Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) is on a Journey to an Inclusive Community (JIC), forming and strengthening alliances among people of many cultures and communities, and by intentionally dismantling racism within LVC, the church, and society. LVC realizes that institutional racism profoundly impacts the social landscapes in which we live and work. LVC is dedicated to working toward becoming an inclusive community as an organization.
Recognizing...
- that instutional racism profoundly impacts the social landscapes in which we live and work;
- that we have the potential, even tendency, to discuss other forms of oppression before racism and evade difficult conversations about race;
- that our explanations and analyses of other forms of oppression are impoverished when we do not fully understand intersections with racism;
- that white dominance within LVC threatens to undermine on every level our efforts to be an organization committed to social justice;
- and that the education and support we offer volunteers are egregiously lacking when we fail to account for racial dynamics within our organization and the communities in which volunteers live and work;
…we commit to undergoing organization-wide reflection and change that focuses especially on racism, acknowledging that other forms of oppression will be present and connected throughout this process.**
A Brief History of JIC
In 1996 LVC and members of Luther Place and N Street Village began conversations about the institutionalized nature of racism and oppression that are intricately woven into the fabric of our society. Despite its commitments to hospitality all three entities were discovering underlying barriers to broadening their collective communities.
So in 1998 LVC officially began a project called the “Journey to an Inclusive Community” (JIC), collaboratively with Luther Place and N Street Village. The original goal of the JIC was “to achieve the kingdom of God.”
The three groups gathered and engaged with outside consultants (Crossroads Ministry and PASO Consulting) in a process of analysis and self-examination to create long-term strategies for change.
LVC became an independent 501c.03 non-profit in September 2003 and continued the JIC work within the organization through trainings, program development and alliance building. Over the last three years LVC has received trainings from its previous consultants along with Crossroads Anti-Racism Organizing and Training, Lutheran Human Relations Association (LHRA), and the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB).
Since the fall of 2005, the entire LVC Staff has implemented an evolving “JIC Work Plan.” The Board of Directors and Council of Local Support Committees contributed to this Plan at the June and October 2006 Board Meetings. The “JIC Work Plan/Guide” is a living document, continuously updated.
LVC is committed to anti-discrimination on every level
Reconciling in Christ is a program for Lutheran communities of faith to answer the inclusive call of the Gospel by welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender believers.
As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female" (Galatians 3:38).
We acknowledge this reconciliation extends also to those whose affectional orientation is toward a person of the same gender. Because gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:
- that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people share with all others the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;
- that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are welcome within the membership of this organization upon making the same commitment to the tenets made by other volunteers; and
- that as members of this organization, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are expected and encouraged to share in the spiritual and general life of this organization.
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