Reconciling in Christ
In June of 2018 the Living Water Ministries Board of Directors began to discern the possibility of becoming an Reconciling in Christ faith community after receiving a letter signed by 185 constituents urging the organization to do so. In short, the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Program is for congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, and other Lutheran organizations and ministry communities who have made a public commitment to welcome, include and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people.
After careful discernment, the Living Water Ministries board presented a resolution seeking approval from each synod in the lower peninsula of Michigan to explore the requirements and implications of becoming an RIC faith community. In each synod, the resolutions passed with 89% of the vote in the North/West Lower Michigan Synod and 95% of the vote in the Southeast Michigan Synod.
As Living Water Ministries has discerned and explored what it means to become RIC, Zoom forums, on-line feedback forms, and 1 on 1 discussions have taken place with members of ELCA congregations. As we continue on this journey of discernment, Listening Circles held on Zoom will be made available for all who wish to discuss this further, with an emphasis on inviting camp families and donors.