Reconciling in Christ (RIC) community, St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg, PA participated in the Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20, 2016 in several meaningful ways.
"In remembering their lives we renew our commitment to our statement of welcome and inclusion which calls on us to love our neighbor wholeheartedly, seek justice, create peace and practice compassion," St. James writes. During their Sunday worship service, the community remembered in sorrow those transgender people whose lives were taken through acts of violence during the past year.
During the Sunday School hour, students from the LGBTQA Advocacy and Education Organization at Gettysburg College presented a power point with in-depth information about being transgender and included tips about how to become better allies to transgender and gender non-conforming people.
In addition, the 24 transgender individuals whose lives were taken through acts of violence over the past year in the United States were memorialized in a pictured display. Each person's name along with their photo and brief bio was placed on one of three posters. Each name, photo, and bio were also placed on individual memorial cards. Members of the congregation were invited to take a card home with them, consider the life of the person on the card, and return the card during the offering the following week as a gesture of care.
St. James Lutheran Church passed a welcome statement specifically naming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities becoming RIC April, 22, 2015. Learn more about
Learn more about the RIC journey: www.ReconcilingWorks.org/RIC