LGBTQIA+ People: Part of the Church Family

At Holy Trinity, members of the LGBTQIA+ community are full and active participants in the life of the congregation. We believe that people of all sexual orientations, and gender identities, and gender expressions share the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God.

In the mid-1980s, Holy Trinity became one of the early Reconciling in Christ congregations, warmly and openly welcoming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities at all levels of participation. People who self-identify as LGBTQIA+ have held virtually all leadership positions at Holy Trinity.

Reconciling in Christ

In 1984, Reconciling Works (then called Lutherans Concerned / North America) started the Reconciling in Christ (“RIC”) Program to recognize Lutheran congregations that welcome lesbian and gay believers. During the group’s 2002 Assembly, members took action to include people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the RIC Program. The complete Reconciling in Christ Roster now exceeds 950 Reconciling in Christ (RIC) communities and 364 faith communities on their journey to become RIC communities, including congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, and organizations.

As a Reconciling in Christ congregation, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church makes the following public affirmation of our beliefs:

As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.

We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this reconciliation extends to people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

Because LGBTQIA+ persons and their families are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:

• that people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions share the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;
• that people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions are welcome within the membership of this congregation upon making a common, public affirmation of faith; and
• that as members of this congregation, people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions are expected and encouraged to share in the sacramental and general life of this congregation.

ELCA Position on Human Sexuality & LGBTQIA+ Rights

Holy Trinity is a congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a Lutheran synod that openly welcomes and affirms people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The ELCA’s website speaks directly to members of the LGBTQIA+: “This is Christ’s church. There is a place for you here. We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person – questions, complexities and all.” Learn more about the ELCA and the LGBTQIA+ community here.

Community Partners

Holy Trinity partners with Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, an organization that affirms and supports LGBTQIA+ Lutheran rostered leaders and those pursuing a call to rostered leadership, while engaging allied congregations and ministries to proclaim God’s love and seek justice for all.