Inclusive church

Reconciling in Christ

In October 2018, by a nearly unanimous vote, Mount Olive became a Reconciling in Christ congregation.

01 Our journey

What does it mean to be a welcoming congregation?

Especially to people in the LGBTQ community — that was the question we set out to answer together.

Summer 2017
The Inclusive Church Taskforce hosted a series of brunches at the church to build community and focus us toward what it means not just to be welcoming in general, but to intentionally welcome people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
2017–2018
Throughout the program year, the Taskforce led us deeper into this work through education, relationship building, and discernment.
May 2018
The Taskforce presented a draft welcome statement and received over 150 replies to its survey, then worked with the church council on a timeline, strategy and goals.
October 2018
A nearly unanimous decision finalized the Welcome Statement, and we became a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation. We were overjoyed at having taken this step, and we are living it out in our life together.

RIC is a designation for Lutheran communities that publicly welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
ReconcilingWorks

Thank you to all who participated in the process, especially to the members of the Inclusive Church Taskforce.