CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Tornadoes that killed a child an injured 38 people in southern Minnesota March 29 severly damaged a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.
"We have broken glass pretty much everywhere," said Axel D. Steuer, president of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. Many campus buildings were damaged including Christ Chapel, which was destroyed.
"Initial estimates indicate that the college has sustained $10 million in damages," said Sue Rothmeyer, director of administration for the ELCA's Division for Higher Education and Schools. "Gustavus Adolphus College is currently on spring break, and we have heard no news of injury to any students or staff," she said.
An estimated 200 to 300 homes were damaged, trees uprooted, windows shattered and power lines downed in St. Peter, Comfrey, Le Center and Lonsdale, Minn.
Faith Lutheran Church in Comfrey sustained major damage, according to the Rev. Lawrence R. Wohlrabe, a synod minister for the ELCA's Southwestern Minnesota Synod. A steeple from the church was in a tree lying across the front yard of the parsonage, just west of the church building. The other steeple of the church is simply gone, reported the Rev. Patricia E. Baglien, a pastor at Faith Lutheran.
Trinity Lutheran Church sustained significant damage, reported the Rev. Eric Natwick, St. Peter. The town of St. Peter "looks like a bomb hit it," he said.
The condition of First Lutheran Church in St. Peter is unknown. There are no reports of damage to Scandian Grove Lutheran Church.
"Lutheran relief workers are in the affected areas, although the town of St. Peter is apparently still sealed off," said the Rev. Leon A. Phillips, director for Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Search and rescue efforts will continue to account for any missing people. Lutheran relief efforts will include communication with pastors and city officials to better determine the extent of damage and emergency needs.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
