What is RIC?

Begun in 1983, Reconciling in Christ (RIC) is a program for Lutheran communities of faith to answer the inclusive call of the Gospel by welcoming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Currently, there are over 400 settings of the Lutheran church on the RIC roster, including congregations, campus ministries, synods of the ELCA and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, one camp, other independent organizations, and colleges of the ELCA. Our Savior’s Lutheran is currently the only RIC congregation in our La Crosse Area Synod.

Each year, the last Sunday in January is designated as RIC Sunday, a day that welcoming congregations celebrate what it means to live a theology of reconciliation. RIC Sunday at Our Savior’s is celebrated with members’ personal stories of what being “Reconciled in Christ” means to them. This year OSLC member Scott Swedeen shared his message:

“Reconciled in Christ” reminds us of Jesus’ Gospel message for all on the margins of society. It is a radical message about the worth and dignity of all. I feel that if we are to truly embody reconciliation in Christ, we must see that it is our faith in Christ that matters in God’s eyes—not our race, gender, class, disability, or sexuality. It means that we are all supposed to be here, because we are all reconciled by, with, and in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Read all of Scott’s message)

RIC Leadership Trainings are held several times each year to help folks from RIC or prospective RIC congregations learn how to work with church members to discern if a congregation wishes to “come out of the closet” about welcoming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Please refer to the LC/NA website you are interested in attending. Additional information about the RIC program, including a complete listing of RIC settings and resources for personal and congregational use, are available on-line at the Lutherans Concerned/North America website.