ELCA News Service

A service for journalists and members of the news media

(Updated)

      CHICAGO (ELCA) -- It appears that Hurricane Earl did little damage to Eastern North Carolina Sept. 3.  The eye of the storm remained offshore, and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) synod and congregational leaders in affected areas reported no significant damage. 
     Hurricane Earl was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.  It was moving to the north-northeast this afternoon at 21 miles per hour.
     The Rev. Phillip T. Tonnesen of the ELCA North Carolina Synod, Salisbury, said he spoke with the Rev. Keith H. Dey of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Southern Shores, N.C., a synodically authorized worshiping community, and the Rev. Garry A. Vogelpohl, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Elizabeth City, N.C. 
     "They reported lots of wind ...(more)

ELCA's Finlandia University Reports Significant Enrollment Growth
Sep 03, 2010; 10-238-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Finlandia University, Hancock, Mich., reported it will welcome 673 students to its campus this fall, an increase of 18 percent over the 568 students it welcomed one year ago.  The fall 2010 enrollment is the school's largest in 25 years, and the highest since Finlandia began offering four-year degrees in 1996, according to a university news release.
     Finlandia is one of 26 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
     For the fall semester 2009, the university's enrollment represented a 10 percent growth over the previous year, the release said.
     "This year's enrollment growth is extraordinary," said Philip Johnson, Finlandia's president. "We have met or exceeded three key strategic university goals in retention, recruitment and resident student numbers. This is exactly what Finlandia ...(more)

ELCA Congregations to Host Gatherings, Strive to be Centers of Hospitality
Sep 02, 2010; 10-237-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- People around the world are on the move, and Lutherans are examining some of the reasons why -- climate change, food security, civil and political unrest and more. To address the global and local realities of migration and accompaniment, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is hosting "Glocal Mission Gatherings" this fall and next year to help congregations serve as centers of hospitality.
     "Glocal" is a combination of "global" and "local." The gatherings are designed to bring congregations together locally in an effort to learn how they can deepen their understanding of mission in the global and domestic context.
     "There is a lot of passion and enthusiasm among our congregations for mission that is global," said Sunitha Mortha, director for global formation, ELCA Global Mission. "Even if people are not yet ...(more)