Reconciling in Christ
On Sunday, April 6, Our Saviour's overwhelmingly affirmed becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation. We have submitted our paper work to be recognized as a Reconciling in Christ congregation in our ELCA.
Welcome.
Your presence builds up the body of Christ. We welcome and affirm God’s diversity, including all ethnicities, cultures, races, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, abilities, ages, and life experiences. You are invited to full participation in our congregation because of who you are. We lament and confess how the Christian Church has withheld Christ’s love by misusing the power of institution. We commit to advocating for God’s justice and mercy for all of creation, including humans. We commit to anti-racism and other ways of ending systems that cause harm. Christ is our peace and breaks down the walls that divide us (Ephesians 2:14).
Our communion table is Christ’s table. You and all people are welcome without exception.
Since 1983, the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Program in the ELCA 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. This program was created because throughout history, many Christian spaces and communities have been closed or unwelcoming to lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer-identifying people. In more recent years, the RIC program has expanded their focus to include commitments to being anti-racist and working for racial equity. Across the Lutheran church there are congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, outdoor ministries, and other Lutheran organizations that have become Reconciling in Christ. Across the country, over 1,100 Lutheran communities are Reconciling in Christ. In Tucson, there are three Reconciling in Christ congregations and several more, like ours, are exploring becoming RIC.
Learn more about Reconciling Works and the Reconciling in Christ network here.
How We Got Here
- For many years, Our Saviour's has been a welcoming congregation where diverse people, including LGBTQ people, felt comfortable and served in leadership roles in the congregation.
- Fall 2021, Our Saviour's led a call process for a new pastor, indicating that one of their goals for their congregation was expanding welcome to diverse communities, including LGBTQ people.
- Fall 2023, the Congregation Council approved a strategic plan that included "Expansive Welcome" as one of several areas of focus and indicated a desire to welcome people who had not felt welcome in church spaces because of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and other reasons.
- Spring 2024, the Congregation Council voted unanimously to begin the process of becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
- Summer 2024, a core team was formed to begin learning how to lead a congregation through the process of becoming Reconciling in Christ.
- Fall 2024, the RIC team led Sunday Forums and provided additional resources and opportunities to learn about why public welcome for LGBTQ+ and racially diverse people matters.
- Feb 2025, the congregation took a straw poll, with 90% indicating support for becoming Reconciling in Christ.
- March 2025, the Congregation Council called for a Special Meeting on April 6 to consider moving forward with becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
- April 6, 2025, the Congregation voted 99% in favor of becoming Reconciling in Christ.