ELCA News Service

A service for journalists and members of the news media

(Story with links to audio and photos)

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Four Lutheran young adults started a three-month road trip Aug. 27 to recruit people their age to consider a year of work overseas. Stephanie Anderson, Nathan Berkas, Sara Higgins and Elliot Williams are visiting congregations, college campuses and other areas where young people hang out to share how international service can be life-changing. They returned from their service four weeks ago.
     Traveling overseas "you quickly see the differences in language, culture, music and food," said Anderson. "But after living alongside people for a year, you realize that people everywhere are looking for the same things -- love, support, friendship and encouragement. There are a lot more similarities among us than we often realize," she said.
     Anderson, Berkas, Higgins and Williams participated in the Young Adults in ...(more)

North Carolina ELCA Congregations Affected Little by Hurricane Earl
Sep 03, 2010; 10-239-JB

(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)