|
Phil Holzman & Diane Ott-Hager
Staff Liaisons
e
|
All
Are Welcome Here! |
Gustavus
Adolphus Lutheran Church proclaims that the
Gospel is God’s gift to all people, to be shared
unconditionally. We rejoice in the manner in
which diversity has enriched, nurtured and challenged
the life and ministry we share in Christ. We
know that the world is often an unloving place
and that the experience of alienation is all
too common. Because Christ reconciles us, we
welcome people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds,
sexual orientations, gender identities, physical
and mental abilities, educational levels, and
socioeconomic backgrounds. We strive to be an
evermore welcoming community. Following the
example of Christ, we extend a most heartfelt
welcome to all. |
On Saturday, January 28, 2012 along with the Twin Cities chapter of Lutherans Concerned and the Twin Cities RIC Team
we were privileged to host the
7th annual Reconciling in Christ festival worship service.
It was a wonderful celebration. Thank you to all who participated!
On May 3, 2009 in a Special Congregational
Meeting Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church passed a
motion to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
To get some general
information about RIC, click here.
In preparation for the vote on May
3, GA offered several opportunities to become informed
and to discuss this issue. Click
here or see below for what we have offered.
Members of the RIC Task Force:
Gary/Sundra Arvidson (763-755-3987/no email)
Julie Bonde (612-789-7256, ext.
18 or julieb@gachurchmpls.org)
Scott Burns (763-568-7268 or scottdburns@comcast.net)
Janey Erickson (612-788-4922 or jerickson@rasmussensales.com)
Shirley Fors (612-781-3970 or shirleynav@aol.com)
Ali Holzman (320-304-4477 or alinicoleholzman@hotmail.com)
Phil Holzman (612-789-7256, ext.
17 or philh@gachurchmpls.org)
Julie O'Donnell (612-789-5190 or
julieodonnell@susselbuilders.com)
Diane Ott-Hager (612-789-7256, ext.
12 or dianeh@gachurchmpls.org)
Jennifer Parker (612-789-2968 or
jennifer.parker@district196.org)
Pr. Stefan Rickman (612-789-7256,
ext. 13 or pastorstefan@gachurchmpls.org)
In
preparation for the May 3 vote, Members were mailed
the following information. Please
read the Letter
sent to all Members and other information that
was mailed with it. All mailings are listed and can
be accessed below.
*Letter
sent to all Members-Page 1
*Letter
sent to all Members-Page 2
*Brief Timeline
of RIC Activities at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran
Church
*Results
of Spring 2008 Survey
*Sample
Ballot
*The
Decision about the Reconciling in Christ Program
*What
is the Reconciling in Christ Program?
More
information about RIC can be found at the bottom of
the Faith Formation
Page
What is the Reconciling in Christ Program?
In 1984 Lutherans Concerned / North America started
the Reconciling in Christ ("RIC") Program
to recognize Lutheran congregations that welcome lesbian
and gay believers. During the 2002 LC/NA Assembly,
members took action to include people of all sexual
orientations and gender identities in the RIC Program.
The Reconciling in Christ Roster now exceeds 300 settings,
including congregations, synods and organizations.
All people are welcome here. Why should we
single out lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
(LGBT) people?
The RIC Program doesn't seek special treatment for
LGBT people. The reality is, however, that we live
in a time where the voices of fear and ignorance dominate
the public discussion of human sexuality issues in
our society. Most often these judgmental voices of
irrational fear are all that is heard. In fact, Lutherans
Concerned continues to learn of Lutheran churches
that shun LGBT people. Sometimes their parents and
family are even vilified and attacked by church members.
As a result, it is assumed by most LGBT people that
they are not welcome in any church unless told otherwise.
Even a general statement of welcome is heard as really
meaning "everybody but me," so it takes
a special effort to communicate the same welcome.
The RIC Program seeks to make clearer the policy of
churches where all people are welcome as full members,
regardless of their sexual orientation, their gender
identity or that of their children, siblings or friends.
What is the Affirmation of Welcome?
The single element that is central to the program
is the Affirmation of Welcome. It is simple, yet powerful
in its witness. Any group that adopts it or a similar
statement which includes the naming of LGBT people
as welcome to full participation is eligible to be
designated as Reconciling in Christ after review by
Lutherans Concerned. Making the Affirmation promotes
a publicly inclusive ministry and helps heal the pain
of doubt.
