The number of refugees fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and making their way into Europe continues to climb. In fact, for the first time since World War II, there are more than 50 million refugees around the world.
As ELCA Lutherans, our faith calls us to action to welcome and care for our refugee neighbors here in the United States and around the world. We do this in many ways:
In partnership with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), we engage in education, advocacy and response. One way congregations can do this is by designating a Sunday as Refugee Sunday. The Refugee Sunday toolkit can be found here.
The ELCA also partners with Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) to respond to refugee crises as they happen. Learn what you and your congregation can do here.
In Georgia, congregations and individuals also partner with Lutheran Services of Georgia (LSG) to welcome and meet the needs of refugees being resettled here. Click here to learn more about this work and how you can be a part of it.
You and your congregation can also keep our sisters and brothers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria in prayer as they look to respond to the influx of refugees from Syria in their own communities. Following is the transcribed version of a letter sent to Bishop Michael Grabow and the Diocese of Augsburg and Swabia of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria last month. You will also find a link to Bishop Grabow's report "on the refugee situation in Europe, in Germany and with us in Bavaria."
18 September, 2015
Dear brothers and sisters of the Diocese of Augsburg and Swabia of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria:
Here in the Southeastern Synod we are aware of the refugee crisis in Europe and of your efforts to serve these children of God who have been driven from their homes.
We are grateful for your service to them in the name of Christ who told us all to welcome the stranger. Please be assured that we are praying for you in our congregations and in our families as you meet this challenge.
On behalf of the congregations of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
