Bethel RIC Resource Page
 
Bethel is an RIC congregation. The RIC Core Team invites you to peruse all of these resources below at your own pace.  If you have thoughts or questions or concerns, we’d love to hear from you!  We are always open to conversation; Core Team contact info is located in the RIC FAQ document.  Or you can simply call the church office. 
 

​If you want to hear the Core Team talk a bit about some of the choices they made while crafting the statement, click here, passcode: kB^%Ni^4
Frequently Asked Questions
about Becoming  a Reconciling in Christ Congregation
What does it mean to be a Reconciling in Christ Congregation?
At a practical level, an RIC congregation is one that offers a specific statement of welcome to LGBTQ+ neighbors and joins many other Minnesota congregations on an RIC roster available to those searching for a church home.  But the rewards of this journey go beyond the practical; becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation means lifting up one of the things we do best at Bethel—welcome—and figuring out how we can do that even better.  It also means building stronger relationships within our own congregation through meaningful conversation, prayer, and education.
Why are we doing this now at Bethel?
The results of a recent congregational survey conducted by our Bethel Church Council expressed a deep desire on the part of Bethelites to continue our commitment to be a place of welcome—especially to those who are currently marginalized, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community.  So many of you recognize that this is central to God’s call and Jesus’ work.  We also recognize that issues of inclusion matter deeply to the millennial generation; as more and more young people leave the church, many do so because they do not know faith communities as a place of beloved community and open welcome. Becoming an RIC congregation allows us to more explicitly show people who we already are.
Didn’t the Synod’s statement approving gay marriage for clergy, etc., cover this?

​No. While the ELCA offered its blessing as a governing body they left the choice of actually performing LGBTQ+ marriage ceremonies at the discretion of individual pastors and congregations. More importantly, the ELCA did not and cannot actually create spaces of welcome. That’s up to us!
Does becoming RIC mean LGBTQ+ marriages will be performed at Bethel? Does it mean that we’re open to calling an LGBTQ+ pastor? Will we be changing our education program?

​Fantastic questions!  All of these are up to us to decide.  Reconciling Works, an organization that supports Lutheran congregations through this process, does not dictate specific choices.  As a congregation we will have to decide what welcoming members of our LGBTQ+ family will look like for us.
All people are welcome at Bethel! Why should we single out lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people?

​Many LGBTQ people have learned by experience that they are not welcome in faith communities, even in those that state, “All are welcome here!” Even members of Bethel have experienced this lack of welcome in other faith communities and sometimes fear being open about their identity here at Bethel for fear of similar admonishments.  For LQBTQ people, general statements of welcome are often heard as meaning “everybody but me,” so it can take a special effort to communicate an authentic welcome to LGBTQ people. Many RIC communities find that the process of extending a welcome to LGBTQ people opens them up to other people or groups who also need a particular invitation to know that “all” includes them as well.
What assurance will be provided that all voices are heard?
A huge part of this process is the opportunity we have to become closer as a congregation.  To that end, we’ll try to provide lots of meaningful ways to connect and reflect.  From brief surveys to one-on-one conversations, from Bible Studies to Banner announcements, we will try to provide abundant times and spaces to engage.  We also hope that Bethelites will approach the Core Team with ideas for how to make this journey even more inclusive of everyone.
What is the timeline for making a decision?
Starting in the fall of 2019, the Core Team began reaching out to Bethelites, both to explain the RIC process and to begin engaging in meaningful conversations.  In the spring of 2020, we offered educational opportunities: Bible study, speakers, life-storytelling, and info sessions answering FAQ about what it means to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender, non-binary, etc.  Over the summer, we will begin offering resources virtually and we will begin drafting a welcome statement that will be shared with both the council and the congregation. In the fall of 2020, we hope to conduct a final survey in which we ask Bethelites whether they’re ready to adopt the welcoming statement and in so doing to become an RIC congregation.  The results of this survey will then be passed onto the council and they will make a final decision.  We all want to make sure that we only enter into becoming an RIC congregation if we can do so from a place of affirmation and joy.
What happens after we approve becoming a RIC church? How do we put this into action so it doesn’t become a feel-good statement, but nothing is different?

