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Deaf Eucharist, 11:00 a.m.

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RECONCILING IN CHRIST

What it means to us…

Reconciling in Christ is a program for Lutheran communities of faith to answer
the inclusive call of the gospel by welcoming gay and lesbian believers.
The program is coordinated by Lutherans Concerned of North America.

In early 2001, Trinity achieved designation as a “Reconciling in Christ Congregation.” This means Trinity joined some 180 Lutheran congregations in the United States to be rostered with Lutherans Concerned as a place where gays and lesbians are publicly invited and welcomed.

The public invitation is important. Because of the Church's history of overt ignorance, irrational fear and frenzied condemnation of persons of difference, many gays and lesbians do not believe they are welcome in any church unless
they are specifically invited. Our church is guilty of collective sin for this history.

Trinity, of course, has a tradition of inclusiveness. In fact, participation in the Reconciling in Christ program is really an affirmation of what we have long been: a congregation which welcomes all. Participation in this program will help others know what we already know.

THE AFFIRMATION OF WELCOME

As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people of
our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness.
We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.

We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female” (Galations 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this reconciliation extends also to those whose affectional orientation is toward a person of the same gender.

Because gay and lesbian persons are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:

• that gay and lesbian people share with all others the worth that comes
  from being unique individuals created by God;
• that gay and lesbian people are welcome within the membership of this congregation upon making the same affirmation of faith that all other
  people make; and
• that as members of the congregation, gay and lesbian people are
  expected and encouraged to share the scaramental and general life
  of this congregation.