What does it mean being a Reconciled In Christ (RIC) congregation?

Holy Trinity's Mission Statement is "Loving God, Loving Neighbors". This was the image we used for our 75th anniversary a few years back.

This was written for our Ministry Moment from Mandi Stiles on Holy Trinity Sunday, June 15th

As some of you know, I was at Synod Assembly last month. During the bishop election process, the following question was asked to the final 3 candidates:

“Jesus calls us to a liberating love that lifts up voices that the world tries to silence. So as bishop, how will you lead our synod in living out justice as a gospel truth, ensuring that LGBTQIA+ people, people of color, people with disabilities, and those in under-resourced communities, are not just welcomed, but truly seen, heard, and empowered in every part of our church?” 

And our new bishop-elect, Rev. Emily Hartner, answered this question by talking about being pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Charlotte, which is the first church in the synod to become a Reconciling in Christ partner congregation in the 1990s. And then she ended her answer by bringing up the Theology of the Cross. For those of us who aren’t theology nerds, Theology of the Cross tells us that God is revealed not with worldly power and glory, but that God is fully revealed at the cross. Jesus went to the cross for all people. 

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Lutheran Campus Ministry also joined the Reconciling in Christ community around 15 years ago. 

So what is Reconciling in Christ? 

The Reconciling in Christ- or RIC- movement and ministry has existed since 1983 as a public way for faith communities to ensure the welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; and to work for racial equity and commit to anti-racist work in the Lutheran church. 

The RIC logo (which you can find on our website's home page), which was inspired by the Progressive Pride Flag design, also includes the colors blue, pink, and white to represent our transgender siblings, as well as a black and brown stripe, to represent the fullness 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.

The RIC values state: “We believe that God values and embraces each person as a beloved child, that the Spirit gives a diversity of gifts for the common good, and that Jesus Christ calls us to work for justice.” 

The vision of RIC is to keep expanding the welcome, liberating those who are forced to live in the margins. To keep dismantling barriers and build bridges. To keep working until all of God’s beloved have equity. 

It’s important to point out that the name Reconciling is an active verb.

It is not something that we did once in the past and move on.

It is active, holy work.

We have our newly renamed Racial & Social Justice ministry team, and next week you’ll hear more about our team of people who are putting together a full RIC worship service for June 29. If you have more questions or would like to be involved in our continuing work as an RIC partner, please reach out to me or any of the staff here at Holy Trinity. 

Holy Trinity’s mission statement is…. Loving God, Loving Neighbors

What does that “Loving Neighbors” part look like?

…it looks like seeing all of those who live in the margins and boldly proclaiming, “You are seen. You are so very much loved, by God and by us. And you belong.”