They Are Us: Lutherans and Immigration
Stephen Bouman is director of Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and former bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod ELCA. During twenty years as a parish pastor, he served parishes originally founded by immigrants as they became immigrant congregations once again.Ralston Deffenbaugh is president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), one of the nation's leading agencies in welcoming and advocating for refugees and other migrants. A human rights lawyer, he has worked since 1981 with Lutheran organizations concerned with international affairs and early in his career was heavily involved in Lutheran World Federation's efforts for Namibia's independence and an end to apartheid in South Africa.