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Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) is thrilled to welcome The Rev. Eric C. Shafer as our new Pastor in Residence, efficient August 1, 2022.
“Welcoming immigrants and refugees is on the coronary heart of LIRS’s greater than 80 years of ministry and is fundamental to the Christian religion,” stated Shafer. “I really feel privileged to serve on this new method.”
Shafer, who lately retired as Senior Pastor at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, California, will be part of LIRS in part-time, volunteer ministry. In line with Kristin Witte, LIRS’ Director for Mobilization and Religion Relations, Shafer’s work will give attention to “reinforcing LIRS’ Lutheran Id and legacy by connecting the plight of up to date refugees to historic Lutheran values.”
He’ll convey his experience to LIRS via the creation of theological sources and reflection, together with writing and growing faith-based academic supplies, in addition to via assembly with faith-based teams to symbolize LIRS and its work with immigrants and refugees.
“I’m so excited to welcome Eric, who I’ve been happy to get to know via my President’s Council, as Pastor in Residence,” stated LIRS President and CEO Krish O’Mara Vignarajah. “He’s really known as to this work, as evidenced by his management of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, one among LIRS’s most vital supporters.”
Shafer involves LIRS after a protracted profession that included ministry in Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York and California, in addition to in depth ecumenical and interfaith management. He served because the Director for Communication on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Churchwide Workplace, as an Assistant to the Bishop in northeastern Pennsylvania, and as Senior Vice President of Odyssey Networks in New York, in addition to congregations in Pennsylvania and California. He has acquired quite a few recognitions for his work in serving to discovered the primary shelter for homeless school college students within the USA in Santa Monica and was named “Faith Communicator of the Yr” in 2012. He at the moment serves on the LIRS President’s Council.
“Eric’s lengthy historical past of service and management within the ELCA is inspiring,” stated LIRS Vice President for Growth and Mobilization Andrew G. Steele. “I sit up for his continuation of the Lutheran legacy of welcome at LIRS.”
Should you’d wish to get in contact with Rev. Shafer, please e-mail eshafer@lirs.org .
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