Reconciling in Christ
Welcoming Statement
Welcome!
Immanuel Lutheran Church is committed to seeing Christ in everyone. We are rooted and united in Christ. We grow by acknowledging and embracing our differences. We celebrate our human family’s diversity of sexuality, gender identity, marital status, race, ethnicity, age, faith story, economic status, physical and mental ability, education, and the many other identities that make our community beautiful.
All people are invited to grow with us toward greater love, understanding, and mutual respect – seeing Christ in everyone.
As a Reconciling in Christ Congregation we are committed to
1) Clear welcome statement for people of all sexual and gender orientations and racial equity.
2) Open to calling a rostered leader who is LGBTQIA+ and/or a person of color.
3) Allow sanctuary and community space to be used for LGBTQIA+ weddings and blessings.
4) Make a financial contribution to the national RIC program.
Adopted January 29, 2023
We embrace "Seeing Christ in Everyone"
Immanuel Lutheran Church is on a journey of grace-filled conversation, study, and prayer to specifically welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. We started in 2019.
Why should we single out LGBTQIA+ People?
Many LGBTQIA+ people have learned by experience that they are not truly welcome in church, even in churches that state, “All are welcome here!” A general statement of welcome is often heard as meaning “everybody but me,” so it can take a special effort to communicate an authentic welcome to LGBTQIA+ people. The RIC program seeks to make known places where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions are truly welcomed.
Team Members
Susannah Murphy, Jean Larson, Loni Nielson-Kattell, Kevin Papp, Linda Redfern, Pastor Molly Sasser-Goehner
Immanuel Bible Studies
Lutherans Talk about....
In just the past 20 years, the culture has changed in perspective, practices, laws and language in how we live together as people of varying sexual orientations and gender identities. You may view these changes as welcome and wonderful, confusing or even alarming. This 3-part educational series studied scripture, Lutheran interpretation, and cultural practices regarding marriage, ordination, and welcoming and including people of varying sexual orientations and gender identities in the church. October 2021.
Learn More and View Recordings of Sessions
Reconciling in Christ Education
The Reconciling in Christ Team offered four sessions including information, stories, and conversation to help Immanuel friends understand how and why we are working towards an all-inclusive and particular welcome to church for LGBTQIAplus siblings in Christ, and for other groups who have not always felt welcome in worship. October 2022
Learn More and View Recordings of sessions
Resource Links
Clunky Questions
In our work, we often hear people with good intentions feel they aren’t able to ask questions about what it means to be LGBTQ because they are afraid of offending someone or they don’t have the right words with which to ask. If this sounds familiar, or if your faith community is interested in how to better support LGBTQ Lutherans, then the “Clunky Questions” series is for you.
Lutheran Introduction to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Gender Expression
Since 1974, ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation has advocated for the full welcome, inclusion, and equity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual/aromantic (LGBTQIA+) Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community. The Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Program of ReconcilingWorks is for congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, and other Lutheran organizations that publicly welcome LGBTQIA+ people.
An Ally’s guide to Terminology
What words are most supportive to describe LGBTQIA + people and relationships? How to I speak without malice about those whose opinions differ from my own? What do the words and terms mean?
ELCA Social Statement on Human Sexuality
The statement provides guidance on key matters, such as marriage, family, same-gender relationships, protection of children and youth, sexuality and the self, sexual intimacy and cohabitation. This social statement was adopted by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
2009 ELCA video
Here is a 15-minute video produced by ELCA member (Vally of Christ, Frenchtown) Jon Aaseng on the church’s 2009 decision to welcome LGBTQIA+ people with full and open hearts. Montana Synod pastors are interviewed, including John Lund, Jean Larson, Carl Rohr, and former bishop Jessica Crist. It’s a fine overview of how and why the ELCA has come to our current commitment of welcome.
Reconciling Scripture for Lutherans – On Sexuality and Gender Identity
A short commentary on eight of the so-called “clobber passages” used to exclude LGBTQIA+ people from the body of Christ, alongside eight Bible passages that offer inclusive and expansive understandings of the nature of God’s welcome. Book for purchase. You may request a copy from Pastor Molly.
Youth and Family
Resources on how to can best serve the young LGTBQIA+ youth and their families in your ministry setting? Did you know that the average lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual person comes out at the age of 16? This means that there is a high chance that we will have an LGBTQIA+ youth in our congregation.