Statement of Welcome

People of all gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, abilities, races and socioeconomic backgrounds share in a claim to God’s abundant grace. We grieve that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and two-spirited people have suffered exclusion and damaging mistreatment by the church and by society. We seek to strengthen relationships. All are welcome to be who they are in this community.

Same Gender Marriage Policy

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, as a congregation of the MNO Synod of the ELCIC, affirms that rostered ministers of this congregation may preside at or bless legal (same or different sex) marriages according to the laws of the province of Manitoba.  Ministers from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church will perform same sex marriages using the same criteria or discretion that apply to different sex marriages.

Reconciling in Christ

In October 2019, St. Mark’s was accepted onto the roster of Reconciling in Christ Congregations. The Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Program is for congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, and other Lutheran organizations and ministry communities who have made a public commitment to welcome, include and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) people. By having a statement affirming this welcome that specifically names either, “LGBTQIA+ people” or “people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions” in their statement, these faith communities are accepted into the Reconciling in Christ partnership with Reconciling Works. There are now around 860 RIC Partners throughout the United States and Canada.