Synod (LCMS) in 1923. By 1931, the NELC was using the LCMS's Concordia Theological Seminary, located at that time in Springfield, Illinois, for its pastoral training. In 1938, a member of the NELC was appointed professor and head of the Finnish department at the seminary. Doctrinal conflict arose within the NELC soon after fellowship with the LCMS had been implemented. The "Missourians" who favored the LCMS doctrinal stance broke fellowship with the Gospel Association because it had remained in the Church of Finland. The "Missourians" also held that Christians could not be members of lodges. The conflict resulted in a number of "Evangelicals" leaving NELC congregations. By 1958, all the synod's pastors were graduates of LCMS seminaries, thereby cementing the relationship between the two church bodies. Mission work was aimed at Finnish immigrants in the U.S. and Canada. In 1950, a missionary began serving Finns in North Queensland, Australia. Later, the NELC gave money to support the LCMS missionaries in Papua New Guinea. The denomination changed its name to the National Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1946. Eighteen years later, on January 1, 1964, the NELC merged with the LCMS, its congregations becoming members of the LCMS districts in which they were located. However, several congregations did not join in the merger. One joined the Lutheran Churches of the Reformation, and three others (Hebron in Toronto, Bethany in New York City, and National in Calumet) became independent congregations. Presidents The presidents of the NELC were: J. W. Eloheimo (1898–1900) Wilhelm Adrian Mandellöf 1900–1905 William Williamson 1905–1908 Karl Gustaf Rissanen 1908–1913 Peter Wuori 1913–1918 Arne Wasunta 1918–1922 Karl E. Salonen 1922–1923 Matti Wiskari 1923–1931 Gustaf A. Aho 1931–1953 Jalo E. Nopola 1953–1959 Emil A. Heino 1959-1963 Vilho V. Latvala 1963–1964 Membership statistics References Lutheran denominations in North America Finnish-American history Former Lutheran denominations Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Religious organizations established in 1898 Lutheran denominations established in the 19th century 1898 establishments in Wyoming