Dear NWIM Synod,
Watch Bishop Eaton's YouTube Video.
On February 1, 2025, misinformation spread on X (formerly Twitter), falsely accusing Lutheran organizations of financial misconduct. A post from "General Mike Flynn" implied that Lutheran groups like Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) and Lutheran Services in America receive excessive federal funding without transparency. Elon Musk then amplified the claim, suggesting that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new government office under the Trump Administration, was shutting down "illegal payments."
These allegations are false and dangerous. Lutheran organizations have faithfully served refugees, immigrants, and vulnerable communities for 85 years, using grant funding responsibly and transparently. These grants support legally admitted refugees and provide essential services, continuing a long-standing commitment to care for the most vulnerable.
The Rev. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, executed by German nationalists for resisting tyranny, once said: "The church is only truly the church when it exists for others."
This was true in 1930s and '40s Europe, and it is true today in the United States, where Lutherans—alongside Catholic, Episcopal, Evangelical, and other Christian partners—have stepped into the breach where governments have failed.
For over 150 years, Lutheran social service agencies have served the most vulnerable in this country. They have:
Reunited families torn apart by war and violence.
Helped refugees find safety and stability.
Cared for seniors, including those on Medicare and Medicaid so they could stay in their homes.
Facilitated adoptions.
Supported low-income families in crisis, and much more.
Lutheran Services in America reaches 1 in 50 people in the U.S. every year—not for profit, not for power, but because it is what the Gospel commands.
In response to allegations, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton released a video addressing the misinformation and reaffirming our church's dedication to truth and service. "Despite misinformation and baseless doubt cast today on funding that supports Lutheran organizations across our country, the ELCA remains steadfast in our commitment and work with our many Lutheran partners and expressions of our church," she stated.
As Lutherans, we follow the Eighth Commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Last October, the ELCA Conference of Bishops publicly denounced the normalization of lies and deceit in public discourse. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to truth and urge political leaders to use their platforms responsibly.
For over 2,000 years, the church has been called to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and advocate for justice and dignity for all people. This mission does not change in the face of misinformation. The ELCA remains committed to this work, standing alongside our Lutheran partners to serve our neighbors in need.
Watch Bishop Eaton's YouTube Video.
Read the ELCA Conference of Bishops' statement on truth and accountability here: Statement.
Follow this LINK to see what Lutheran Community Services Northwest does in our synod.
Bishop Meggan Manlove