Welcome Journey Conversations

Quick Links:

Congregational Meeting Recap

At our congregational meeting on Sunday, November 26, Atonement members voted to approve updates to our welcome statement and to become a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation. Voting members cast 203 votes by paper ballot.

The revised welcome statement was approved
with 181 in favor (89%), 17 opposed, and 5 abstaining.

The motion to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation passed
with 163 in favor (80%), 32 opposed, and 8 abstaining.

Becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation affirms our members’ ongoing commitment to be a church where all people are welcome and valued as beloved children of God. This designation connects us to a wider network of congregations dedicated to hospitality, inclusion, and justice for all. We are deeply grateful for the prayer, conversation, and care that have shaped this journey, and we look forward to continuing to grow together as a congregation rooted in God’s love and grace.

Learn More ABOUT RIC

ATONEMENT'S HISTORY

Survey Results

Thank you to everyone who participated in the
Welcome Journey Conversations survey.

We received 296 responses and are deeply grateful for the thought and discernment each person shared. After reviewing the results and perspectives, the Church Council recommended moving forward Sunday, October 26, 2025 with a congregational vote on the two survey questions.

To help prepare, we shared the full survey results and responses. As you read through them, you may agree with some and disagree with others. We invite you to approach them with respect, not to make another person’s opinion make sense to you, but to understand why it makes sense to them.

WELCOME JOURNEY SURVEY RESULTS

Welcome Journey Process

In continuing the discussion about welcome, inclusion, racial equity, and social justice at Atonement – we journeyed forward with a conversation in four parts, with two clear & purposeful goals, guiding us as our roadmap:

Primary Goal: Keep the congregation whole.
Secondary Goal: Find clarity as to our public commitment to living as a Welcoming faith community.

Our commitment for these conversations was not to have a predetermined outcome or destination in mind, or to use them to persuade each other in order to arrive at a unison, but to hear new information, and to help us more clearly see & hear each other’s diverse perspectives that come from the beautiful quilt of experiences here at Atonement.

We invited Atonement members to ask questions, be curious, listen to each other, and have a dialogue about how we journey together.

Part 1: What is Reconciling in Christ?

Ask & Discuss

When

Saturday, September 13, 6–7pm — in the Gathering Place
Sunday, September 14, 9:45–10:45am — in Charter Hall

About
Deacon David Behling, Program Coordinator from ReconcilingWorks, will come and share information about the Reconciling in Christ program and the journey of committing to living as a welcoming & affirming community. We'll talk about the Building an Inclusive Church toolkit and Deacon David will be here to answer questions and concerns.

Purpose
To have an open discussion, allowing those who have never heard of Reconciling in Christ to know more, to clarify misperceptions, and to allow for conversation about concerns and oppositions.

Learn More

Meet Deacon David & read his bio, learn more about the Reconciling in Christ journey, the ReconcilingWorks organization, and faith community commitments.

LEARN MORE ABOUT RECONCILING IN CHRIST

Part 2: What does welcoming & affirming mean to the community around us?

Ask & Discuss

When

Sunday, October 5, 6–7pm

About
A forum with Senior Pastor Michael Peck from Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Pastor Sarah Pierce from All Saints Lutheran Church, and Interim Pastor Jealaine Marple from Salem Lutheran Church, along with Pastor Zac and Pastor Jordan.

We'll hear from voices in the community around us about what a public commitment represents to visitors & guests, as well as to our fellow ELCA Lutherans.

Purpose
To have a “Clunky Questions” forum, allowing for an open discussion about opportunities, concerns, perceptions, positive or negative impacts, focusing specifically on those around us from outside our church.

Part 3: Help us to better see & hear each other.

Gather Responses

When

Friday, October 10 through Thursday, October 23 at Noon (12pm)

About
Provide a survey question to the congregation asking their position on the Welcome Statement revision proposal (updating the commitment to ourselves and community), as well a component of gauging support for the national Reconciling In Christ program (commitment or concern for Reconciling Works).

Purpose
To help Atonement clearly see who we are before proceeding with a vote or final conversation, the goal is not to try and convince of one position over the other, but to create respect and appreciation for where everyone is.

Part 4: Where do we go from here?

Review & Decide

When

Sunday, October 26, after 11am worship — Reformation Sunday

About
Request a congregational meeting to review the survey results. Prior to conducting the survey, the possible outcomes with suggestions as to next steps will be communicated.

For example, if the results are above a 75% threshold of support, the recommendation to congregation may be to have a final open discussion, followed by a private vote on whether to adopt (1) the Welcome Statement revisions and (2) the Reconciling in Christ program.

Purpose
Create understanding of the spectrum of convictions & keep the congregation whole through that understanding.