A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
What
is a Reconciling in Christ Congregation?
Begun in 1983, Reconciling in Christ (RIC) is a program for
Lutheran communities of faith to answer the inclusive call of the Gospel by
welcoming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Currently there are over 500 Lutheran congregations, campus ministries,
and synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on the RIC
roster.
How
did we become a Reconciling in Christ Congregation?
St. Peter’s began with Bible Study, using the resource
“Journeying Faithfully Together, which helped us explore the scriptural
dimensions of what Christ calls the faithful to. The resource was in response to the national church’s
question of how we understand ourselves as sexual beings, and the ethics of
living out our sexuality, among other topics.
We continued the conversation for several years, until we
reached a consensus – this is how we will respond in love to Christ’s
message to love and to serve.
St. Peter’s was formally recognized as a Reconciling in Christ Congregation in January, 2011.
The RIC Program doesn't seek special treatment for LGBT people. The reality is, however, that we live in a time where the voices of fear and misunderstanding often dominate the public discussion about sexuality. Tragically, these fearful voices are often all that are heard—and are sometimes taken to be definitive of what it means to be Christian. In fact, Lutherans Concerned continues to learn of Lutheran churches that shun LGBT people. Sometimes, even parents and other family of LGBT people are vilified.
As a result, it is assumed by many LGBT people that they are not welcome in any church unless told otherwise. Since even a general statement of welcome is heard as really meaning "everybody but me," it takes a special effort to communicate that a congregation is sincere in its welcome. The RIC Program seeks to make clearer the policy of congregations, synods, and other organizations where all people are welcome as fully participating members, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or that of their children, siblings, and friends.
The Affirmation of Welcome is central to the RIC program. It is simple, yet powerful in its witness. Any Lutheran group that adopts a statement that includes the naming of LGBT people as welcome to full participation is eligible to be designated as Reconciling in Christ after review by Lutherans Concerned. Making the Affirmation promotes a publicly inclusive ministry and helps heal the pain of doubt.
This
is the statement adopted by St. Peter’s:
As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in 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 and female" (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this reconciliation extends to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Because gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons and their families 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:
What
is Reconciling in Christ Sunday?
Annually, the last Sunday in January is designated by the ecumenical welcoming community as Welcoming Sunday. On this day, worshippers are encouraged to join other welcoming congregations from various denominations in celebrating the witness to God's love for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Why
do we solemnize same sex weddings?
For the same reason we celebrate heterosexual weddings! We understand love and the joy of being with one other person for life as a gift from God, to be celebrated and affirmed by our faith community.
We call all marriages sacred and holy; while we celebrate New York State
making marriage legal for all, we recognize adults’ rights to a loving
relationship that is supported and uplifted by the church community. (Please
read more about weddings on the weddings page)
How
will having gay members in our church affect our children?
Some people may still equate homosexuality with sexual abuse of children. Pedophilia is a sickness that occurs in persons of all sexual orientations. The vast majority of sexual abusers of children are heterosexual.
Sexual orientation is determined very early in one’s childhood, if not at birth. Just as a lesbian adult knows that having heterosexual parents and teachers throughout her formative years did not changer her sexual orientation, so we realize that having a gay teacher or bisexual adult friend will not alter a child’s sexual orientation.
At St. Peter’s we have found that the presence of openly gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender adults and youth is a blessing as prejudices and
preconceived notions disappear in the interactions of people engaged in common
mission – doing the work of Jesus Christ in the world.
**This
information was adapted from the Reconciling in Christ website (lc/na.org) and
the Reconciling Ministries Network of the Methodist Church**
The Lutherans Concerned website -