Reconciling in Christ

The Reconciling in Christ (RIC) is a program of ReconcilingWorks that recognizes Lutheran communities that publicly welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender believers.

The RIC program doesn’t seek special treatment for lesbian gay bisexual transgender (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. Unfortunately, these voices are sometimes taken to be definitive of what it means to be Christian. Sometimes, even parents and other family of LGBT people are maligned. 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.

Through our Statement of Affirmation which is posted in the narthex, we wish to let it be known that all people are welcome as fully participating members, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or that of their children, siblings, and friends.

Salem’s Affirmation of Welcome

We at Salem believe that God’s grace is all-inclusive, and we wish to affirm that all God’s children are welcome here.

We believe that Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness in a world of alienation and brokenness. As disciples of Christ seeking justice and reconciliation between peoples, we at Salem welcome, without exception, all people regardless of sex, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical-mental ability or disability, age or station in life. We recognize that each person is a unique creation of God and by the grace of God is called a “Child of God.”

All are welcome at Salem: to worship God, receive the sacraments and share in the fellowship and service. As disciples, we commit ourselves to exercise our faith, treasuring one another’s similarities and accepting our differences in the spirit of love and good will as we continue to discover what it means to be “Reconciling in Christ.”

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation”
2 Corinthians 5:18