Our Savior’s church announces Reconciling in Christ designation

Our Savior’s Evangelical Lutheran Church has taken a public step that changes how it will present itself to people in Duluth and across St. Louis County: the congregation now holds a Reconciling in Christ designation. The announcement tells residents, visitors and potential worshipers that the church is formally choosing welcome over uncertainty, with a written commitment that reaches beyond symbolism into who feels able to walk through the door.

The congregation announced the designation on Sunday, during Pride month, giving the move added local weight in a region where churches often serve as community anchors. Pastor Liz Davis said the church went through a very long process of community conversations and study before making the announcement, underscoring that this was a deliberate decision rather than a one-day statement. For LGBTQ+ people and families looking at where they can find pastoral care, worship and community support, the designation now serves as a clear signal.

ReconcilingWorks says the Reconciling in Christ program has existed since 1983 and is one of the public ways faith communities can name their commitment to people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. The organization says partner congregations must also commit to racial equity and anti-racist work. Its broader advocacy for the full welcome, inclusion and equity of LGBTQIA+ Lutherans dates to 1974, placing Our Savior’s move inside a long-running Lutheran debate over who belongs fully in church life.

ReconcilingWorks identified Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minnesota, as a new RIC community in a June 4 post. The church’s welcome statement says, “Diversity is a gift of God. God’s grace is central to our life and practice,” and adds that God loves everyone, always and no matter what. The statement also says the congregation is committed to serving neighbors and working to end poverty, while explicitly welcoming and affirming people regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, family structure, ability, race, cultural background, age, citizenship status or socio-economic status.

The statement goes further, naming antiracism and justice work, including acknowledging Indigenous lands and committing to humility in learning and in relationships with neighbors. ReconcilingWorks says the RIC logo is inspired by the Progressive Pride Flag, and its current directory lists 1,189 Reconciling in Christ communities and 302 faith communities on the path to becoming RIC partners. For St. Louis County residents, the practical change is plain: Our Savior’s has put its welcome in writing and attached its name to a network that is reshaping how Lutheran congregations respond to inclusion debates.