CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Fire destroyed the administrative offices of Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York (LSS-MNY) the evening of Feb. 18. The social ministry organization is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and recognized by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).
"We thank God that no one was seriously injured, although nine firemen suffered smoke inhalation and minor injuries battling the blaze," said the Rev. Russell B. Norris Jr., president and chief executive officer of LSS-MNY.
"We also give thanks that most of the records are intact, and the agency can continue its work in foster care, group homes, supportive housing and care for people with developmental disabilities," he said.
An emergency office was set up at St. John Lutheran Church in Greenwich Village. "We are working to relocate the foster care, adoption, kinship, AIDS, home-finding and group homes units to a location in Brooklyn, while we explore alternative office space," said Norris.
An official cause of the fire has not been determined. Norris said an electrical fire broke out on the fourth floor of the Park Place office building and quickly engulfed the fifth floor. LSS-MNY offices were on both floors.
"This comes at a time of renewed relationships between LSS and the congregations of our synod and the Atlantic District of the LCMS," said the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod.
Bouman preached the following Sunday morning at Fordham Lutheran Church in the Bronx, which he called "a church revitalized by its relationship with LSS as they host shelter for women, foster care and head start programs."
During the Christian season of Lent, Bouman called on Lutherans to pray for the staff and partners of LSS-MNY and for the people they serve. "Our social ministry organizations continue the heartbeat of word and sacrament life into communities for which Christ died," he said.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
