Throwback: Asking the LCMS About LIRS Ten Years Ago

Questions asked and answers never answered about Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Almost ten years ago, when I was still writing for Steadfast Lutherans, the subject of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) was a frequent topic. Rev Dr. Bart Day, then the LCMS rep on call for LIRS things, was patient but exasperated with me, especially when I interrupted a Saturday lawn mowing session. Sorry, Pastor. Eventually, he asked me to submit my questions to the President’s office, which I duly did.

These were the questions from November 2015, but no answers were ever returned:

1. How does the LCMS perceive LIRS’s Lutheran identity?

2. Is a tangible Lutheran identity in partner organizations important to the LCMS or is it simply a matter of co-operation in externals?

3. What action is the LCMS taking to bring LIRS back into alignment with the stated objective of providing human care in close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministry?

4. As a matter of co-operation in externals, how is LIRS a more effective partner than, say, Baptist Global Response or Episcopal Migration Ministries?

5. How does the LCMS determine the value obtained from LIRS in exchange for its contributions?

6. How does the LCMS specifically connect with LIRS resettled individuals and families to ensure that they hear the Gospel rightly proclaimed?

7. How many refugees and immigrants from LIRS programs are communicant members of LCMS congregations?

8. How many refugees and immigrants from LIRS programs were baptized in LCMS churches?

An Overture

In July 2014, I persuaded our congregation to approve and submit an overture for the 2015 Rocky Mountain District Convention. The overture was abusively omnibused and never saw the light of day. Here it is, laying it on thickly, so maybe it deserved to die in committee! (some links are probably dead - it’s been a long time)

To Direct the Rocky Mountain District LCMS and the LCMS to end all ties with “Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)”.

WHEREAS, the Synod’s website [ http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx pid=701#interlutheran] states that LIRS is a “Partner” organization under the category“Inter-Lutheran Entity”; and

WHEREAS, the LIRS website [ http://lirs.org/our-work/partnership/church-partners/ ] states that the LCMS is a “Church Partner” with whom it celebrates “strong collaborative relationships”; and

WHEREAS, the LCMS provides similar services through LCMS World Relief and Human Care, Disaster Relief & Response, and numerous related Recognized Service Organizations (RSOs) [ http://www.lcms.org/rso/directory ]; and

WHEREAS, the LCMS states, with regard to RSOs and, by extension, to Partners that “To extend its mission outreach, education and social ministry, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod works with independent Recognized Service Organzations (RSOs) that agree to ensure their programs are in harmony with the doctrine and practice of the LCMS.” [ http://www.lcms.org/RSO\ ]; and

WHEREAS, the LIRS leadership [ http://lirs.org/our-work/about-us/leadership/ ] and non-LCMS Partners do not meet the requirements for altar and pulpit fellowship insofar as they openly reject the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of an unconditional commitment to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and infallible Word of God and to the Lutheran Confessions contained in the unaltered Book of Concord as the true and faithful exposition of the Word of God; and

WHEREAS, the LIRS Mission proclaims a different Gospel: “Witnessing to God’s love for all people, we stand with and advocate for migrants and refugees, transforming communities through ministries of service and justice” [ http://lirs.org/our-work/about-us/identityvisionmission/]; and

WHEREAS, no community can be transformed absent the Holy Spirit alone converting people to saving faith by His Word and Sacraments, when and where He pleases; and

WHEREAS, LIRS follows the pattern of heterodox church bodies that have instituted a new sacrament of works based on Deuteronomy 10:18–19 and Matthew 25:36; and

WHEREAS, LIRS has dissolved the Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms by ignoring that Believers are foreigners on earth (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews. 11:13) and citizens in the kingdom of Christ (Luke 17:20, 21) ; and

WHEREAS, LIRS encourages discontentment, disobedience, rebellion and lawlessness in its advocacy by not upholding the admonition of St. Peter that Christians are to be model citizens and aliens subject to the rule of law (1 Peter 2: 13-15); and

WHEREAS, LIRS disavows the true Gospel in its activities; and

WHEREAS, LIRS has elevated political advocacy to equal status with “service” and makes theological statements and conducts political activity [ http://lirs.org/our-work/partnership/church-partners/ ] implying the consent of its Partners; and

WHEREAS, the LCMS apparently endorses the political activity of LIRS by regularly publishing uncritical reports about LIRS in the Reporter [ http://blogs.lcms.org/2012/synodleaders-take-part-in-refugee-day-hill-visits ]; and

WHEREAS, the LCMS relies on the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) alone to provide theological guidance to the membership of the Synod [ http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=675 ]; and

WHEREAS, LIRS events often involve joint prayer and devotion raising concerns about unionism and syncretism; and

WHEREAS, St. Paul bids the Church not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18); and

WHEREAS, Luther’s Small Catechism teaches that: “we should avoid false teachers, false churches, and all organizations that promote a religion that is contrary to God’s Word” (Question 179, Answer C); therefore be it

Resolved, that LIRS is harmful to our Synod‟s emphasis of “Witness,” “Mercy,” and “Life Together”; and be it further

Resolved, that the Vision, Mission, Core Values, and practices used by LIRS are in

contradiction to Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions; and be it further

Resolved, that the RM District in convention direct the District President and the Board of Directors to immediately end all district funding and support of LIRS in the RM District; and be it further

Resolved, that the RM District in convention direct the District President and the Board of Directors to investigate LIRS Service Partners that would not qualify for altar and pulpit fellowship and to subsequently end all district funding and support of such Service Partners in the RM District; and be it further

Resolved, that all congregations of the RM District be strongly encouraged to end their ties to and support of LIRS and heterodox Service Partners; and be it finally

Resolved, that the RM District in convention submit an overture to the 2016 Synodical Convention to revoke the partnership status afforded LIRS.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Highlands Ranch, Colorado