The Missouri District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and comprises the state of Missouri. Five Missouri congregations are in the non-geographic English District, and one congregation in St. Louis is in the SELC District. The Missouri District is home to the Synod's headquarters as well as Concordia Seminary, both of which are located in or just outside St. Louis. The district includes approximately 301 congregations and missions, subdivided into 28 circuits, as well as 52 preschools, 56 elementary schools and 9 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 138,000. [1] It is the third largest district of the LCMS in number of congregations (trailing the Michigan and Texas Districts) and second largest in total membership (behind the Michigan District).
The Missouri District was formed in 1966 when the Western District was divided, also creating the Mid-South District. District offices are located in St. Louis. Delegates from each congregation meet in convention every three years to elect the district president, four vice presidents, circuit counselors, a board of directors, and other officers. The Rev. Ray Mirly became the district president in March 2006 and was re-elected to a second term in 2009. The 17th regular convention was held June 14-16, 2009 in Columbia, MO under the theme "Faith Aflame: Communicating the Gospel" (Romans 1:16-17), [2] The 18th regular convention will be held June 3-5, 2012 in Springfield, MO under the theme "Life Together (Romans 12:4-5). [3]
[edit] Presidents
- Rev. Herman C. Scherer, 1966–78
- Rev. Paul Ph. Spitz, 1978-91
- Rev. James W. Kalthoff, 1991-2006
- Rev. Ray G. Mirly, 2006-present
[edit] Oldest congregations
- 1839 - Concordia Lutheran Church, Frohna, Missouri
- 1839 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Altenburg, Missouri
- 1839 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Soulard, St. Louis, Missouri
- 1840 - Grace Lutheran Church, Uniontown, Missouri
- 1840 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Concordia, Missouri
- 1842 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, Missouri
- 1844 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Olivette, Missouri
- 1844 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Prairie Home, Missouri
- 1844 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, New Melle, Missouri
- 1846 - Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Leslie, Missouri
- 1846 - Hanover Lutheran Church, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
- 1846 - Trinity Lutheran Church, New Haven, Missouri
- 1847 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Saint Charles, Missouri
- 1847 - Zion Lutheran Church, Palmyra, Missouri
- 1848 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Arnold, Missouri
- 1848 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Friedheim, Missouri
- 1849 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Hyde Park, St. Louis, Missouri
- 1849 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Des Peres, Missouri
- 1849 - Salem Lutheran Church, Black Jack, Missouri
- 1851 - Eisleben Lutheran Church, Scott City, Missouri
- 1851 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, Missouri
[edit] Largest congregations
- Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
- 6058 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, Missouri
- 3460 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Saint Charles, Missouri
- 3275 - Zion Lutheran Church, Saint Charles, Missouri
- 3194 - Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, Missouri
- 2509 - Faith Lutheran Church, Oakville, Missouri
- 2509 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Des Peres, Missouri
- 2498 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Jackson, Missouri
- 2485 - Salem Lutheran Church, Affton, Missouri
- 2214 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Perryville, Missouri
- 2166 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Springfield, Missouri
- 2145 - Messiah Lutheran Church, Saint Charles, Missouri
- 2050 - Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, Saint Louis, Missouri
- 1702 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Concordia, Missouri
- 1656 - Peace Lutheran Church, St. Louis County, Missouri
- 1635 - Webster Gardens Lutheran Church, Webster Groves, Missouri
- 1504 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Jefferson City, Missouri
- 1350 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Washington, Missouri
- 1286 - Saint Mark's Lutheran Church, Eureka, Missouri
- 1477 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Arnold, Missouri
- 1313 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Fenton, Missouri
[edit] External links
