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California Nevada Hawaii District (LCMS)

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California-Nevada-Hawaii District (LCMS)

The California-Nevada-Hawaii District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), and encompasses the state of Hawaii, California with the exception of its eight southernmost counties, and Nevada with the exception of the Clark County at its southern end. Southern California and the Las Vegas area form part of the Pacific Southwest District; in addition, three congregations in the San Francisco Bay Area are in the non-geographic English District. The California-Nevada-Hawaii District includes approximately 188 congregations and missions, subdivided into 19 circuits, as well as 36 preschools, 32 elementary schools and 3 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 44,000. [1]

Contents

The California-Nevada-Hawaii District was formed in 1899 as the California and Nevada District when the California and Oregon District was divided, also creating the Oregon and Washington District (renamed the Northwest District in 1948); the Southern California District (later renamed the Pacific Southwest District) was separated from the district's area in 1930. The district was renamed the California-Nevada Hawaii District in 1985. District offices are located in Livermore, California. 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. Dr. Robert Newton has been the district president since 2003, and was re-elected to a fourth term in 2012.[2] The 68th convention was held on May 15–17, 2009 in Fremont, CA. [3] The 69th convention was held in April 27–29, 2012 in Burlingame, CA under the theme "Following the Heart of our Shepherd" based on John 10.[4]

Presidents

  • Rev. J. M. Bühler, 1899–1901
  • Rev. George P. Runkel, 1901–05
  • Rev. George A. Bernthal, 1905–20
  • Rev. J. W. Theiss, 1920–24
  • Rev. Arthur Clemens Henry Brohm, 1924–45
  • Rev. C. Fickenscher, 1945–54
  • Rev. Arthur C. Nitz, 1954–59
  • Rev. Paul E. Jacobs, 1959–77
  • Rev. Orval M. Oswald, 1977–91
  • Rev. Walter C. Tietjen, 1991-2003
  • Rev. Robert D. Newton, 2003–present

    • Jacobs resigned in protest in January 1977 following widespread criticism for his having ordained graduates of Seminex, and became bishop of the Pacific Regional Synod of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC) before his death in September of that year [5].

    Oldest congregations

  • 1882 - First Immanuel Lutheran Church, San Jose, California
  • 1882 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Stockton, California
  • 1882 - Zion Lutheran Church, Piedmont, California
  • 1887 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Artois, California
  • 1888 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Santa Rosa, California
  • 1890 - Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Clovis, California
  • 1892 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Tracy, California
  • 1893 - Saint James Lutheran Church, Newman, California
  • 1895 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Gardnerville, Nevada
  • 1898 - St. Peter Lutheran Church, Lodi, California
  • 1899 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Berkeley, California
  • 1902 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Reno, Nevada
  • 1903 - First Trinity Lutheran Church, Oakland, California
  • 1904 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Bakersfield, California
  • 1904 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Napa, California
  • 1904 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Susanville, California
  • 1905 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Ferndale, California
  • 1905 - Zion Lutheran Church, Inner Richmond District, San Francisco, California
  • 1906 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Valley Home, California
  • 1907 - First Lutheran Church, Dinuba, California
  • 1907 - Grace Lutheran Church, Visalia, California
  • 1907 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Selma, California

    • Oldest in Hawaii: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1945

    Largest congregations

    Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
  • 1836 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Bakersfield, California
  • 1489 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Reno, Nevada
  • 1162 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Fremont, California
  • 959- Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Santa Rosa, California
  • 959- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Tracy, California
  • 939- Trinity Lutheran Church, Paso Robles, California
  • 853- Grace Lutheran Church, Visalia, California
  • 747- Our Savior Lutheran Church, Livermore, California
  • 697- Saint John's Lutheran Church, Napa, California
  • 694- Lutheran Church Of Our Savior, Cupertino, California
  • 685- Bethany Lutheran Church, Vacaville, California
  • 680- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Merced, California
  • 583- Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Rocklin, California
  • 561- Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Stockton, California
  • 554- Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Turlock, California

    • Largest in Hawaii: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, 315

    References

    California-Nevada-Hawaii District (LCMS) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA