The Atlantic District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), and covers eastern New York state: New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and the Capital District. It comprises approximately 100 congregations and a number of mission stations, subdivided into 10 circuits, as well as 22 preschools, 16 elementary schools and 6 high schools. Baptized membership in Atlantic District congregations is approximately 30,500. The rest of New York is included in the Eastern District; in addition, four congregations in the New York City area are in the non-geographic English District, and one congregation in Yonkers is in the SELC District.
The Atlantic District was separated in May 1906 from the Eastern District; portions of the district were split off into the New England District and the New Jersey District in 1972. District offices are located in Bronxville, New York. 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. Derek Lecakes has been the district president since September 2015, after being elected at the 59th Regular Convention which was held June 4-6, 2015 at Concordia College-New York.
Concordia College-New York, part of the LCMS's Concordia University System, is located within the district.
Presidents
Rev. Ernst C. L. Schulze, 1906-1918
Rev. Philip H. L. Birkner, 1918-1930
Rev. Arthur J. C. Brunn, 1930-1941
Rev. George K. A. Koenig, 1941-1942
Rev. Herman J. Rippe, 1942-1960
Rev. Karl F. Graesser, 1960-1967
Rev. Rudolph P. F. Ressmeyer, 1967-1976
Rev. Henry L. Koepchen, 1976 (acting president)
Rev. Ronald F. Fink, 1976-1989
Rev. James Zwernemann, 1989-1991
Rev. Dr. David H. Benke, 1991-2015
Rev. Derek Lecakes, 2015-present
Ressmeyer was one of four district presidents who were removed from office by Synod President J. A. O. Preus on April 2, 1976 for non-compliance with synodical directives on the ordination and placement of improperly endorsed ministerial candidates from Seminex.
Oldest congregations
1664 - Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Matthew, Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York (oldest congregation in the Missouri Synod and in North America)
1838 - Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Albany. New York
1844 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Glendale, Queens, New York
1844 - Saint John the Evangelist Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York
1850 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Hicksville, New York
1852 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York
1854 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Albany, New York
1857 - Saint John Lutheran Church, College Point, Queens, New York
1861 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
1868 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York
1869 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Hudson, New York
1870 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Stuyvesant, New York
1872 - Zion Lutheran Church, Schenectady, New York
1879 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York
1886 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York
1887 - Emanuel Lutheran Church, Corona, Queens, New York
1887 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York
1893 - The Lutheran Church of St. John, Flushing, Queens, New York
1894 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Saratoga Springs, New York
1894 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Hawthorne, New York
Largest congregations
Membership totals include baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
2630 - Saint James Lutheran Church, St. James, New York
2130 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Sayville, New York
1375 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Hicksville, New York
1315 - The Village Lutheran Church, Bronxville, New York
1277 - Zion Lutheran Church, Schenectady, New York
1240 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Middle Island, New York
1082 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Walden, New York
1010 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Saratoga Springs, New York
992 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Islip, New York
884 - Lutheran Church Of The Resurrection, Garden City, New York
876 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Delmar, New York
858 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Fishkill, New York
838 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Centereach, New York
783 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Monroe, New York
768 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Dix Hills, New York
