[1][2] Although its founding had occurred in Wyoming, many of the congregations were located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, especially around Calumet, as well as the Iron Range of northeastern Minnesota.
[1] The group that formed the NELC had either left the Suomi Synod or had never joined it due to differences in doctrine and issues of congregational freedom and autonomy.
[1] Within a few years of founding, the NELC became connected with the Gospel Association of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, and became known as the Synod of Finnish "Evangelicals" because they stressed the forgiveness of sins, certainty of salvation, Baptismal regeneration, and the right of sinners to accept forgiveness without undertaking specific preparations beforehand other than having a "feeling" of sin.
However, because it was organized as an open shareholders association, atheistic socialists were able to gain control and closed the seminary in 1905 before a single pastor had graduated, and converted the school into a workers college.
The "Missourians" who favored the LCMS doctrinal stance broke fellowship with the Gospel Association because it had remained in the Church of Finland.
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.