South Dakota District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

The South Dakota District encompasses the entire state of South Dakota, with the exception of one congregation that is in the North Dakota District. The district office is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The South Dakota District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and comprises the state of South Dakota; one congregation in the state is in the North Dakota District. The South Dakota District includes approximately 114 congregations and missions, subdivided into 11 circuits, as well as 16 preschools, 3 elementary schools and 1 high school. Baptized membership in district congregations is over 30,000. [1]

The South Dakota District was formed in 1906 out of the Minnesota and Dakota District, with the rest of the district continuing to use that name until 1910. District offices are located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 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. The Rev. Dale Sattgast became the district president in September 2006 [2] and was re-elected to a third three-year term in 2012.[3] The 58th regular convention was held April 29-May 2, 2009 in Sioux Falls under the theme "Called Into Partnership",[4] The 59th regular convention was held April 18-21, 2012 in Sioux Falls under the theme "Called Into Partnership: For Witness (Martyria) ". [5]

Presidents

Rev. August Frederick Breihan, 1906–12
Rev. Johann Dietrich Ehlen, 1912–18
Rev. Ernst Gottlieb Jehn, 1918–21
Rev. Friedrich W. Leyhe, 1921–36
Rev. Walter Nitschke, 1936–51
Rev. Philip H. Mueller, 1951–60
Rev. Elmer O. Luessenhop, 1960–68
Rev. Leonard Eberhard, 1968–70
Rev. Arthur J. Crosmer, 1970–78
Rev. Paul G. Wendling, 1978-88
Rev. Raymond L. Hartwig, 1988-98
Rev. Vernon L. Schindler, 1998-2006
Rev. Dale L. Sattgast, 2006-present

Oldest congregations

1878 - Peace Lutheran Church, Alcester, South Dakota
1881 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Hartford, South Dakota
1882 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Milbank, South Dakota
1882 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dimock, South Dakota
1882 - Martinus Lutheran Church, Utica, South Dakota
1882 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Yankton, South Dakota
1882 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Freeman, South Dakota
1882 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Wentworth, South Dakota
1884 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Wolsey, South Dakota
1884 - Trinity Lutheran Church, White Lake, South Dakota
1885 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Agar, South Dakota
1885 - Zion Lutheran Church, Canistota, South Dakota
1886 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Emery, South Dakota
1887 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Columbia, South Dakota
1887 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Howard, South Dakota
1888 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wecota, South Dakota
1888 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota
1888 - Saint Martin's Lutheran Church, Alexandria, South Dakota
1888 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota
1888 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Mansfield, South Dakota

Largest congregations

Membership totals are c. 2006.

1672 - Faith Lutheran Church, Pierre, South Dakota
1612 - Zion Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota
1268 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota
1262 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Yankton, South Dakota
1037 - Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Huron, South Dakota
1029 - Emanuel Lutheran Church, Milbank, South Dakota
1022 - Zion Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
867 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota
831 - Peace Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota
828 - Zion Lutheran Church, Mitchell, South Dakota
676 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota
671 - Memorial Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
647 - Faith Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
578 - Zion Lutheran Church, Chamberlain, South Dakota
515 - Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Watertown, South Dakota

External links