RECONCILINGWORKS LUTHERANS FOR FULL PARTICIPATION

SINCE 1983, THE RECONCILING IN CHRIST (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. THE RIC PROGRAM IS MADE UP OF CONGREGATIONS, SYNODS, COLLEGES, SEMINARIES, OUTDOOR MINISTRIES, AND OTHER LUTHERAN ORGANIZATIONS. EVERY MINISTRY SETTING BEGINS THIS JOURNEY FROM ITS OWN UNIQUE CONTEXT AND RECONCILINGWORKS IS HERE TO HELP CREATE AN AUTHENTIC WELCOME JOURNEY THAT IS CUSTOMIZED TO EACH COMMUNITY. RIC PARTNER PUBLIC COMMITMENTS: 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. TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A RECONCILING IN CHRIST (RIC) PARTNER, A FAITH COMMUNITY WILL: 1. CLEARLY STATE A WELCOME TO PEOPLE OF "ALL SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, GENDER IDENTITIES, AND GENDER EXPRESSIONS- OR "LGBTQIA+- AND NAME ITS COMMITMENT TO "RACIAL EQUITY- OR "ANTI-RACISM" IN ITS WELCOME STATEMENT. IF A FAITH COMMUNITY HAS ITS OWN STATEMENT OF RACIAL EQUITY OR COMMITMENT TO ANTI-RACISM, BE IT IN PUBLIC COMMUNITY DOCUMENTS OR SOCIAL STATEMENTS, POLITIES SUCH AS BY-LAWS OR CONSTITUTIONS, OR IN ITS MISSION, VISION, OR VALUE STATEMENTS, THIS CAN ALSO SATISFY THIS RIC PARTNER COMMITMENT, AND A COPY OF THIS ADDITIONAL STATEMENT WILL NEED TO BE SHARED WITH RECONCILINGWORKS. 2. BE OPEN TO CALLING AN LGBTQIA+ AND BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS, PERSON OF COLOR (BIPOC) ROSTERED LEADER. A ROSTERED LEADER IS ANY CLERGY/PASTOR OR DEACON IN THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA (ELCA); THIS COMMITMENT EXTENDS TO ALL AREAS OF LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE LIFE OF YOUR COMMUNITY. 3. ALLOW SANCTUARY/COMMUNITY SPACE/ TO BE USED FOR LGBTQIA+ WEDDINGS AND BLESSINGS. 4. MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL RIC PROGRAM. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 1140 RECONCILING IN CHRIST PARTNER. THIS WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, RECONCILINGWORKS AMBASSADORS, VOLUNTEERS, THREE AND A HALF STAFF.