June 23, 2011

CHICAGO – As Minot, N.D. prepared for imminent widespread flooding, the bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod said he is grateful for the "gift" of being connected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Many members have called or sent messages asking how they can help.

"We're getting emails and calls from other ELCA congregations across the country," said the Rev. Mark E. Narum. "This is the gift of the larger church. This is a devastating event, but we do not stand alone."

To help with flood response, ELCA Disaster Response provided a $20,000 emergency grant last week to Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, Fargo, and a $5,000 grant to the ELCA Western North Dakota Synod, Bismarck, said the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, director, ELCA Disaster Response.

Government officials have ordered the evacuation of 11,000 residents of Minot. Some 4,000 homes and businesses are likely to flood, and it's possible the water will remain for weeks, they said. Four ELCA congregations in the Minot area are preparing for significant flooding. The water is from the Souris River, the result of heavy rains in western North Dakota and Canada.

Floods threaten Christ Lutheran Church, First Lutheran Church and Augustana Lutheran Church, all in Minot, and Peace Lutheran Church in Burlington, N.D., Narum said. If secondary levees hold, First Lutheran, Augustana Lutheran and Peace Lutheran may be spared significant flooding, he said. This is the second time this spring the congregations have been evacuated, Narum said.

"I'm extremely concerned about Christ Lutheran," Narum said. "There could be a couple of feet of water on their main sanctuary floor." Volunteers, some from as far as 60 miles away, responded to a call for help from the synod this week to move furniture and worship supplies out of the congregation's sanctuary, he said.

To help the congregations in the flood zone continue with worship, the synod has paired each one with another Minot-area ELCA congregation, Narum said. Synod staff will meet June 23 with Minot-area ELCA pastors at Zion Lutheran Church, followed by a worship service.

Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota will use some of the disaster funds for disaster coordination and case management staff to respond, said Bonnie Turner, disaster response program director.

The social service agency will work with local leaders to determine long-term flood recovery needs, she said. "We've got great partnerships," Turner said. "We work in tandem with our partners. This recovery will be successful. It will just be long and tedious."

Turner said next week Lutheran Social Services will host training for flood cleanup supervisors and volunteers in Bismarck, and sessions in other locations are being planned. Volunteers are now working in Williston to clean up flood homes, she added.

Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response will be used entirely to respond to the series of spring storms, including tornadoes and floods. Gifts may be contributed at http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/storms/, on the ELCA website. Gifts may also be contributed by calling 800-638-3522, or by mail to ELCA Disaster Response, 39330 Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694-9300. Please write "U.S. Severe Storms" on your check's memo line.

ELCA News Service