Inclusivity

As Christ’s church, we value the richness of God’s creation and offer a radical welcome to all people, appreciating our common humanity and our differences. We view diversity as essential to who we are as the body of Christ. We recognize and will challenge dynamics of power and privilege that create barriers to participation and equity in this church and society – for women, people of color, minority ethnic groups, immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants, people with disabilities, people who are marginalized or living in poverty, and the LGBTQ community.

The Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Program is for congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, and other Lutheran organizations. Lutheran communities that publicly welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are accepted onto the Reconciling in Christ Roster which now exceeds 900 settings.

Messiah Lutheran Church voted overwhelmingly to become a Reconciling in Christ member congregation in 2014. The Reconciling in Christ designation is a public affirmation of one piece of our MLC Welcome Statement. 

The Reconciling in Christ program is a ministry of ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation. Since 1974, ReconcilingWorks has advocated for the full welcome, inclusion, and equity of LGBTQ Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community. 

Messiah Lutheran Church is “Verified Clear” in our inclusion of individuals of all gender expressions and sexual orientations in the life and leadership of our congregation. For more information, visit ChurchClarity.org.

Messiah is also a welcoming place for all migrants, refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers. We are an AMMPARO congregation. AMMPARO stands for the Accompaniment of Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, and Opportunities. Within our larger denomination body, it is rooted in the following commitments: to uphold and guarantee basic human rights and safety of migrant children and their families; to address the root causes of migration in countries from Central America’s Northern Triangle and Mexico and the treatment of migrants in transit; to work toward just and humane policies affecting migrants in and outside the U.S.; and to engage as a church body with all of its companions, affiliates and partners to respond to the migration situation and its causes and to advocate for migrant children and their families. Read more about AMMPARO here: ELCA/AMMPARO