in ways consistent with their values. They want their children to grow up surrounded by diversity and to know their families will never have to question if their children will be welcome as they grow and learn more about who they are.

Together we will name and celebrate this milestone in the life of our vibrant, loving, welcoming congregation during worship on February 4, with cake and celebration during the Formation Hour (9:20am).  Please be sure to join us for this important step in the life of our congregation.

Thanks be to God for the plentiful gifts of hospitality and welcome so generously given to our beloved congregation!