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“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free,
​there is no longer male and female; ​for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
​
Galatians 3:28
​ The Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Ministry Team has been working for over two years on studying ways we, as a congregation, can become more welcoming to all people and more specifically to the LGTBQ (lesbian, gay, trans, bisexual, and queer) community. We have learned a lot together and are continuing to move forward in guiding our congregation towards becoming an RIC congregation. From now until the end of the year, we will provide educational and discussion opportunities for the congregation. In January 2021 we hope to draft a welcoming statement and conduct a survey of the congregation about its acceptance. If it is widely approved, we will have a vote at the 2021 congregational meeting.
​And if passed, we will celebrate! 

Testimonials

​Pastor Adam Schulz, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Lexington, VA

Reconciling in Christ Ministry Team members
  • Janet Gomez
  • Pete Liljeberg
  • ​Betsy Liljeberg
  • Others coming soon.





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Timeline of Events

September 2018
    Congregation Council approved formation of the RIC        Ministry Team
October 2018
    Formed the RIC Ministry Team with interested
    individuals
November 2018
    RIC Ministry Team began work on Reconciling Works
    Toolkit, “Building an Inclusive Church”
January 2019
    RIC Ministry Team made a presentation about RIC at
    the Annual Congregational Meeting
February 2019
    RIC Ministry Team started “one-on-one” conversations
    with the congregation
April 2019
    RIC Ministry Team completed congregational
    assessment survey (result - St. Cautious)
July 2019
    Pastor Sandy Wisco, retired ELCA Pastor, made a
    presentation on RIC during fellowship hour
November 2019
    RIC Ministry Team attended RIC training in Baltimore,
    Maryland
January 2020
    (1) RIC Ministry Team members made a presentation
          at the Annual Congregational Meeting;
    (2) added RIC prayers to prayers of intercession once
          a month
March-September 2020
    COVID-19 - RIC Ministry Team on hold
September 21, 2020
    RIC Ministry Team met with Aubrey Thonvold,
    Executive Director of Reconciling Works
October 7, 2020
    Congregation Council approved addition of a RIC
    webpage to Apostles website
November 29, 2020
    Discussion Group - “Consent in Building Community”
    (after 9:30 AM worship)
December 13, 2020
    Discussion Group - Clunky Question Panel Discussions
January 2, 2021
    RIC Welcome Statement drafted
January 15, 2021
    Draft Welcome Statement mailed to congregation
January 17, 2021
    Discussion Group - Clunky Question Panel Discussions

January 24, 2021
    Input requested from congregation on proposed
    Welcome Statement

January 31, 2021
    Present RIC Welcome Statement for congregational
    approval at Annual Congregation Meeting
April 26, 2021
    Reconciling in Christ Celebration
    (40th anniversary of the congregation)

May 2021 ongoing
    The Welcome Journey continues (it never stops!)
May 2021 ongoing
    
Ministry Teams envision ways to be welcoming
​    (agenda item on every ministry team meeting agenda)