wfn.org | Minneapolis ELCA Congregation Raises Spire Cross

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

Title: Minneapolis ELCA Congregation Raises Spire Cross
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>December 17, 2009  

Minneapolis ELCA Congregation Raises Spire Cross
09-278-JB*

MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- A chapter in the life of Central Lutheran
Church, Minneapolis -- lived out largely in the public eye and one that
has provided the opportunity to tell the story of Central's urban mission
far and wide -- came to a successful conclusion this week.

Braving arctic-cold weather, members of the congregation gathered
outdoors Dec. 13 and sang "Lift High the Cross" as Central's historic
spire cross -- damaged in a rare downtown tornado last summer -- was
raised by a 200-foot crane and permanently remounted on the church's
spire.

The tornado touched down near Central Aug. 19 as the Churchwide
Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was meeting
at the Minneapolis Convention Center across the street.  Two outdoor,
tented hospitality areas, set up to serve assembly voting members and
guests, were destroyed. The storm snapped the center supporting mast of
the spire, leaving the 14-foot tall, 900-pound cross dangling upside
down. It was safely removed the following day.

The storm caused $298,000 in damage to Central's campus. Events
scheduled inside the congregation's buildings went on as planned.

Despite the fact that plans months-in-the-making were changed in an
instant, the storm caused no injuries. There were also some surprising
results.

Within moments of the storm, local and national news organizations,
including CNN and the Associated Press, began calling Central.  People
around the globe read about Central and sent their good wishes.  Some
from as far away as New Zealand sent e-mail messages. This week's cross-
raising received the same high level of media attention as did the
tornado.

Voting members and guests at the assembly showed their generosity in
the wake of the storm. Many asked the Rev. Craig Johnson, bishop of the
ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod, about how they could help Central.  It was
decided that an Aug. 21 offering would benefit Central.

Before the offering was taken the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA
presiding bishop, announced that Central's leadership had decided to give
all the money received to Lutheran World Relief (LWR) in support of the
Lutheran Malaria Initiative.

The Lutheran Malaria Initiative, formally launched at the assembly,
was to have received 10 percent of proceeds from the congregation's
Carillon Cafe and Pub Central, both destroyed by the storm. It was
estimated that proceeds from the outdoor venues designated for the
Lutheran Malaria Initiative would have been approximately $2,500. The
assembly offering totaled nearly $9,000.

In addition, it had been announced before the assembly that 66
outdoor trees and shrubs, purchased to decorate the worship area and the
plenary-session stage, would be donated to Central. Members of its Fiscal
and Property Committee were not sure if there would be room to replant
them all. The storm resolved that problem.

Hanson told the assembly that Central's leaders decided to plant the
trees and shrubs in an area on the south side of the church, suddenly
bare after the storm uprooted several trees.

"That is the story of God, the good Gardener," Hanson said.
---     

* Joe Bjordal is communications manager for Central Lutheran Church.

Information about Central Lutheran Church and the cross-raising is
at http://bit.ly/4toj6p 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