How does a congregation become designated as RIC?
Most groups start the process of consideration by
engaging in a study program or series of educational
meetings. Hearing the experiences of LGBT people and
their families often creates greater understanding
and insights.
A congregation, synod or other organization joins
the program in one of several ways: by having its
council (or equivalent body) approve the "Affirmation
of Welcome" or by having a vote of the whole
congregation. Once the Affirmation is adopted, the
congregation, synod or organization sends a copy of
the Affirmation with a signed letter to the RIC Executive.
When the Affirmation is reviewed, the congregation,
synod or organization will be added to the roster
of RIC participants. This roster is carried on our
web site and is distributed appropriately as a witness
to the community and the church at large.
What happens now that we are participating?
What you do once the Affirmation is adopted is up
to your own congregation, synod or organization. Many
churches post their Affirmation or include it in their
bulletin. Others make an inclusive reference in their
advertising or include the RIC Program in their annual
budget. Once you adopt an Affirmation of Welcome,
take a look at "Your Church is RIC: Now What?"
a guide full of voluntary action steps for inclusive
ministry.
Experience shows that any changes in your church or
group will happen slowly, opening up individuals to
healing and deep spiritual reconciliation. Perhaps
parents with a gay son may finally be able to feel
they are not guilty of failure in raising their child.
Maybe a closeted lesbian member will bring her partner
to church for the first time. A bisexual or transgendered
person, hearing of your congregation, might return
to church after an absence of many years. It's amazing
how the Holy Spirit works when we are willing to be
an instrument of God's grace.
"All this is from God who reconciled us through Jesus Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:18
|
| |
FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO--DVD Documentary
FILM SYNOPSIS - For the Bible Tells Me So
Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?
Through the experiences of five very
normal, very Christian, very American families -- including
those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt
and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson -- we discover how
insightful people of faith handle the realization of
having a gay child.
Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond
Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg
and Reverend Jimmy Creech, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO
offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone
caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.
What’s the “buzz” from GA Church viewers?
So far, this film has been viewed by more than 30 members
and friends of GA Church. Here’s what a few GA Church
viewers have to say:
This may be the most valuable 90 minutes you’ve ever
spent in front of a TV screen. You need to watch this
film.
It is a very well done and thought-provoking movie. I rate it as a “must see.”
Thought-provoking! What does the Bible really say?
I want to learn more about Christianity and how I fit in.
We’ve had a wonderful response to the viewings of this movie so far. If you have not seen it yet, there are still more oportunities. See the listing below or in the Gazette or Sunday bulletin. If you have seen it before, join us again – and bring a friend who might not have seen it yet!
TESTIMONY TIME: A Positive Perspective on Homosexuality presented by Bishop Emeritus Lowell O. Erdahl --DVD Documentary
Film Synopsis: This DVD presentation
is from a Sunday Church Forum, sponsored by the Hospitality
Plus Committee of Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Bishop
Erdahl tells about his personal journey learning about
sexual orientation and how his mind changed as his understanding
of homosexuality grew. Erdahl's meeting and learning
from gay and lesbian people, his study of biblical texts,
countless books and new scientific evidence makes for
an excellent educational DVD viewing and discussion
opportunity.
Lowell O. Erdahl is Bishop emeritus of the Saint Paul
Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA). In addition to 12 years as a bishop, Erdahl
served for 20 years as a parish pastor and spent 5 years
on the faculty of Luther Seminary. Erdahl is a graduate
of Saint Olaf College, Luther Seminary, and Union Theological
Seminary. Following retirement as Bishop, Pastor Erdahl
served for 19 months as the Interim Senior Pastor at
Gethsemane.
GALATIANS BIBLE STUDY
Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor: Lutherans Talk
about Human Sexuality
(see other side of sheet for more about this study)
This 10-session scripture study is designed to compliment
the ELCA’s Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality,
and Report and Recommendations on Ministry Standards.
The participant will be introduced to the first century
context in which Paul wrote his letter to the churches
in Galatia, why Luther loved this little book so much
(he endearingly named Galatians his “little Katie” after
his wife), and how the wisdom of scripture and our faith
tradition can help us to reflect on the complexities
of life in the 21st century.
|
|
|