CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Four congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gain training to respond to the legal immigration needs in their communities. Members of La Sagrada Familia Lutheran Church, Chicago; Chinese Life Lutheran Church, Alhambra, Calif.; Grace Lutheran Church, Washington, D.C.; and San Miguel Lutheran Church, Fort Worth, Texas, gathered here Nov. 11-12 for a training session.
The purpose of the training is to provide congregations with information needed to determine mission, program design, type of services, structure, staffing needs, financial systems and outreach strategies for immigration legal service programs in their churches, said the Rev. Ruben F. Duran, executive for congregational outreach services, ELCA Division for Outreach.
"The Lutheran Church has always been and continues to be an immigrant church," he said. "What we are attempting to do is equip congregations to serve as entry points so that new immigrants can become more active and productive members of church and society. In many ways the future of the church is directly connected to the well-being, energy and gifted contributions of people coming to this soil."
The training was provided by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a ministry of the ELCA, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It included a discussion on the U.S. immigration system and the role of the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State, the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Board of Immigration Appeals.
After completing the course, participants will know more about the U.S. immigration system and immigration law, and understand major elements of immigration service program management which are important to ensure ongoing, viable programs, Duran said. "Participants will be prepared to develop realistic action steps leading to the launch of an immigration service center, or critically to assess existing operations for new opportunities."
Duran said the need for assistance with immigration issues is being felt by people from many nations, especially from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
"A growing number of Lutheran congregations are beginning to respond by providing immigration services," he said.
"Through service in their communities, congregations are enhancing their opportunities for witnessing to Jesus Christ and are experiencing growth," Duran said. "These congregations have requested training, technical support and financial assistance to respond effectively to the immigration needs in their community."
The training was part of the ELCA's Congregation-Based Immigration Services Pilot Project.
"The objectives of the project include providing technical assistance to congregation leaders, enabling them to support congregation-based immigration service centers as part of their outreach ministry," said Duran. Other objectives include building a network of ELCA and ecumenical partner congregations involved in immigration services for the purposes of mutual support, resources and referrals, he said.
La Sagrada Familia Lutheran Church, Chinese Life Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church and San Miguel Lutheran Church will provide services for a diverse number of visa processing needs, citizenship, court appeals and advocacy for about 4,000 to 6,000 individuals a year once the centers are up and running, said Duran.
People living in legal status will have access to rights and privileges and become more productive and integral members of society, said Duran. Other results of congregation-based immigration centers include improved connections within ELCA-related congregations and institutions, he said.
The 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Philadelphia called for a "Message on Immigration." The message was approved by the board of the ELCA Division for Church in Society and was adopted by the ELCA Church Council on Nov. 16, 1998. The message serves as a resource for deliberation on attitudes regarding immigrants and a resource to interpret and apply ELCA policy related to immigration.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.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
