Preparing to Vote on Becoming an RIC Congregation

At Mount Calvary, we’re thrilled to be moving forward in our journey to become a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation. As part of this process, we’re preparing for an important vote at our January congregational meeting—a step that reflects our shared commitment to fostering a church that welcomes and celebrates everyone.

So, what does it mean to be an RIC congregation? The Reconciling in Christ program is a way for Lutheran communities to publicly welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. It’s about embracing the full diversity of God’s people and ensuring everyone feels at home in our church.

Over the past months, we’ve engaged in conversations and learning opportunities to deepen our understanding of what it means to live out this commitment. We’ve also worked together to craft a draft welcoming statement that reflects our values and vision as a community of faith:

We, the community of Mount Calvary, believe God’s love is a gift to be shared unconditionally.

We commit to welcoming people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions, races and cultures, ethnicities and national origins, physical and mental abilities, family configurations, and socio-economic status.

We believe that every person is beautifully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Psalms 139:14) and that God brings us together in our wide diversity to love and serve one another (1 Corinthians 12:13).

We celebrate all of whom God created each of us to be. We work to build a community where all are accepted, known, treated with respect, and are challenged to grow.

We welcome each person in their entirety.

We believe that God is about healing and reconciliation; putting lives and the world back together where there is fear, hate and brokenness (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

We commit to listening and learning where there has been exclusion, inequity, and discrimination in the church and in society. We ask forgiveness for the times we fail to love as God loves us.

We commit to the work of racial equity and economic justice, and we stand with those advocating for human dignity for all God’s children.

We love all, because God loves all.

You can learn more about the RIC program here.

Becoming an RIC congregation also comes with commitments, including creating a space that’s inclusive for all, working for racial equity, and supporting the national RIC program. This isn’t just a statement—it’s an active call to live out our faith through love, inclusion, and justice.

How Can You Get Involved?
Your voice is essential as we move forward. If you’d like to participate in the conversation, have questions, or simply want to share your perspective, please email us at RIC@mtcalvary.com.

We hope you’ll join us at the January meeting to cast your vote. Together, we’re building a community where everyone is known, valued, and loved—because God loves all.