Statement on Inflammatory Social Media Posts Regarding Lutheran Service Organizations:
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is aware of inflammatory and misleading statements that were made on social media regarding Lutheran social service organizations nationwide and the work that we do. The statements call into question the bedrock of our collective missions to provide services to our neighbors in need. During our 158-year history, LSSI has partnered with federal and state government to provide critical services for decades.
Federal funding that LSSI receives goes directly toward delivering services, and we are accountable for every dollar received. All of this funding is approved by the Federal government and appropriated by Congress. We follow all regulations of the funding and are subject to federal audit and our own internal auditing. Our more than 1,000 employees are committed to our work and provide our services with excellence and in compliance with all funding guidelines. Additionally, we have a base of committed donors who consistently make charitable contributions to supplement and enhance government funding to continue our programs.
LSSI annually provides social and human services to over 56,000 children, adults, and seniors, including: foster care, mental health services, alcohol and drug treatment, affordable senior housing, home care services for older adults, residential programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and programs that help people and families impacted by incarceration. LSSI does not receive funding for refugee resettlement or Head Start services, vital programs that appear to be the primary targets for the most recent misleading social media statements.
We realize extreme, even demeaning rhetoric, may continue along with ongoing scrutiny of the funding we, and similar faith-based organizations, receive.
The mission of LSSI is to provide healing, justice, and wholeness to people and communities. Our employees live out this mission every day through the positive impact of their work. LSSI holds firm to our mission and faithfully provides critical services that bring dignity, health and well-being, and the promise of reaching one’s full potential to our clients.
Mark Stutrud
President and CEO, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), issued a statement here commenting on the impact of this rhetoric on Lutheran organizations across the country.
