Meet Deacon David Behling
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
David Behling
Program Coordinator for ReconcilingWorks
David Behling (he/they) is a Deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He grew up experiencing and appreciating the benefits of living in diverse communities, mostly in Tucson, Arizona, but also during the years he lived in Yokosuka, Japan, Washington, D.C., and Erlangen, Germany. David’s education and professional background is eclectic, including a BA in English, and graduate degrees in Biblical Studies, Technical Communication, and Creative Writing and working at different times as a homemaker, a writer, a college professor, an academic administrator, a synod staff member, and a campus minister. He finds joy in cooking, reading, board games, and long evening walks with his spouse, Karen, with whom he helped raise three amazing children.
See the ReconcilingWorks Leadership Team
About the Process
Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit
Download the BIC Toolkit
The Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to help facilitate a welcoming journey in a faith community and extend a specific welcome to people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, drawing upon over thirty years of experience within a variety of Christian denominations.
Atonement is using the The Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Toolkit to help guide our own Welcome Journey Conversations, we are currently journeying through Step 6 (page 49) of the guide.
Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Training helps congregations design and implement a journey for their faith community to publicly and intentionally welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and incorporate a commitment to the work of racial equity.
Atonement is using the The Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Toolkit to help guide our own Welcome Journey Conversations, we are currently journeying through Step 6 (page 49) of the guide.
Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Training helps congregations design and implement a journey for their faith community to publicly and intentionally welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and incorporate a commitment to the work of racial equity.
Building an Inclusive Church equips faith groups with ways to create dialogue, deepening relationships throughout their faith community rather than sparking debate and division.
The Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Toolkit and BIC Training are complementary resources, to be used side by side in the journey of welcome. The training itself is designed to expand on the tools in the BIC Toolkit to best support the team of leaders who hope to guide their faith community.
Atonement in years prior has hosted the Building an Inclusive Church Training for surrounding churches to participate in educating and preparing them for their own welcome conversations.
The Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Toolkit and BIC Training are complementary resources, to be used side by side in the journey of welcome. The training itself is designed to expand on the tools in the BIC Toolkit to best support the team of leaders who hope to guide their faith community.
Atonement in years prior has hosted the Building an Inclusive Church Training for surrounding churches to participate in educating and preparing them for their own welcome conversations.
Reconciling in Christ
The Reconciling in Christ program works 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 support the national program.”
This link gives more information about how congregations become a Reconciling in Christ Partner .
This link gives more information about how congregations become a Reconciling in Christ Partner .
ReconcilingWorks
ReconcilingWorks is an independent non-profit organization funded by the generosity of individuals, faith communities, grants, and from curated resources and trainings. ReconcilingWorks does not receive funding from any Lutheran denomination.
Since 1974 when originally called Lutherans Concerned, ReconcilingWorks has advocated for the full welcome, inclusion, and equity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual/aromantic (LGBTQIA+) Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community.
ReconcilingWorks 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.
Read more about ReconcilingWork's Mission, Vision, and Values.
Since 1974 when originally called Lutherans Concerned, ReconcilingWorks has advocated for the full welcome, inclusion, and equity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual/aromantic (LGBTQIA+) Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community.
ReconcilingWorks 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.
Read more about ReconcilingWork's Mission, Vision, and Values.