Reconciling in christ (RIC)

Christ the King Lutheran Church welcomes you

to our community of faith.


We believe every person is a beloved child of God, made in God’s Holy design (Jeremiah 1:5)

God designed every skin color, mental and physical ability, gender identity, gender expression, language, age, ethnicity, economic status, and sexual orientation. Each brings unique gifts to enrich the full life and ministry of our church. We recognize, celebrate, and give thanks for the many diverse talents each one of us brings.


We work towards wholeness of spirit and healing of pain resulting from racism, gender-based harm, and all other forms of injustice. We stand in favor of all basic human rights for every person.


You are welcome wherever you are in your faith journey and in the fullness of who you are. We hold that discrimination is incompatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ. You are welcome because you are a child of God.


John 13:34 says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This verse is a commandment from Jesus to his disciples, instructing them to love each other in the same way that he has loved them.

RIC Timeline at ctk

  • June 2021 - A handful of CTK members take an online training course through ReconcilingWorks called How to Build an Inclusive Church.


    September 2021 - Justice & Peace meets with the council about starting the RIC journey. Council members were asked to take a faith community assessment test before the meeting.  The average of council’s survey assessment scores indicated a St. Cautious pace. 


    Between the end of 2021 and beginning of 2023, discussions continued with Justice & Peace and the Council, including holding one-on-one conversations with council members. 


    June 2022 - Justice & Peace holds an open meeting for CTK members to learn about RIC, how it works and if it is a fit for CTK


    February 2023 - The creation of an RIC task force is approved by the CTK council. The RIC task force was asked to send regular updates to the Council. 


    March 2023 - An application to join the RIC task force was created and was open for any CTK members. Based on the applications, the group was officially approved by the council. 


    The RIC task force started meeting on a monthly basis. Task members who had not previously taken the How to Build an Inclusive Church training signed up for the course based on their availability. Task force members also started having one-on-one conversations with CTK members. 


    April 2024 - The RIC task force hosts a Movie Night and discussion featuring a video titled “RIC: It’s About Being Church”


    May 2024 - RIC task force hosts a Faith Continuum session focusing the work of the RIC organization in relation to scripture. 


    July 2024 - RIC task force hosts a Bible Study for three weeks that took place before Faith & Fellowship services. 


    September 2024 - RIC task force has a table and information at the Rally Day Opportunity Fair


    November/December 2024 - Members of the RIC task force set up a table in the Narthex before and after church services to hand out information and be available for questions/comments. 


    January 2025 - Deacon David Behling, Program Coordinator with ReconcilingWorks presents at Faith Continuum


    May 2025 - RIC task force identifies theme of CTK’s RIC journey: Laying down the framework for spiritual growth and a radical welcome. This theme comes from the numerous one-on-one conversations that were held with CTK members over several months. 


    July 2025 - RIC leads a Community Conversation at Faith & Fellowship based on the topic of hospitality and welcoming. 


    September 2025 - RIC task force has a table and information at the Rally Day Opportunity Fair


    September 2025 - The RIC task force starts drafting ideas for a welcome statement. 


    October 2025 - The RIC task force sends a draft welcome statement to the council and discusses when a straw poll vote can be held. Council also took the straw poll and viewed the Welcome Statement. The task force also decided to create a project titled “In Our Own Words”, a place where CTK members can share their own stories and writings about what it means to be a welcoming church. 


    January 2026 - The RIC holds their first straw poll vote at the Annual Meeting after approval from Pastor Melanie and Council President. There is strong support for the welcome statement and becoming an RIC church, but members are also asking for more information. 


    February 2026 - The RIC task force is asking for submissions for “In Our Own Words” from CTK members. 


    April 2026 - The RIC task force invited Pastor Scott Richards to CTK to preach and lead a Faith Continuum session on his experience as an openly gay Lutheran pastor in Southern Minnesota. 


    Summer 2026 - The RIC task force updates the draft welcome statement following comments from the straw poll vote earlier in the year. We have also included information in each monthly newsletter and have provided resources in the library. Copies of In Our Own Words are available for CTK members. 


    September 2026 - A second straw poll vote is taken after updates were made to the proposed Welcome Statement, based off further conversations and comments from the first straw poll. Support for becoming an RIC church continues. 


    November 1, 2026- Christ the King adopted partnership with Reconciling works to become a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) worship community.