We are a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Synod.

The council and leadership of the Northwest Washington Synod affirm that all people are beloved children of God.  We welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, abilities, races, nationalities, economic statuses, and backgrounds, to join in the life of our community. We welcome all because God welcomes all, and we recognize that our differences are gifts to our communal life. 

As Christians in the Lutheran tradition, we recognize that we are all saints and sinners and we are works in progress towards authentic diversity.  As such, we commit ourselves to confession, repentance, study, and action on issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, disability, economics, and other issues that can create division where we seek community.

We commit to centering the lived experiences and following the leadership of Black, brown, Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ people, who have historically been hurt by the church.  We are called to work toward racial justice individually and structurally, knowing that we need each other to be God’s Beloved Community.

We encourage our member congregations to engage in similar conversations, including discussion of becoming Reconciling in Christ congregations.