From Pastor Adam

Happy Pride Month Lord of Life Lutheran Church,

As many of you know, Lord of Life has undertaken the process of becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) church. The purpose of the RIC Program is to ensure the welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; work for racial equity and commit to anti-racist work and support the national program. Since 1983, the RIC program has been a public way for faith communities to see, name, celebrate, and advocate for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions in the Lutheran church. 

Lord of Life’s stated mission is to “Share God’s Love” and be a loving family for all people.  The following are three ways the RIC program helps us to achieve our mission: 

To communicate who we are. 

All RIC partners are listed published on the ReconcilingWorks (The RIC administrative body) website in a searchable national map, which provides LGBTQIA+ people and allies to search for a faith community in their area. The RIC program is one way to extend specific invitations to people in our Darien community through our public welcome statement. When people see we have gone through a time of discernment to specifically welcome LGBTQIA+ people and are committed to the work of racial equity, they know we are a community that is skilled at welcoming everyone, not just those who look and act like us. This is the kind message found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ! 

To leave nothing unsaid.

Sadly, our LGBTQIA+, and Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) siblings continue to experience exclusion and harm from people supposedly acting in the name of Christianity. Even churches who declare “All are welcome” often demonstrate to LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals and families that “All” does not include them. For this reason, the welcoming invitation RIC partners like us create is explicit, recognizing the injustices that have occurred in the name of faith. As an RIC partner, Lord of Life’s commitment to work towards the full welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy of all named in our welcome statement is a lifelong commitment of our community.

For the health of our community.

Engaging in a journey to become RIC deepens and expands the faith life of the community and builds long-lasting relationships. As we participate in dialogue with one another, we practice putting our faith into speech and action, creating a more vibrant spiritual community. Dually, having a welcoming statement printed on the front of the bulletin and posted on our website, serves to remind members who they are and how they have pledged to engage with one another. Many RIC churches report the demographic most often drawn in by the RIC status is young couples with children. These folks are seeking communities prepared to help them raise their children in ways consistent with their values. They want their children to grow up surrounded by diversity and to know their families will never have to question if their children will be welcome as they grow and learn more about who they are. Our welcome shows others the type of community they have entered. It proclaims to the wider church we are a space who has been intentional in the welcome we provide.

There is a 11 step process of becoming RIC.  If you would like to learn more about the RIC process, I would direct you to the ReconcilingWorks website but specifically to the 11 step process outlined here. Lord of Life has taken a non traditional approach and has completed several of the steps out of order. We have already completed steps 1, 5, 7 and are improcess on steps 2 and 6. I believe it is possible that we will complete the process in time for the 2026 annual meeting. 

If you are looking for place’s celebrate pride this month, I would direct you to Equality Downers Grove Pride Fest 2024 on June 8th for 12-3 in Fishel Park. I have met with some one of the co-presidents of the EQDG, Lord of Life hosted an event with Jeff Wood - a member of EQDG, and I painted the PRIDE window at Heritage House Florist as part of EQDG’s PRIDE month events. 

As we continue to journey together this June, let us live fully in our mission to "Share God's Love" and to be a beacon of hope and acceptance for all. Your support and participation in this journey are vital as we strive to create a more inclusive and loving community.

With gratitude and PRIDE,

Pastor Adam