Proposed resolution

Resolution To Adopt RIC Statement of Welcome
Creator Lutheran Church
January 2009

Background: In late 2007/early 2008, a grass-roots group of Creator members formed a Council-sanctioned team to help the congregation move through a year of discernment on becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation. The team members have included Gary Schulstad, Toni Hartung, Gretchen Brauer-Rieke, Mary Steinberg, Janice Edberg, Kelly Carlisle and Diane Mattox. Some team members took part in a multi-day national RIC training session in March, helping to provide a sense of structure for helping the congregation to examine the issue.

The RIC team has placed information articles in the newsletter each month as well as holding monthly sessions with the congregation – both as special sessions and as post-worship conversations – in order to help work through thoughts and feelings that inevitably result from this kind of change. With congregational input, the team crafted an explicit Statement of Welcome that is unique to Creator Lutheran Church – a large majority of the congregation surveyed in September said they approve of this statement. As stated at the 2008 Annual Meeting in January, the timeline has been to hold a congregational vote on our proposed Statement of Welcome at the 2009 Annual Meeting.

Proposed Statement of Welcome:
Creator Lutheran Church welcomes you to come – as you are, where you are, and who you are – and join us in worship, fellowship, and ministry.

The Gospel reveals God's astounding grace as an unconditional gift of love for all people, so ethnicity, socioeconomic status, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status are not barriers to our invitation. Instead, as an inclusive community grounded in God's love and following Jesus' example, we celebrate the diversity of God's creation.

Implications: If this statement is approved by an 80% majority, Creator Lutheran will become officially recognized as a Reconciling in Christ congregation, joining the Oregon Synod, eight other Oregon ECLA congregations and 22 Washington congregations who also have approved explicit statements of welcome. Our statement will be placed on our website, in church bulletins, and in other media that may be read by the public. The RIC team is committed to remaining in place (in some form) to assist the congregation in carrying out the intent of open hospitality that our statement speaks of.

If the statement is not approved by 80% of the congregation, we will fall back to our charter statement which says that we “provide fellowship and loving support for each other, encouraging tolerance, inclusiveness, and unity…” - providing hospitality to those who enter our doors, but without the explicit nature of a public RIC statement.

RIC Team Meeting Agenda for December 11th: 7 PM at Creator

Hi Team,

Here is the agenda for tonight. Let me know if there is an item you think we should add.

Agenda

* Debrief on December 7th Adult Education - New action items and ideas

* Susan's Talk to RIC Team

* Plans and preparation for Congregational vote. Specific language to the resolution to bring before the congregation December council presentation (currently requesting council recommendation for passsage)

* Posting Affirmation of Welcome for vote on RIC Bulletin Board for congregation's review

* RIC Team Talk from same page - Questions are coming up, particularly after last Sunday's activity, and we may want to decide on a standard team response to those questions.

* Determine January newsletter article - Deadline Monday, December 15th

* RIC Sunday - Promoting event at Mt. Carmel 515 SW Maplecrest Dr.

* Post congregational vote plans - Next steps on the journey:

LCNA normally turns around designation in two weeks but can do it faster if needed.
Paul and Karen LCNA Region 1 Regional Coordinators want to present certificate.

Publicity Plans

Rescheduling the December 4th RIC Team Meeting

Hello RIC team,

Sorry for the short notice but a number of us were not going to make it to tonight's meeting. I think it is best to reschedule.

Would next Thursday (December 11th) work for everyone? Let me know good times for you to meet in case next Thursday does not work.

Also Susan Nolte wants to attend and speak to us at this meeting.

Peace,

Gary

December 7 Adult Forum, Council Meeting

Hello,

Just to let you know, we now have four confirmed representatives from RIC congregations to answer questions about directions RIC congregations may take after the vote. Vicky Charlston, Ann Fruechte, and Jack & Diane Neubert all agreed to come and answer questions about RIC congregations and what can happen after the vote to become RIC.

Also, you may be interested that LCNA has a YouTube Channel with a couple familiar faces (to us) who are telling stories:

Michelle Kisinger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9gYGbTu32A

and Paul Jolly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg2Wl-WHuEc

I presented our team's written recommendations about the Congregational vote to become RIC at the last council meeting. This included that there be one statement to put to a vote (adopt the Affirmation of Welcome to have Creator become an RIC congregation), that our team recommends an 80% approval of those who vote to pass, and that the council recommend passage to the congregation.

The vote will happen at the next council meeting.

See you at our next RIC meeting.

Thanks,

Gary

Latest RIC statement revision

Based on our work tonight, here is the latest draft of our RIC statement:

Creator Lutheran Church welcomes you to come – as you are, where you are, and who you are – and join us in worship, fellowship, and ministry.

The Gospel reveals God’s astounding grace as an unconditional gift of love for all people. Ethnicity, socioeconomic status, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status are not barriers to our invitation. Instead, as an inclusive community grounded in God’s love and following Jesus’ example, we celebrate the diversity of God’s creation.

November 6, 2008 - Tonight's Creator RIC Team Meeting Agenda

We are moving into the home stretch. From Sunday conversations I believe most of you will attend tonight's meeting. Let me know if you want to add to this agenda:

* Plans and preparation for Congregational vote
Specific language to the resolution to bring before the congregation
December council presentation (request council recommendation / support)

* Affirmation of Welcome suggestions and review other RIC Survey feedback

* Plan December 7th Adult Education (Nov 23rd cancelled. The two dates were too close)

* Plans for Advent Wednesday service / Congregational paragraphs on RIC

* Determine December newsletter article

* Post congregational vote plans - Next steps on the journey

Look forward to seeing the team at 7:00 tonight.

Peace,

Gary

October 2, 2008 Creator RIC Team Meeting Agenda

Here is the agenda for our meeting. I look forward to seeing you there and I am sorry there is the schedule conflict with tonight's VP Debate.

Peace,

Gary

* Debrief on September’s Adult Forum
* Post Survey and Post Vote Planning
* Current Survey Results
* RIC FAQ
* Finding those willing to write a paragraph that explains their thoughts on RIC.
* Planning October RIC Adult Forum – Other Explicit Welcome
* Determining November Activity
* Writing November Newsletter Article
* Working with Spiritworks Teams
* Working with the LCNA Portland Chapter