No Damage to ELCA Churches on Hawaii Following Strong Earthquake

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Murray D. Finck, bishop of the
Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), reported no structural damage to churches of the ELCA on
the islands of Hawaii after a strong earthquake cut power to most
of the state Oct. 15. Finck was on the island of Oahu during the
earthquake.
"Communication was poor yesterday, which made it difficult
to contact people," Finck told the ELCA News Service Oct. 16.
"Without electricity, many people were outside of buildings
trying to find food and safe drinking water. It was a bit
chaotic," he said.
Finck was on Oahu to attend an ordination and a meeting of
the synod's Hukilau Conference, which consists of 11
congregations on four Hawaiian Islands. Finck said participants
in the conference and the synod are now working to respond to the
needs of people affected by the earthquake. In Kailua Kona an
ELCA pastor's home was "severely damaged," he said.
The ELCA Pacifica Synod, based in Yorba Linda, Calif., is
made up of 10 conferences with 125 congregations in the state of
Hawaii and portions of Southern California, including Orange, San
Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties and parts
of the City of Los Angeles.
- - -
Information about the ELCA Pacifica Synod is available at
http://www.pacificasynod.org on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog