Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Template:TOCnestleft Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) describes themselves as "a champion for migrants and refugees from around the globe...In partnership with community-based legal and social service providers nationwide, LIRS has helped over 500,000 migrants and refugees rebuild their lives in America."[1]
"Through its partnership with LCMS World Relief and Human Care, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a cooperative agency of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America."[2]
Ninety-six percent of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's funding is through taxpayer dollars from the American federal government.
History
From their website:[3]
- "Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) was founded in 1939 by Lutheran churches in the United States to serve uprooted people during World War II. LIRS has since grown into an internationally recognized leader known for innovative services for refugees, asylum-seekers, unaccompanied migrant children and families, migrants in detention, and other vulnerable populations.
- "For a detailed look at LIRS’s decades of service, we recommend Open Doors: The Story of Lutherans Resettling Refugees by Richard Solberg, published in 1992 by Concordia Publishing House.
- "The Rev. Stephen Bouman and Ralston Deffenbaugh offer theological and historical perspectives on the Lutheran commitment to caring for the sojourner in They Are Us: Lutherans and Immigration published by in 2008 by Augsburg Fortress.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
According to their website, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service partners with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, along with "Lutheran congregations and Lutheran social ministry organizations" to bring "more than 379,000 refugees to the United States since 1939."[4]
Leaders
The following are listed as leaders at the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service:
LIRS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- "The board is composed of 17 members who have knowledge of and commitment to refugees and immigrants. LIRS believes strength is found in diversity and that refugees and immigrants need a voice at the table of influence. All branches of the Lutheran Church, as well as other denominations, are represented on the board. There are also three former refugees or first generation immigrants on the board. The LIRS president is an ex-officio member of the board."
Executive Committee
- Board Chair — The Rev. Michael Rinehart, Houston, TX
- Vice Chair — Mrs. Linda Stoterau, Orange, CA
- Board Treasurer — Mr. Dennis Wieckert, Alpharetta, GA
- Board Secretary— Mr. Evan Moilan, Austin, TX
- Executive Member at Large — Ms. Judith Benke, Oakland Gardens, NY
At-Large Members
- Mrs. Faith Ashton — Chapel Hill, NC
- The Rev. J. Bart Day — Lutheran Church Extension Fund, St. Louis, MO
- Ms. Selena Besirevic — Feldmann Nagel, LLC, Denver, CO
- Mr. Ted Goins — Lutheran Services Carolinas, Salisbury, NC
- Mr. Orville Johnson — Johnson Kellogg Properties, LLC, Stillwater, MN
- Mr. Randall Johnson — Washington, DC
- Ms. Esther Lopez — United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Washington, DC
- Mr. Carlos Pena — Kleen Supply Company, Galveston, TX
- Dr. Diana Pohle — Jazz Pharmaceuticals, San Jose, CA
- Mr. Eddie Resende — World Trade Center Institute, Baltimore, MD
- Ms. Evelyn Soto — Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago IL
- Ms. Elizabeth Wagner — Princeton Area Community Foundation, Lawrenceville, NJ
STAFF LEADERSHIP
- President — Linda Hartke
- Chief Operating Officer — Gary Gold-Moritz
- Interim Chief Financial Officer — Andrea Barton
- Chief Information Officer — William Bisbee
- Interim Chief Human Resources Officer — Patricia Williams
- Vice President for Programs — Kay Bellor
- Vice President for Development, Outreach, and Communications — Staci Coomer
- General Counsel — Shirley LaMotte
- Director for Refugee Services — Nina Zelic
- Director for Children’s Services — Dawnya Underwood
- Director for Advocacy — Javier Cuebas
- Director for Development — Mike Coburn
- Director for Outreach — Folabi Olagbaju
- Director for Marketing and Communications — Danielle Bernard
- Director for Loans Operations and Management — Terry Holthause
Refugee Resettlement Partners
The following are listed as Refugee Resettlement Partners at the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service:[5]
- Arkansas, Canopy of Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville
- Arizona, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, Phoenix, Tucson
- Colorado, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, Denver, Colorado Springs, Greeley
- Florida, Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville and Lutheran Services Florida, Tampa
- Georgia, Lutheran Services of Georgia, Atlanta, Savannah
- Illinois, RefugeeOne, Chicago
- Maryland, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, Hyattsville
- Massachusetts, Ascentria Community Services, Worcester
- Michigan, Samaritas, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Troy
- Minnesota, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Cloud
- Nebraska, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Omaha
- New Mexico, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, Albuquerque
- New York, Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, Utica
- North Carolina, Lutheran Services Carolinas, Raleigh
- North Dakota, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, Bismarck, Fargo
- Oregon, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Portland
- Pennsylvania, Bethany Christian Services, Allentown, Lancaster, Philadelphia
- South Carolina, Lutheran Services Carolinas, Columbia
- South Dakota, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Sioux Falls
- Texas, Refugee Services of Texas, Fort Worth, Houston
- Virginia, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, Falls Church, Woodbridge
- Washington, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Tacoma, Vancouver
- Wisconsin, Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Madison, Milwaukee
Immigration Services Providers
The following are listed as Immigration Services Providers at the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service:[6]
- Arizona, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, Phoenix
- Colorado, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs and Denver
- Florida, Lutheran Services Florida, Tampa
- Georgia, Lutheran Services of Georgia, Atlanta
- Illinois, RefugeeOne, Chicago
- Massachusetts, Ascentria Care Alliance, West Springfield and Worcester
- Michigan, Samaritas, Southfield
- Minnesota, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, Minneapolis
- Nebraska, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Omaha
- New York, Lutheran Social Services of New York, New York City and Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, Utica
- North Dakota, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota and Center for New Americans, Fargo
- Oregon, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Portland
- South Dakota, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Sioux Falls
- Washington, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Seattle and Vancouver
External links
References
- ↑ About us, accessed February 15 2018
- ↑ LIRS president announces resignation, accessed February 16 2018
- ↑ History, accessed February 15 2018
- ↑ Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, accessed February 15 2018
- ↑ Refugee Resettlement Partners, accessed February 15 2018
- ↑ Immigration Services Providers, accessed February 15 2018