Oklahoma District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
The Oklahoma District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and comprises the state of Oklahoma. It includes approximately 82 congregations and missions, subdivided into 9 circuits, as well as 15 preschools and 10 elementary schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 21,890. [1]
The Oklahoma District was formed in 1924 out of the Kansas District. District offices are located in Edmond, Oklahoma. Delegates from each congregation meet in convention every three years to elect the district president, vice presidents, circuit counselors, a board of directors, and other officers. Rev. Barrie E. Henke was elected in 2009 [2] and re-elected to a second term in 2012.[3] The 46th Regular Convention was held April 24-25, 2009 in Norman, OK with the theme Oklahoma Hearts -- Strengthened for Sharing Christ". [4] The 47th Regular Convention was held April 20-21, 2012 in Norman, OK under the theme "Witness, Mercy, Life Together in Oklahoma and Beyond". [5]
Presidents
- Rev. Henry Mueller, 1924–39
- Rev. Carl R. Matthies, 1939–40
- Rev. Edward C. Hauer, 1940–42
- Rev. Paul J. Hartenberger, 1942–43
- Rev. Otto Henry Hoyer, 1943–54
- Rev. Alfred E. Behrend, 1954–70
- Rev. Harold E. Brockhoff, 1970–78
- Rev. Gerhard F. Bode, 1978-88
- Rev. Robert L. Jackson, 1988-91
- Rev. William R. Diekelman, 1991-2004
- Rev. Paul A. Hartman, 2004-2009
- Rev. Barrie E. Henke, 2009-present
Oldest congregations
- 1892 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Okarche, Oklahoma
- 1897 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Covington, Oklahoma
- 1897 - Zion Lutheran Church, Fairmont, Oklahoma
- 1899 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Breckenridge, Oklahoma
- 1899 - Zion Lutheran Church, Alva, Oklahoma
- 1899 - Zion Lutheran Church, Guthrie, Oklahoma
- 1900 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Garber, Oklahoma
- 1900 - Zion Lutheran Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- 1901 - Christ Lutheran Church, Perry, Oklahoma
- 1901 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Blackwell, Oklahoma
- 1901 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Enid, Oklahoma
- 1901 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Norman, Oklahoma
- 1901 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Woodward, Oklahoma
- 1902 - Christ Lutheran Church, Shattuck, Oklahoma
- 1902 - Zion Lutheran Church, Lahoma, Oklahoma
- 1903 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Lone Wolf, Oklahoma
- 1903 - Zion Lutheran Church, Buffalo, Oklahoma
- 1904 - Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Kingfisher, Oklahoma
- 1906 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Hinton, Oklahoma
- 1906 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Apache, Oklahoma
Largest congregations
- Membership totals are c. 2006.
- 1518 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
- 1108 - Messiah Lutheran Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- 979 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Edmond, Oklahoma
- 911 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Enid, Oklahoma
- 904 - Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- 898 - First Lutheran Church, Ponca City, Oklahoma
- 649 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- 642 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
- 638 - Christ Lutheran Church, Perry, Oklahoma
- 580 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Moore, Oklahoma
- 565 - Faith Lutheran Church, Owasso, Oklahoma
- 535 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Enid, Oklahoma
- 524 - Christ Lutheran Church, Mustang, Oklahoma
- 515 - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Midwest City, Oklahoma