How to Become Reconciling in Christ (RIC)
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 you create an authentic welcome journey that is customized to your 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, your faith community will:
- 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.
- Anything in bold and quotations above must be included in your RIC Partner Welcome Statement to meet ReconcilingWorks commitments.
- If your 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.
- 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.
- Allow sanctuary/community space/ to be used for LGBTQIA+ weddings and blessings.
- If your faith community is looking for resources for wedding or blessing services to be more inclusive, see the ELCA’s Marriage Resource or ReconcilingWorks Worship, Liturgy, & Scripture material.
- Make a meaningful contribution annually to support the national RIC program.
- A meaningful contribution is determined by your faith community, its budget, and the understanding that your generosity funds the RIC Program. Meaningful contributions vary for each RIC partner.
For clarity and support around these expanded commitments, please contact ReconcilingWorks staff.
Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Journey Resources
Below you will find resources to accompany your faith community as it discerns its journey to becoming Reconciling in Christ (RIC)! Begin at "Building the Foundation" by watching the workshop video followed by the Faith Community Assessment Survey to outline an understanding of the work ahead, and the pace best suited for your unique community.
Building the Foundation
Building the Foundation is key to having a well-planned and successful RIC Journey! These first steps and tools are here to help you learn more about your community, treat all folks engaging in this work as beloved children of God, and frame this work in a way that is exciting and engaging for folks.
BIC Toolkit Steps and Tools:
- Tools 1-4
- Steps 1-4
Resources to Support Building the Foundation:
- "Becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Community" Video Workshop
- Faith Community Assessment Survey
- Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Toolkit
- Reconciling in Christ Frequently Asked Questions
- "We're Already Welcoming, Why Do We Need to Say So?"
- Resources for Candidacy Committees in Supporting LGBTQIA+ Leaders
- Clunky Questions, Season Two: LGBTQ Lutheran Pastors
- Living the Journey - RIC Video Vignettes
Living the Journey
While Living the Journey, your ministry setting will be taking the information gathered during "Building the Foundation" and using that data to create educational forums, panels, and studies of scriptural engagement that best meet the unique needs of your faith community so that all of your folks feel seen, heard, and cared for.
BIC Toolkit Steps and Tools
- Tools 5-6
- Steps 5-9
Resources to Support Living the Journey:
- Lutheran Introduction to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Gender Expression
- An Ally's Guide to Terminology
- Reconciling Scripture for Lutherans: On Sexuality & Gender Identity
- Sample Welcome Statements
- Guide to Welcome LGBTQIA+ Youth & Their Families
- Clunky Questions, Season One: LGBTQ Lutherans
- "One Body Many Members"
- "Becoming the Body of Christ: Condemning White Supremacy"
- "Troubling the Waters for Healing of the Church"
- "Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture"
- ELCA Social Message on Gender-based Violence
- ELCA Disability Ministries
- RIC Profile Survey
- Request RIC Logos
Setting RIC Milestones
We use the language of "Journey" when referring to the RIC Program, because this holy work is more than just a check list of steps to make your way to becoming RIC; it is the understanding that there are always new ways we can be deepening and expanding this work to meet the diverse and intersectional experience of the LGBTQIA+ community.
BIC Toolkit Steps and Tools
- Steps 10-11+
Resources to Support Setting RIC Milestones:
About the Reconciling in Christ Logo
ReconcilingWorks believes representation matters. So we are excited to have a NEW Reconciling in Christ (RIC) logo! Inspired by the Progressive Pride Flag design, these updates to the RIC logo include the colors blue, pink, and white to represent our transgender siblings, as well as a black and brown stripe, to represent the fullness of our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Community brings to the queer community. This logo is used by RIC Partners to better communicate their commitment to the work of welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy of God's Beloveds. To receive access to the updated RIC partner logo, reach out to ReconcilingWorks at Info@ReconcilingWorks.org
