LIRS (Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) is excited to announce the appointment of Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, former Policy Director to First Lady Michelle Obama, as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 13, 2019.
Since its founding in 1939, LIRS has worked to uphold the uniquely
American ideal that welcoming immigrants from across the globe with open
arms is essential to our nation’s progress and prosperity. Now more
than ever, bold action is needed to ensure America remains the shining
city on the Hill and a bastion of hope for those yearning for a better
life. Krish’s embodiment of these timeless American values inspired LIRS
to appoint a next generation leader—the second refugee and first
non-Lutheran in its 80-year history—to lead its efforts to protect the
rights and create opportunities for vulnerable refugees and migrants.“In an era of family separation and animus towards immigrants seeking a better life, Krish Vignarajah is the perfect person to lead LIRS–one of our nation’s foremost immigration organizations. As an immigrant who fled a civil war and went on to serve in the State Department, Obama White House, and across Maryland, Krish uniquely understands the challenges and opportunities facing refugees and asylum-seekers. She will be a tireless champion for all who seek a better life,” said Sen. Ben Cardin (Md).
“Krish is exactly the kind of once-in-a-generation leader LIRS needs right now,” said LIRS Board Chair Bishop Michael Rinehart. “The selection of Krish is an embodiment of the Lutheran commitment to be a church for the sake of the world. Today, we have the opportunity to extend and embrace the gift and energy of a leader who came to this country as one of the most vulnerable. ”
Krish has been Policy Director for Michelle Obama, Senior Advisor at the State Department under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State John Kerry, and a lawyer and university professor.
Founded in 1939, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is one of the largest immigration and refugee resettlement agencies in the United States, and only one of two agencies that helped reunite children with parents after family separations. LIRS is nationally recognized for its leadership working with and advocating for refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, immigrants in detention, families fractured by migration and other vulnerable populations. Through 80 years of service and advocacy, LIRS has helped over 500,000 migrants and refugees rebuild their lives in America.
My Comments:
I have no doubt that Krish is well qualified and polically connected. I have no doubt that many will hail her appointment as ground-breaking. I have no doubt that her personal experience will weigh heavily on her work. What troubles me is that when Lutheran agencies are run by non-Lutherans, the bottom line question is what makes this agency Lutheran at all? The source of funds is not a credible answer nor is it enough to describe the legacy of its Lutheran founders or the board members who currently hold Lutheran membership. Krish is not only not Lutheran but not Christian. If Lutheranism is key to the identity and mission of LIRS, how will she administer this pan-Lutheran agency and honor that identity and direct that mission? The LIRS board says Krish will help the agency embody the church for the sake of the world. How is it possible for a Hindu to assist a Lutheran agency do that?
Again, do not interpret my comments as anyway suggesting that the problem lies with Krish. It lies with Lutherans who talk the talk about the church, about Christ, about the Gospel, and then leave the leadership of an agency whose job it is to do those things in the hands of a non-Christian. So either there is not much Lutheran anymore in Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Services OR the agency has become merely an arm of the government, using government and other grant funds to do government work. I am not sure which is true or if both are true but it does leave a question where an explanation point should be. . .
3 comments:
LIaRS hasn't been Lutheran for many years! The question needing an answer: Why did the LCMS leadership support and convince Convention delegates to donate Missouri Synod pewsitters' money to such an organization?
Check out Ann Corcoran's past Refugee Resettlement Watch blogs that refer to LIaRS and VOLAG mischief.
Pastor Peters wrote:
"...the agency has become merely an arm of the government, using government and other grant funds to do government work."
I recall as a young boy when my unchurched dad was seriously considering attending adult information classes and joining our local LCMS congregation. My mom was already LCMS, and my brothers and I would attend confirmation classes as soon as we were old enough. That was in the mid-1970s. Sounds great, right?
Our congregation at the time decided to run a campaign to raise money for Lutheran Church Charities (LCC). The offering plate money would be funneled to the LCC for the purpose of helping poor children in Africa. When my dad learned of this, he decided that he did not want to join the LCMS - or any church at all. He determined that Christian congregations everywhere (LCMS and all other Christian denominations) serve as fronts for "faith-based" social service agencies, which in turn rely mostly on federal government grants.
https://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/
From the LCC website:
"...who help people regardless of their ethnic background, social standing, or religious affiliation."
Of course. In order to accept federal grant money, faith-based organizations are not allowed to advocate a preference for helping Christians over Muslims, Buddhists, or pagans.
More from the LCC website:
"WORD Bible study classes are non-denominational and open to anyone regardless of church affiliation (or lack of)."
There you have it. LCMS congregations are urged to support a non-denominational Christian "ministry" that does not even bother to advocate for the confessional Lutheran "LCMS" brand of Christianity. In order to accept federal grant money, are faith-based Christian organizations allowed to advocate a preference for the specific teachings of their church denomination? It doesn't appear that way.
It makes me sick to think that my own LCMS congregation donates money and advocates for volunteers to go serve with the Salvation Army, the local secular food bank, and Habitat for Humanity. These organizations have admirable goals, to be sure. However, why bother using LCMS church resources in mission and mercy work if our efforts are not intended to produce confessional Lutherans worldwide and to strengthen the confessional Lutheran faith.
Was my dad right in not wanting to be a part of this? I wish he would have wanted to be part of a Christian congregation somewhere, but if all church congregations everywhere function merely as secular "arms of the government," it is difficult to refute his point.
From the LCMS website located at https://www.lcms.org/about
Notice the third item of the Seven Mission Priorities
1. Plant, sustain, and revitalize Lutheran churches
2. Support and expand theological education
3. Perform human care in close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministries
4. Collaborate with the Synod’s members and partners to enhance mission effectiveness
5. Promote and nurture the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of pastors and professional church workers
6. Enhance early childhood, elementary and secondary education, and youth ministry
7. Strengthen and support the Lutheran family in living out God’s design
…close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministries, close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministries, close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministries, close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministries…
Maybe not.
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