Growing Our Welcome: A New Chapter for Trinity’s Inclusion Ministry

For many years, Trinity has been honored to stand as a "Reconciling in Christ" (RIC) partner. That journey, guided by the organization ReconcilingWorks, helped us find our voice, plant our flag for justice, and cultivate a deeply rooted culture of hospitality.

Today, we are sharing a natural and beautiful transition in how we live out that calling. After deep reflection, prayer, and mutual conversation, our Diversity and Inclusion Ministry and Congregation Council have decided to transition from a formal national roster partnership to a locally-owned, context-specific ministry of inclusion.

Why This New Chapter?

As our ministry has matured, we have realized that the most vibrant way forward is to ensure our commitments are shaped directly by the unique heart of Lynnwood and the immediate needs of our neighbors. Rather than following a generalized programmatic structure, we are shifting from a program to a movement.

Movements require a profound, living interdependence among the people within them. By stepping into this locally-defined model, we are cultivating a natural pathway for inclusion that responds directly to our specific context, allowing us the freedom to:

• Speak Authentically: Use language and expressions of welcome that resonate deeply and naturally with our specific community.

• Direct Our Resources: Our commitment is to ensure that 100% of our social justice and inclusion funding stays local, directly impacting our community to promote transformational healing for our neighbors. More exciting details lie ahead as this ministry journey continues. You can stay informed by checking our website or visiting the information board in the narthex.

What is NOT Changing?

Our core values and commitments are unshakable. Trinity remains firmly dedicated to the foundational pillars of a reconciled community:

• Explicit Welcome: We will continue to explicitly welcome, affirm, and celebrate people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to anti-racism.

• Inclusive Leadership: We remain fully committed to calling and supporting LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC rostered and non-rostered leaders to serve and lead among us.

• Marriage Equality: Our sanctuary remains, as always, a sacred space where all the people of God can celebrate their love and receive God’s blessing in holy matrimony.

• Living Justice: We will continue to support the active work of reconciliation through hands-on advocacy, community partnerships, and financial generosity.

Honoring Our Legacy

As we step into this new chapter, we do so on the shoulders of giants. We want to express our deepest gratitude to the pioneers—both within Trinity and across the wider church—who bravely spoke out in the face of injustice, and to the extraordinary team at ReconcilingWorks (RW). The foundational advocacy, resources, and faithful guidance provided by RW gave us the vital tools to turn our conviction into action. For decades, RW has nurtured inclusion across the wider church when it was unpopular and costly, and they continue to be a beacon of hope and a vital partner for us today. Because of their enduring dedication, we are equipped to build upon a vibrant foundation of hospitality and carry this essential work forward into the future.

It is because of their steadfast refusal to accept the status quo that Trinity has reached this beautiful stage of maturity. We are not leaving their legacy behind; we are honoring it by ensuring that the flame of justice they lit continues to burn brightly, authentically, and sustainably in our community.

We believe Trinity is entering a mature, deeply interconnected season of ministry—one where our welcome is as unique as the community we serve. We invite you to join us in bringing this vision to life. Whether you have questions, reflections, or ideas for our local outreach, please reach out to the Diversity and Inclusion Ministry. Let’s dream together about what’s next.

In Christ,

The Diversity and Inclusion Ministry 

& Trinity Lutheran Church & Schools Congregation Council

A Legacy of Welcome: The Journey of Trinity’s Inclusion Ministry

To understand where we are going, it is helpful to look back at the movement that shaped us. For over 50 years, the Lutheran church has been on a journey toward radical hospitality. Trinity has been an active part of this history, and today, we are simply turning the page to the next chapter.

The Foundation: 1974–1983

The movement began in 1974 with a small, courageous group called Lutherans Concerned. In an era when being open about one's identity could lead to removal from the church, these pioneers advocated for the simple right to exist within their faith communities. In 1983, the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) program was launched to provide a visible beacon of safety—a way for churches to signal to the world, "You are truly welcome here."

The Growth: 1984–2012

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, the RIC movement grew from a few brave congregations to hundreds. In 2002, the mission expanded to explicitly include transgender and non-binary individuals. By 2009, the ELCA officially opened doors for LGBTQIA+ clergy to serve openly and for the blessing of same-gender relationships. In 2012, the national organization rebranded as ReconcilingWorks, emphasizing that the work of reconciliation is an ongoing, living process.

Trinity’s Era of Partnership: 2005–2025

Trinity joined this national roster to clearly signal our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. This partnership provided our congregation with invaluable tools, frameworks, and a shared identity that helped us grow into the fully affirming church we are today. We are profoundly grateful for the guidance and foundation this national program provided during our formative years.

The Present: A Move Toward Local Integrity and Connection

As national organizational models naturally evolve, they often shift toward more standardized administrative frameworks and specific criteria to manage a large network.

On January 25, 2026, after soulful prayer and thoughtful discussion, our leadership recognized that Trinity has reached a season of spiritual and ministerial maturity. Having fully integrated these values into the DNA of our congregation, we no longer require an external framework to guide our commitment. We are moving from a national program to an interdependent, locally-led movement.

Our Timeline of Transformation

• 1974: Founding of the first Lutheran LGBTQIA+ advocacy group.

• 1983: The Reconciling in Christ (RIC) program is established.

• 2005 Trinity joins the national RIC roster, committing to explicit welcome.

• 2009: The ELCA votes for full inclusion in ministry and marriage.

• 2026: Trinity’s New Chapter. We transition to a locally-owned affirming ministry, ensuring 100% of our focus, energy, and resources stay right here in Lynnwood.

The Heart Behind the Change

We want to be entirely clear: We are not changing our values; we are strengthening our alignment to better serve our local context.

• Ownership: We believe our welcome should be written and expressed in Trinity’s authentic voice, tailored directly to the people we walk alongside every day.

• Impact: By redirecting resources locally, we can directly invest in supporting LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and marginalized neighbors right here in our immediate community.

• Integrity: We are moving from fulfilling a programmatic partnership to fully living out an organic, everyday commitment to justice and love.

Trinity is, and will always be, a place of radical, Christ-centered welcome for all.