Do you want to learn about opportunities to support our immigrant neighbors in Petaluma?
Join Tracy Greenwald and Rick Brown at their home on Sunday, May 3rd at 5-630 pm to hear Rick talk about the Sonoma County organizations providing trainings, outreach, accompaniment, advocacy, and physical support to the vulnerable families in our neighborhoods, and discover ways to get involved. Learn about B’nai Israel’s “Support Our Neighbors Task Force” and get inspired by the work they are doing in their congregation and in our community.
The RIC Team is creating a small workgroup to lead this effort at Elim and we welcome your participation and/or support! (Showing up for the gathering does not commit you to anything!)
For details and address, contact Tracy at [email protected]
Join Tracy Greenwald and Rick Brown at their home on Sunday, May 3rd at 5-630 pm to hear Rick talk about the Sonoma County organizations providing trainings, outreach, accompaniment, advocacy, and physical support to the vulnerable families in our neighborhoods, and discover ways to get involved. Learn about B’nai Israel’s “Support Our Neighbors Task Force” and get inspired by the work they are doing in their congregation and in our community.
The RIC Team is creating a small workgroup to lead this effort at Elim and we welcome your participation and/or support! (Showing up for the gathering does not commit you to anything!)
For details and address, contact Tracy at [email protected]
Elim's Welcome Statement
(Approved at the congregational meeting on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026)
Inspired by God’s wide vision, Elim Lutheran Church welcomes you as you are, wherever you are on your faith journey. We count on the diversity of your ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical ability, socioeconomic status, vocation, education, abilities, and other attributes to make our community complete.
We pray that our congregation will be a source of hospitality, grace, and hope, and commit ourselves to embracing the work of anti-racism and anti-discrimination, social and economic justice, and environmental care.
Recognizing that all of us are created in the image of God and that our diversity is a gift, we pledge to learn, grow, repent, and act as Christ’s followers in seeking justice, reconciliation, and healing.
You are welcome. You are loved. You belong.
Inspired by God’s wide vision, Elim Lutheran Church welcomes you as you are, wherever you are on your faith journey. We count on the diversity of your ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical ability, socioeconomic status, vocation, education, abilities, and other attributes to make our community complete.
We pray that our congregation will be a source of hospitality, grace, and hope, and commit ourselves to embracing the work of anti-racism and anti-discrimination, social and economic justice, and environmental care.
Recognizing that all of us are created in the image of God and that our diversity is a gift, we pledge to learn, grow, repent, and act as Christ’s followers in seeking justice, reconciliation, and healing.
You are welcome. You are loved. You belong.
Here's some Things to Know...
Since 1983, the ELCA Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Program has been a public way for faith communities to see, name, celebrate, and advocate for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions in the Lutheran church.
In 2021, the ReconcilingWorks staff launched the newly expanded Reconciling in Christ (RIC) partner commitments to include working for racial equity, committing to anti-racist work; and supporting the national program. The RIC Program is made up of congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, outdoor ministries, and other Lutheran organizations. in early 2025, Elim began the journey toward becoming an RIC Congregation by putting together a team of interested members who meet monthly for reflection and study, and to develop opportunities for the congregation to engage in the process. At a special congregational meeting on Sunday, February 1, 2026, Elim's new welcome statement was approved. Now, our statement will be sent to Reconciling Works for approval. We believe that God values and embraces each person as a beloved child, that the Spirit gives a diversity of gifts for the common good, and that Jesus Christ calls us to work for justice. When a faith community welcomes and invites all of God’s beloved by becoming RIC, this welcome extends to the full participation of that faith community’s life. We look forward to sharing that journey of faith with you. We are in good company with our commitment of welcoming all people, which includes many ELCA Lutheran congregations and other denominations in our area. As well as many additional churches throughout our country.
Here are local ELCA churches who have completed the RIC process:
and here are other denominations in Petaluma who publicly affirm their commitment of welcoming towards all:
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More Information
Four RIC Commitments
The purpose of the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Program is to ensure the welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; work for racial equity and commit to anti-racist work; and to support the national program. To be recognized as a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Partner, your faith community will:
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