Ever feel like you have a target on your back? Well, my ELCA friends, that is exactly what has been placed on the Lutheran Church, the outstanding ministry of Lutheran Social Services (LSS), and more. LSS has been operating since the mid-1800’s with outreach efforts of Lutheran immigrants establishing hospitals and orphanages in the US during that early time and helping legally admitted refugees and immigrants.
LSS’s mission is to: Act compassionately. Serve humbly. Lead courageously. They help people who live here in WI and Upper Michigan and other parts, making a difference by serving others. They share the love of Christ and provide a path to recovery with people in addition or with mental illness, a home that is affordable and safe, and a family to live in and independence. Your benevolent dollars in our Ministry Spending Plan have been supporting this necessary ministry to bring God’s love to life for individual’s and family’s!
These statements shared on Feb 1, 2025 put important ministries in jeopardy. General Mike Flynn (handle on X/Twitter) posted: “Now it’s the ‘Lutheran’ faith (this use of ‘religion’ as a money laundering operation must end” and inferred that Lutheran organizations like Global Refuge (formerly LIRS – Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service) and Lutheran Services in America receive way too much federal grant money with transparency regarding its use. Elon Musk shared this post adding the comment, “The @DOGE (newly formed Department of Government Efficiency) team is rapidly shutting down these illegal payments.”
Please take a moment to listen to a short statement from our presiding ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in this video message in response to these false allegations:
Last October, the ELCA Conference of Bishops released a statement about the need to speak truth and a refusal “to accept the ongoing normalization of lies and deceit.” See this statement:
Want to know more about Lutheran Social Services:
Your ELCA church strongly urges political leaders at all levels of government to use their offices and platforms responsibly and consider the impact of misleading statements and speculation. As a church we are committed, as our core mission, to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit the prisoner (Matt 25:35-45). Let us not rest to also advocate for justice, peace, and dignity of all people as we affirm at our confirmation and began in our baptisms. This has been the calling from Jesus Christ and will not change!
Christ’s Blessings & Peace,
Pastor Nate
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