​This is incredibly important.  As we move toward writing a welcoming statement, it’s very likely that other ideas will emerge about how we can proclaim welcome.  We will keep track of these, of course, and find people committed to implementing them in the future, making sure each step feels both appropriate and embraced.
Which other congregations in Northfield are RIC churches?
The St. Olaf Congregation joined the RIC roster back in 1989.  St. John’s went through this process more recently.  We have been and will continue to be in conversation with congregational leaders from St. John’s to see how we might learn from their experience. 
How would becoming a RIC congregation affect life at Bethel? Will I be expected to do anything different from what I’m doing now? How will things change?

​Becoming RIC isn’t about changing.  This process is about uplifting who we already are and making what we already do visible to the people currently outside our church who might need to feel and hear God’s love the most.  
Why is it called Reconciling in Christ?
That’s a great question.  In this case, reconciling is about “restoring relationships” and “causing to coexist in harmony.” Because becoming an inclusive community is a journey and not a destination, the verb is used in present progressive, rather than past tense.
This sounds exciting! How can I get involved?
We are so glad you asked! 
  • If you feel excitement about this journey, please share your enthusiasm with others!  Let others know why the process is important to you or ask someone what first made them feel welcome at Bethel.  Most importantly, know that you are already a gift of welcome to this congregation. Thank you!
  • Engage with the resources on the website we’ve created and then reach out and have a conversation with someone else!  This is definitely a journey and it’s OK to have questions (we all have questions!). Please reach out to a Core Team member (or just call the church office) if you want to talk.
  • Join the Core Team! All are welcome. The Core Team’s work involves things like planning education, reaching out to individuals for meaningful conversation, and answering questions about the process. If you want to help but the idea of having to put yet another meeting on the calendar makes you queasy, let us know specifically how you’re interested in helping—no meeting attendance required. ☺
I have questions/suggestions/comments. To whom can I direct them and how should I do so?

​All members of the Core Team would welcome a conversation.  Core Team Members:  Paula Mathison, Pam Vig, Megan Engel, Bill Hoekstra, Marcy Korynta, Clark Cary and Kaethe Schwehn. Pastor Tim is also available for conversation.  You can get all of the contact information by simply calling the church office.
Resources:
RIC Temple Talks during Fireside Worship:
Bill Hoekstra - July 5, 2020
Clark Cary - July 19, 2020
Marcy Korynta - August 2, 2020
Pam Vig - August 16, 2020
Tricky texts explained here!
Reconciling Works web page
​Jen Hatmaker podcast
Linne Jensen's Story
Bethel RIC Journey Timeline:
2019
June: Church council requests that a Core Team be formed to begin the RIC process
October: Core team educates congregation on the process, conducts a survey, offers resources at table during Bistro and education time.
November: Reconciling Works two-day workshop at Bethel (Core Team, a number of staff, and members of congregation participate)
December: Core Team begins “one-on-one” conversations with members of the congregation
 
2020
January: Greg Walter leads two sessions on “Tricky Texts” in the Bible
February: Bethel U presentations
  • Panel with folks from LGBTQ+ community
  • Tim Schroer, dean of students at St. Olaf, leads an info session
  • Austen Hartke speaks on Being Transgender and Christian
  • Rev. Emmy Kegler preaches at both services and speaks during education hour
June-July: Welcome statement drafted; feedback from council received and incorporated
July August: Temple Talks during Fireside Worship
September:  The Church Council approved the proposed Welcome Statement (above); the RIC Committee began meeting with small groups, including Sunday Coffee Hour Zooms and Wednesday evening Circle Chats.

October: Final congregational survey
November: Survey results passed onto Council; Cvotes on whether to become an RIC congregation
The Welcome Statement (on the main page) was drafted by the RIC Core Team and the language was approved by the church council in November 2020. 

The Welcome Statement was approved and Bethel became an RIC congregation in January 2021!
Photo used under Creative Commons from Ryk Neethling