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Their welcome statement reads:

“We welcome people of all races, ethnicities, political affiliations, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions. We advocate for racial equality for all POC and stand with our Jewish siblings as they face growing antisemitism.“

Learn more about Our Saviour Lutheran Church at: www.oursaviourcroton.org

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Their welcome statement reads:

“We believe all people are created in God’s image. We accept, welcome, and embrace people of every race, color, culture, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, faith story, economic situation, physical and mental ability, educational level, work history, political affiliation, or citizenship status. All are welcome to the worship life of this congregation, including access to the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, and all are welcome and encouraged to join in our congregational life and ministries. By accepting all people as we are created, we are committed to the work of anti-racism, social and economic justice, and to making inclusivity a reality for our community.“

Learn more about Community Lutheran Church at: https://bridgebuilder.church/

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Their welcome statement reads:

“As all people are created in the image of God, we embrace diversity in our congregation and community, and we affirm the dignity and worth of every person. We honor the guiding principle that discrimination is incompatible with Christ’s unconditional love and we are committed to racial equity. We boldly embrace, love, celebrate and welcome persons of all faith backgrounds, races, ethnicities, cultures, ages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. Everyone has a place here. All are welcome!“

Learn more about Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church at: https://shepherdofthemountains.org/

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Their welcome statement reads:

“At Emmaus Lutheran Church, we embrace the uniqueness of every individual and respect their
dignity and worth, for all are created in the image of God. We strive to welcome everyone in the
fullness of who they are. As a congregation called to reconciliation, we share God’s vision of love for
people of all races, sexual orientations, gender identities/expressions, socio-economic statuses, ages, abilities, political persuasions, and personal histories. Emmaus renounces the Church’s problematic actions of oppression, hatred, and exclusion. We dedicate ourselves to the ongoing work of racial equality and justice for all. Here we believe there is a place for EVERYONE. Welcome to Emmaus!“

Learn more about Emmaus Lutheran Church at: http://www.emmausfalmouth.org/

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Their welcome statement reads:

“First Lutheran Church, dedicated to the mission of Jesus Christ, welcomes YOU into this community of faith, where we share life in its entirety, with all its joys and sorrows. We believe all people are created in the image of God and are offered God’s love, grace, and forgiveness, regardless of: religious tradition, age, gender identity and expression, race, education, economic status, sexual orientation, family structure, mental or physical abilities. We acknowledge the indigenous culture of this land. We are committed to the work of racial justice. We extend a special welcome in Christ’s love“

Learn more about First Lutheran Church at: http://www.flcduluth.org/

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Their welcome statement reads:

“All Welcome. We believe in the unconditional love and acceptance of all people, regardless of their race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, or any other personal characteristic. We commit ourselves to embracing the work of anti-racism, social and economic justice, and environmental care, in addition to our core beliefs as true followers of Jesus. We are a diverse community of faith, united by our belief in the teachings of Jesus and his ultimate commandment to love one another as ourselves. We welcome all individuals, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+, into our community and affirm their worth and dignity as children of God. We strive to live our lives in accordance with Jesus’s message of love and compassion, actively promoting racial equity and standing against all forms of discrimination. By doing so, we aim to be a beacon of hope and acceptance for all those who seek it. At Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran Church, everything we do and say celebrates the Love of God our creator, Jesus who is our Savior, and the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to live as children of God.“

Learn more about Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran Church at: Mydelc.org

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Their welcome statement reads:

“At our church, we say “Welcome to New Life Lutheran Church where everybody is Somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Jesus is the source of grace, love, forgiveness and power in our lives and this creation. And, everybody is Somebody. In other words, we accept and affirm the humanity and life experience of every individual. We choose to live this out boldly.
Because inclusion was a strong focus of Jesus, and because not all people have been welcomed into faith communities because of their identity, we strive to build a community that reflects the diversity of God’s creation. Because equality and justice were concerns of Jesus, we warmly welcome all people of the LGBTQIA+ community and people of all races and ethnicities in this church. In addition, we strongly commit to anti-racism work in ourselves, our church, our community, and our world.
New Life is a faith community which takes what we do seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. As a beloved community, we laugh, cry, and learn together. We may not always agree on everything, but we rely on our shared love of God and one another to create a space where all are welcome.
We can’t wait to say to you: Welcome to New Life Lutheran Church, where everybody is Somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord!“

Learn more about New Life Lutheran Church at: www.newlifebolingbrook.org

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Their welcome statement reads:

“Saint Francis of the City believes the church is to reflect the expansive beauty of God’s people we are called to serve. Therefore, in our leadership, policies, practices, and culture we are committed to celebrating and uplifting people of sacred variety. This includes (but is not limited to) ethnicity, culture, all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions, national origin, immigration status, age, physical ability, and socio-economic status.

We dedicate ourselves and our resources to the healing of our history where there has been harm, and the ongoing work of reconciliation, including justice for the LGBTQIA+ community as well as the pursuit of racial justice. There is a wideness in God’s mercy and who we are created to be.“

Learn more about St. Francis of the City at: francisofthecity.org

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Their welcome statement reads:

“The Arkansas Oklahoma Synod of the ELCA affirms that all people are beloved children of God, made in God’s image. Through the grace of God, we are a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Synod. We welcome and affirm people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, abilities, disabilities, races, ethnic identities, economic statuses, and backgrounds, to join in the life of our synod community.

We welcome all because God welcomes all, and we recognize that our differences are gifts to our communal life. We commit ourselves to ongoing education, honest reflection, discussion, and action on issues of sexuality, gender, racial equity, ethnicity, age, and other issues that can create division where we seek community.

We understand the congregations in our synod are in different places on this journey. Starting where each congregation is, we encourage all congregations to engage in similar conversations, including discussion of becoming Reconciling in Christ Congregations. We ask God’s Holy Spirit to guide us in living out this ministry of reconciliation with our siblings in Christ.“

Learn more about the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod at: aokelca.org

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