Reconciling in Christ (RIC): LGBTQIA+

Atonement Lutheran is thrilled to partner with ReconcilingWorks!

What is RIC?
The RIC Program is “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.” RIC’s Reconciling Works program is distinctly Lutheran but also includes an
ecumenical Coalition Leaders Group of 15 mainline protestant churches. (reconcilingworks.org)

Why is RIC Important?
First and most importantly – because God calls us to radical inclusivity and love. God has named and claimed us all as beloved (1 John 3:1a; 1 John 4:8-12).
The Holy Spirit gives a diversity of gifts for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:4-13). Jesus Christ calls us to work for justice in the world (Luke 4:16-21).

A Practical Sign for the LGBTQIA+ Community
Although our vision and welcome statements are aligned with the embodiment of God’s radically inclusive love in Jesus Christ, we recognize that many LGBTQIA+ people have learned by experience that they are not truly welcome in church, even in churches which state, ‘All are welcome here!’ Thus, it can take special effort to communicate an authentic welcome to LGBTQIA+ people and many people will recognize the RIC logo.