Our Journey to Reconciling in Christ (RIC)
At Mount Calvary, we are committed to creating a community where all people, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community, are welcomed and affirmed. In June 2022, our church council proudly began celebrating Pride Sunday, continuing this tradition annually. This decision follows our 2013 approval of same-sex weddings and is part of our ongoing commitment to inclusivity.
We are now on the path to becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation in partnership with ReconcilingWorks. This process is rooted in prayer, open dialogue, and active listening, ensuring every voice is heard. Our goal is to offer true hospitality, grace, and love to all people, striving to be a place of refuge and acceptance in a divided world. At Mount Calvary, everyone is truly welcome.
Fostering Love, Building Bridges, and Affirming All.
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Becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Congregation
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church is excited to share that we are in the initial stages of becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation. RIC is a program for Lutheran communities that publicly welcome people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
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What Does This Mean for Us?
We have formed a small, dedicated group to engage in meaningful conversations about what it means to be an RIC congregation. This process involves intentional dialogue, education, and reflection on how we can create a more inclusive and welcoming space for everyone in our community.
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How Can You Get Involved?
Your input is valuable in this journey. If you're interested in participating in these conversations or have insights to share, please reach out to us at RIC@mtcalvary.com. We believe that everyone's voice is important as we work towards fostering an environment of love, acceptance, and understanding.
RIC Team Members
Jeremy Bierlein
Rebecca Gierok
Brian Hornbecker
Jean Taylor
Draft Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Welcoming Statement
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.
Updates & Events
Stay tuned for updates on our progress, events, and opportunities to engage with this important initiative. Together, let's continue to build a community where everyone is embraced for who they are.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us!
Email Newsletter
Mount Calvary sends out a weekly email highlighting the upcoming events and ways to stay involved. In addition, we’ll send a couple extra emails every month to stay informed about the big congregation-wide events and opportunities.
