|| LIRS || Structure

Structure

LIRS is a cooperative agency of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Representatives of these church bodies govern the agency on a 15-member board of directors. The organization's staff of about 90 includes those who work at our home office and various deployed individuals and units.

Organizational Structure

Board of Directors
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LIRS President
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Approximately 80 other Managerial, Professional and Support Staff

View LIRS Organizational Chart (PDF—Click here if you have trouble viewing)

Board Composition

one director from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and one director from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), each representing the appropriate program unit of the church bodies
one director each from ELCA and LCMS representing a social ministry agency or institution
one director who is a representative of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (LELCA)
10 directors-at-large having knowledge of and commitment to refugee and immigration matters—six from ELCA, three from LCMS and one a former refugee who is a member of a participating church body
the LIRS president is an ex-officio member of the board

Officers

Chair—Elaine Richter Bryant (LCMS), adjunct professor, Concordia University, Ballwin, Mo. (also serves as Executive Committee Chair)
Vice Chair—Ruth Henrichs (ELCA), CEO, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Omaha (also serves as Program Committee Chair)
Secretary—The Rev. Dr. Gary Danielsen (LCMS), president/CEO, Lutheran Services of Georgia, Atlanta (also serves as Finance Committee Chair)
Board Development Committee Chair—Kathi Anderson (ELCA), executive director, Survivors of Torture International, San Diego
Resource Development Committee Chair—Dr. Judith A. Diers (ELCA), program associate for gender, family and development, The Population Council, New York City

Members

Sen. Betty Boyd (ELCA), Colorado State Senate, Lakewood, Colo.
J. David Ellwanger (ELCA), retired attorney, Frisco, Texas
The Rev. Carlos Hernandez (LCMS), districts/congregations director, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, St. Louis
The Rev. Jotham Johann Jhang, J.D. (LCMS), president and executive director, Center for Asian Missions and Evangelism, Alexandria, Va.
Randel K. Johnson (LCMS), vice president for labor, immigration and employee benefits, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
The Rev. Yohannes Mengsteab (LCMS), National Director for New Mission Fields Development, LCMS World Mission, St. Louis
The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Larson (ELCA), executive director, Division for Church in Society, ELCA, Chicago
Cynthia E. Nance (ELCA), dean, University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, Ark.
The Rev. Anita Varsbergs Paza (LELCA), pastor, Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Washington, D.C., Rockville, Md.
Bishop E. Roy Riley (ELCA), New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America