Report to Council 09/26/23
In the Beginning
At the November 16, 2021 Congregation Council meeting, Youth Group Leader Connie Charitonuk and several youth members asked if the congregation would consider becoming a Reconciling in Christ Partner Congregation. These are ELCA congregations that publicly declare they are welcoming to LGBTQIA+ people and families. An exploring group was formed to look into what becoming an RIC Partner Congregation means, and what the process entails.
RIC Exploring Group
The RIC exploring group began meeting in early 2022, including Connie Charitonuk (she/her); two confirmed youth; Youth Council representative David Petr (he/him), who led student government at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary when the seminary went through the RIC process; Janet DeVinney (she/her), Christian Education Council representative and Social Justice Ministry Team Co-Leader; and Gail Fricke (she/her), Social Justice Ministry Team Co-Leader. Others soon joined to learn about the process to become an RIC Partner Congregation through Reconciling Works, the ELCA welcoming organization. The exploring group:
On February 21, 2023, following an exploring group update to Council, the Reconciling in Christ Task Force was officially appointed by Council to lead the RIC discernment process at Good Shepherd, including Co-Leaders Connie Charitonuk (she/her), Sam Miller (they/them), and Janet DeVinney (she/her); Gail Fricke (she/her); Jennifer Nesaw (she/her); John Verbillis (he/him); and Interim Pastor Alejandro Mejia (he/him). Together, we are engaging in education and conversation as we discern if God is calling The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd to intentionally provide a safe place of love and support for LGBTQIA+ people. More on the RIC discernment journey is at https://www.lcgselca.org/ric.html. To date, we have completed:
Respectfully submitted,
Reconciling in Christ Task Force
Janet DeVinney (she/her), Connie Charitonuk (she/her), Sam Miller (they/them),
Jennifer Nesaw (she/her), Gail Fricke (she/her), John Verbillis (he/him),
Interim Pastor Alejandro Mejia (he/him)
At the November 16, 2021 Congregation Council meeting, Youth Group Leader Connie Charitonuk and several youth members asked if the congregation would consider becoming a Reconciling in Christ Partner Congregation. These are ELCA congregations that publicly declare they are welcoming to LGBTQIA+ people and families. An exploring group was formed to look into what becoming an RIC Partner Congregation means, and what the process entails.
RIC Exploring Group
The RIC exploring group began meeting in early 2022, including Connie Charitonuk (she/her); two confirmed youth; Youth Council representative David Petr (he/him), who led student government at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary when the seminary went through the RIC process; Janet DeVinney (she/her), Christian Education Council representative and Social Justice Ministry Team Co-Leader; and Gail Fricke (she/her), Social Justice Ministry Team Co-Leader. Others soon joined to learn about the process to become an RIC Partner Congregation through Reconciling Works, the ELCA welcoming organization. The exploring group:
- Reviewed RIC resources and materials, met virtually with Reconciling Works Director for Program Engagement Ashlei Buhrow to ask questions and clarify the RIC process, completed RIC exercises for possible congregation discernment, and learned about the detailed January 7, 2023 “Building an Inclusive Church” RIC training Janet took on her own.
- Spoke with pastors of RIC Partner Congregations in the Delaware-Maryland and Lower Susquehanna Synods to hear their experiences in becoming RIC, and with some ministry leaders and members about what RIC is and what the process involves.
On February 21, 2023, following an exploring group update to Council, the Reconciling in Christ Task Force was officially appointed by Council to lead the RIC discernment process at Good Shepherd, including Co-Leaders Connie Charitonuk (she/her), Sam Miller (they/them), and Janet DeVinney (she/her); Gail Fricke (she/her); Jennifer Nesaw (she/her); John Verbillis (he/him); and Interim Pastor Alejandro Mejia (he/him). Together, we are engaging in education and conversation as we discern if God is calling The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd to intentionally provide a safe place of love and support for LGBTQIA+ people. More on the RIC discernment journey is at https://www.lcgselca.org/ric.html. To date, we have completed:
- Listening Sessions: “Discrimination’s Toll on LGBTQIA+ Youth and Adults’ Mental Health” – The RIC Task Force hosted Listening Sessions in Celebration Hall on two Sundays, March 26 and April 16, on “Discrimination’s Toll on LGBTQIA+ Youth and Adults’ Mental Health,” facilitated by Mr. Alfredo Santiago, MSW, LCSW-C, Staff Therapist at Chase Brexton Health Care, Baltimore, and professional in the area of LGBTQIA+ Mental Health. A video of the second session, in which Mr. Santiago returned to answer questions from the first, and to share and answer more questions, is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvzR8ue3J3g.
- Book Discussion Series: Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality – The RIC Task Force hosted and facilitated a study and discussion series on four Thursday evenings, June 1, 8, 15, and 22, on the book Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality by Pastor Colby Martin. Copies of the book are available at church.
- Town Hall Forums – The RIC Task Force hosted two Town Hall Forums in the sanctuary on Sunday, August 20 after worship and Sunday, September 24 between services to answer questions submitted confidentially online or through the box in the narthex, or to the task force. Guest speaker Carla Mattioli of the Harford County Health Department’s Free to Be community-based LGBTQIA+ program for teens ages 12-17 shared at the September 24 Town Hall about the group’s monthly get-togethers offering a safe, supportive, welcoming environment for teens to gather, socialize, organize, and help one another.
- Additional Task Force Training – Janet shared with the Task Force details of the April 15, 2023 United Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg “United and Ignited” day of training she completed on her own, for RIC discerning and partner ministry leaders, LGBTQIA+ affirming worshippers, and community partners.
- Wrapping Up Event October 26 - The RIC Task Force will host future guest speakers who are pastors of Reconciling in Christ congregations on Thursday, October 26 at 7 p.m., to share their congregation’s experience in the discernment process and in being RIC Partner Congregations, and answer questions. The Task Force continues to invite members to share their questions about Reconciling in Christ.
Respectfully submitted,
Reconciling in Christ Task Force
Janet DeVinney (she/her), Connie Charitonuk (she/her), Sam Miller (they/them),
Jennifer Nesaw (she/her), Gail Fricke (she/her), John Verbillis (he/him),
Interim Pastor Alejandro Mejia (he/him)