ELCA NEWS SERVICE

December 7, 2011  

Secretary of State Clinton highlights the work of ELCA-related ministries
11-141-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton noted
the vital work of Lutheran social ministry organizations in welcoming
refugees to the United States, during her Dec. 7 address at the U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugee's ministerial conference in Geneva.
     In her presentation to world leaders, Clinton shared a story about
Fatuma Elmi, who applied for asylum in the United States after civil war
broke out in her native Somalia in 1991. Settled in Minneapolis, Elmi has
worked as an employment counselor at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
for the past 17 years. She has been able to find jobs for 79 percent of
her clients this year, despite the difficult economy.
     Elmi's life is "clear evidence of the wisdom of investing in women,"
said Clinton, adding that the United States would be delivering 28
pledges to the conference, one designed to build awareness on a
major "cause of statelessness, which is discrimination against women,"
she said.
     Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is an affiliated ministry of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), along with 285 other
social ministry organizations across the country.
     ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson said he appreciates Clinton's
sharing of Elmi's story and the recognition of Lutheran Social Service of
Minnesota, particularly "on this historic occasion of the 60th
anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 50th anniversary of
the Statelessness Convention in a gathering of world leaders." The
ministerial conference brings together more than 150 representatives from
around the world. Clinton is a member of the U.S. delegation.
     "In sharing Fatuma Elmi's story, Secretary Clinton has affirmed the
invaluable contributions resettled refugees bring to life in American
communities. In naming Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, she has also
recognized the vast network of Lutheran social service organizations that
are an expression of faith active in loving service to our neighbor,"
Hanson said.
     "This is who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Many are descendants of a once immigrant people, and others of those who
came as slaves. Together we are now participating in God's work of
restoring and reconciling communities by welcoming refugees and working
towards fair and just immigration reform," he said.
     "As individuals, congregations, Lutheran social ministry
organizations and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, we know we
can achieve things together on a scale and scope we could never do
otherwise. As the ELCA, let us make these significant anniversaries an
occasion for renewing our commitment to welcoming the new immigrant into
the life of our neighborhoods and congregations."
     Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is one of the United
States' leading agencies in welcoming and advocating for refugees and
immigrants. Based in Baltimore, it works on behalf of the ELCA, The
Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
     Kim Dettmer, director of refugee services at Lutheran Social Service
of Minnesota, said Elmi has "dedicated her life to helping refugees find
safety and stability in our community as an employment specialist.
Through partnerships with employers, primarily in manufacturing and
hospitality industries, many refugees have found entry-level work that
has required minimal technical or English skills."
     Calling this "a win-win-win situation for refugees, employers and
our community," Dettmer said it takes "a community to help refugees
succeed. Minnesota has a long tradition of lending a hand to refugees,
and they have enhanced our quality of life in many ways. Fatuma is a
great example of people from war-torn countries who have worked hard to
establish new lives and have given back to the community."
     Shortly after her arrival in the United States and prior to her work
at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Elmi volunteered at a Somali
women's organization mentoring mothers and daughters to ensure that both
understood women's roles in the U.S. and the value of an education. Her
actions were effective, as five of the six girls Elmi mentored went on to
receive a college education, according to Dettmer.
     Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is one of five resettlement
organizations in Minnesota helping refugees gain self-sufficiency.
Information about the service is at www.lssmn.org.
     Information about Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is
available at www.lirs.org.
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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 4.2 million members in 10,000 congregations 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.

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Melissa Ramirez Cooper
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