ELCA Bishop Visits Tornado-Damaged Areas of Minnesota

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "The tornado was not the act of God," said the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, on a pastoral visit to St. Peter, Minn., after tornadoes tore a 68-mile long path of devastation across a five-county area in southern Minnesota last week.
Anderson met with pastors, ELCA synod staff members, tornado survivors and others involved in disaster response April 7 at First Lutheran Church, St. Peter. Anderson asked tornado survivors to describe their damage and special needs at the meeting.
"My first concern is about you pastors affected in this area," said Anderson. "We need to let you know that what you are doing is important for the whole church, and we will support you."
Anderson heard stories of near-death experiences, sudden destruction with little warning, shingle and tree damage, chimneys falling through roofs, houses that have been destroyed or condemned and stories of loss, grief and weariness.
"You are in good hands with Lutheran Disaster Response," Anderson told the gathering. "Lutheran Disaster Response will be around not just when this disaster is in the headlines. Listen to and work with these folks. They know the whole story, not just the headlines stuff." Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Anderson also met with Dr. Axel D. Steuer, president of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, an ELCA college damaged by a tornado.
Steuer and other college officials hope to reopen the college April 20.
"Gustavus Adolphus College is not only alive but moving forward with energy," Anderson said. "The act of God is that the students were not here but were on spring break. We're doing well."
The 137-foot spire of Gustavus Adolphus' Christ Chapel was snapped in half. Windows were blown out, but the chapel's "eternal flame," suspended in a bowl from the ceiling of the chapel, was still burning. The seating capacity of the chapel is 1,300.
"In some ways, I think that the flame is more symbolically important than the spire," said Steuer. "For us, it's what goes on in that building that means the most to this community," Steuer told the Star Tribune (Minneapolis).
"That image of the eternal flame, the symbol of God's presence, has kept the light of hope burning within all members of the Gustavus family," said the Rev. Dennis J. Johnson, vice president for college relations. Johnson expects the chapel to reopen this fall.
Preliminary estimates of "insurable damage," including missing roofs, shattered windows and computer losses, from $40 million to $60 million will be covered by a $175 million insurance policy, Steuer said. Insurance will not pay for the loss of hundreds of uprooted trees, but the college has an arboretum endowment available.
Of the buildings, Steuer said about six frame structures, many of them guest houses, will not open in two weeks. The Lund Center, a multipurpose sports complex with a hockey arena and basketball court, will need roof repairs that will not be completed until commencement exercises May 31. The college still intends to hold the ceremonies outdoors.
"Gustie spirit unites us," said Ivy Bernhardson, chair of the college's governing board. "It's not the surroundings, it's the people; and that's why Gustavus will be a better place," she said.
"We are a people of the cross, resurrection people, people of hope and new life. I often use these words as I speak in disaster situations, because from the depth of my being I believe these words are true," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, associate director for Lutheran Disaster Response.
There are 2,370 students enrolled at Gustavus for the 1997-1998 school year with 600 faculty, administration and support staff. The 330-acre campus has 28 academic buildings. The liberal arts college was founded in 1862.
In addition to St. Peter, a series of tornadoes swept through Comfrey, Le Center and rural areas of Minnesota causing death, massive destruction, injury and widespread homelessness. Many churches, farms and businesses are heavily damaged.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota will manage the relief effort on behalf of Lutheran Disaster Response with help from an experienced disaster response team. An ELCA "DisasterGram" says, "Funds are most needed to provide essential aid to victims of this disaster as well as assistance for the long-term recovery."
"Generators used in last year's Upper Midwest flooding have been shipped to St. Peter, Comfrey and rural areas," said the Rev. Leon A. Phillips, director for Lutheran Disaster Response. "At least twenty buses filled with volunteers will be sent to the tornado-damaged areas. At least 1,000 volunteers will participate in this first-phase cleanup. They will work both in private homes and at Gustavus Adolphus College," he said.
"Twisted trees, bent signs, broken wires, crumpled houses -- it was like a war zone in St. Peter," said the Rev. Herbert L. Chilstrom, former presiding bishop of the ELCA.
"At First Lutheran Church, we found a beehive of activity; it has become the nerve center for the area," said Chilstrom. "First Lutheran and St. Peter Catholic churches will have a joint communion service. Only in war and disaster can we seem to come together to the altar," he said.
"But I often wish that the television cameras and news reporters were still around when our church does the hardest work of all -- helping folks who are often forgotten when the disaster is out of the headlines," said Chilstrom.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html