Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

At our 2025 Assembly, held May 29–31 in Greensboro, the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed a resolution affirming our ongoing commitment to the holy and urgent work of refugee resettlement. This decision was grounded in the teachings of Jesus, who says in Matthew 25:35, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

For over half a century, Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC), in partnership with Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service), has faithfully welcomed thousands of legally vetted refugees across the Carolinas. These neighbors—fleeing violence, persecution, and extreme hardships—arrive in our communities with little more than hope, and they count on our shared ministry for support in building a new life.

Yet, as many of you know, a federal stop-work order issued in January 2025 halted refugee resettlement across the country. This action stranded tens of thousands of refugees abroad, cut off vital services for those who have already arrived, and left organizations like LSC and Global Refuge unpaid for work already completed. In response, some staff have been furloughed, and programs have been forced to scale back or pause altogether.

In this critical moment, I write to ask for your faithful action.

First, I urge every congregation and every disciple in this synod to continue supporting Lutheran Services Carolinas and Global Refuge in their holy work, whether federal reimbursement is forthcoming or not. This is Gospel work, and we are called to it whether it is convenient, funded, or not. Financial gifts, volunteer time, and public advocacy are all needed to continue providing housing, education, job placement, and essential care for our newest neighbors.

Second, I call upon the congregations, clergy, and leaders of this synod to seek meetings with your U.S. congressional representatives and senators. We must bear public witness to our values and speak out on behalf of refugees who cannot advocate for themselves. Personal conversations with elected officials are among the most powerful forms of advocacy available to us as citizens and people of faith.

You can find your members of Congress and their contact information at the following sites:

🔹U.S. House of Representatives  house.gov

🔹U.S. Senate  senate.gov

Please take the time to write, call, or schedule a meeting. Speak from your faith, your values, and your experience as part of a community that believes in welcoming the stranger. A sample letter to congresspeople and their mailing addresses are enclosed. I hope you will share it with your congregants, with encouragement to write.

Together, let us remain steadfast in this work of mercy and justice. May our voices, actions, and prayers reflect the boundless hospitality of Christ.

In Christ’s peace and service,