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English District (LCMS)

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English District (LCMS)

The English District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). It is one of the Synod's two non-geographical districts, along with the SELC District, and has its origins in the congregations of the former English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri and Other States, which merged with the LCMS in 1911. The English Synod had been formally organized in 1888 out of the English (Evangelical) Lutheran Conference of Missouri of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod. That conference had its roots in an 1872 conference which was advised by then LCMS president C. F. W. Walther. The conference applied for admission to the LCMS as a district in 1887, but was advised to instead form a separate synod at that time. It was named the English Synod due to its churches using that language in their services; at that time, the congregations of the LCMS were still using the German language. The English Synod ultimately joined the LCMS in 1911 because of a shared doctrinal stance, but wanting to maintain its identity, it was accepted as a non-geographical district. Despite the transition of the LCMS to English, the English District has continued as a separate district.

Contents

The district now includes approximately 159 congregations and missions in 17 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario, subdivided into 25 circuits, as well as 36 preschools, 15 elementary schools and one high school. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 57,000.

English District offices are located in Farmington, Michigan. 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. David Stechholz became the bishop and district president in September 2006 and was re-elected to a third term in 2012. The 54th Regular Convention was held June 27–30, 2012 in Saint Louis, MO under the theme, "Faith Driven -- Future Focused: Celebrating 100 years of God's blessings as we continue to serve, connect and grow," from 1 Corinthians 15:58.

The district publishes its newsletter, English Channels, 10 times a year.

Bishops/Presidents

  • Rev. Henry Philip Eckhardt, 1911–12
  • Rev. M. S. Sommer, 1912–15
  • Rev. John Adam Detzer, 1915–18
  • Rev. O. C. Kreinheder, 1918–27
  • Rev. Guido R. Schuessler, 1927–36
  • Rev. Paul Lindemann, 1936–38
  • Rev. Martin Walker, 1938–45
  • Rev. Herman William Bartels, 1945–51
  • Rev. Hugo G. Kleiner, 1951–63
  • Rev. Bertwin L. Frey, 1963–70
  • Rev. John H. Baumgaertner, 1970–74
  • Rev. Harold L. Hecht, 1974–76
  • Rev. George W. Bornemann, 1976–84
  • Rev. Donald F. Jung, 1984–86
  • Rev. Roger D. Pittelko, 1986–97
  • Rev. David H. Ritt, 1997–2006
  • Rev. David P. Stechholz, 2006–2015
  • Rev. Dr. Jamison J. Hardy, 2015–present

    • Hecht 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

  • 1848: Saint John Lutheran Church, Springfield, Pennsylvania
  • 1853: Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
  • 1860: Saint John's Lutheran Church, Hannibal, Missouri
  • 1862: Grace Lutheran Church, Mitchell, Ontario
  • 1881: Trinity Lutheran Church, Erie, Pennsylvania
  • 1882: Zion Lutheran Church, Detroit, Michigan
  • 1891: Calvary Lutheran Church, Amherst, New York
  • 1891: Christ English Lutheran Church, Austin, Chicago, Illinois
  • 1891: Saint John Lutheran Church, Pembroke, Ontario
  • 1892: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Oakdale, Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1894: Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Silver City, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • 1897: Redeemer Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
  • 1899: Calvary Lutheran Church, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
  • 1900: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Oakmont, Pennsylvania
  • 1904: Concordia Lutheran Church, Akron, Ohio
  • 1904: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Lititz, Pennsylvania
  • 1905: Bethany Lutheran Church, Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois
  • 1907: Grace Lutheran Church, Elyria, Ohio
  • 1908: Layton Park Lutheran Church, Layton Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • 1909: Saint John's Lutheran Church, Bloorcourt Village, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1911: Faith Lutheran Church, Auburn Gresham, Chicago, Illinois

    • Only congregation in Nebraska: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1917
    Oldest in New Jersey: Grace Lutheran Church, Palisades Park, New Jersey, 1919
    Oldest in California: Highland Park Lutheran Church, Highland Park, Los Angeles, California, 1922
    Oldest in Arizona: Faith Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona, 1949
    Oldest in Georgia: Ascension Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia, 1955
    Oldest in Minnesota: Messiah Lutheran Church, Forest Lake, Minnesota, 1972
    Oldest in Florida: Faith Lutheran Church, Naples, Florida, 1985
    Only congregation in Utah: Our Savior Lutheran Church, Saint George, Utah, 1994
    Only congregation in Virginia: Faith Lutheran Church, Chesapeake, Virginia, 1995
    Oldest in Kentucky: Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Kentucky, 2011

    Largest congregations

    Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
  • 8457: Hales Corners Lutheran Church, Hales Corners, Wisconsin (largest congregation in the Missouri Synod)
  • 2794: Christ Church Lutheran, Phoenix, Arizona
  • 1511: Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, St. Louis County, Missouri
  • 1502: Grace Lutheran Church, Redford Township, Michigan
  • 1482: Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Westmoor, Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1257: Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, Saint Peters, Missouri
  • 1225: Our Savior Lutheran Church, Hartland, Michigan
  • 1032: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska
  • 1140: Ascension Lutheran Church, North Olmsted, Ohio
  • 947: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Lees Summit, Missouri
  • 931: Ascension Lutheran Church, North Olmsted, Ohio
  • 917: Saint John Lutheran Church, Pembroke, Ontario
  • 915: West Portal Lutheran Church, West Portal, San Francisco, California
  • 830: Peace Lutheran Church, New Berlin, Wisconsin
  • 790: Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Windsor, Ontario:

    • Largest in Florida: Faith Lutheran Church, Naples, Florida, 686
    Largest in Georgia: Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, Georgia, 518
    Largest in Illinois: Trinity Lutheran Church, Villa Park, Illinois, 692
    Largest in New Jersey: Martin Luther Chapel, Pennsauken, New Jersey, 439
    Largest in New York: Redeemer Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York, 274
    Largest in Minnesota: Hope Lutheran Church, Hastings, Minnesota, 109
    Only congregation in Virginia: Faith Lutheran Church, Chesapeake, Virginia, 31
    Only congregation in Utah: Our Savior Lutheran Church, Saint George, Utah, 23

    References

    English District (LCMS) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA