Suvarna Garge (Editor)

New England District (LCMS)

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Orientation
  
Confessional Lutheran

Number of members
  
21,391

Polity
  
Congregationalist

New England District (LCMS)

Classification
  
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Theology
  
Repristination of Lutheran Orthodoxy with Evangelical Catholic, High Church, Pietist, charismatic, evangelical, and conservative to moderate and mainline influences

Leader
  
Rev. Timothy Yeadon, District President

Region
  
New England, concentrated in Connecticut

The New England District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), and encompasses all six New England states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. In addition, three congregations in southwest Connecticut are in the non-geographic SELC District. The New England District includes approximately 70 congregations and missions, subdivided into 9 circuits, as well as 24 preschools and 5 elementary schools. Baptized membership is over 22,000; with New England's total population standing at 14,240,000 as of 2005, the District's membership represents only 0.16% of the local population – the lowest of any of the LCMS' 33 geographical districts.

Contents

The New England District was formed in 1972 out of the Atlantic District. District offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Delegates from each congregation meet in convention every three years in Springfield to elect the district president, vice presidents, circuit counselors, a board of directors, and other officers. The Rev. Timothy Yeadon was elected to his first term as District President at the 16th Regular Convention, June 14–16, 2012, succeeding the Rev. James Keurulainen, who served from 1997-2012.

Presidents

  • Rev. Robert J. Riedel, 1972–1976
  • Rev. Martin Dienst, 1976–1985
  • Rev. David Mulder, 1985–1991
  • Rev. Osmar Lehenbauer, 1991–1997
  • Rev. James E. Keurulainen, 1997–2012
  • Rev. Timothy Yeadon, 2012–present

    • Riedel was among 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 [2].

    Riedel (1961–72), Mulder (1981–85) and Lehenbauer (1986–91) had all previously served as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol, Connecticut [3].

    Oldest congregations

  • 1839 - First Lutheran Church, Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 1865 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Meriden, Connecticut
  • 1866 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Providence, Rhode Island
  • 1867 - First Lutheran Church, Holyoke, Massachusetts
  • 1871 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Roslindale, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 1881 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Danbury, Connecticut
  • 1883 - Zion Lutheran Church, Orange, Connecticut
  • 1887 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, New Britain, Connecticut
  • 1889 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, Massachusetts
  • 1890 - Zion Lutheran Church, Manchester, Connecticut
  • 1891 - Zion Lutheran Church, Wallingford, Connecticut
  • 1892 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bristol, Connecticut
  • 1892 - St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Dedham, Massachusetts
  • 1892 - Zion Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut
  • 1893 - Messiah Lutheran Church, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
  • 1893 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Easthampton, Massachusetts
  • 1895 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Manchester, New Hampshire
  • 1895 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, New Hartford, Connecticut
  • 1896 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Terryville, Connecticut

    • Oldest in Vermont: Community Lutheran Church, South Burlington, Vermont, 1952
    Oldest in Maine: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gorham, Maine, 1962

    Largest congregations

    Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
  • 1131 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bristol, Connecticut
  • 701 - Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Acton, Massachusetts
  • 694 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Danbury, Connecticut
  • 553 - Cheshire Lutheran Church, Cheshire, Connecticut
  • 534 - Christ the King Lutheran Church, Newtown, Connecticut
  • 524 - Bethany Lutheran Church, West Hartford, Connecticut
  • 499 - The Lutheran Church of the Savior, Bedford, Massachusetts
  • 496 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, South Windsor, Connecticut
  • 477 - Grace Lutheran Church, Nashua, New Hampshire
  • 466 - First Lutheran Church, Holyoke, Massachusetts
  • 464 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Smithfield, Rhode Island
  • 446 - First Lutheran Church, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 439 - Christ Lutheran Church, Niantic, Connecticut
  • 424 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Keene, New Hampshire
  • 412 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Trumbull, Connecticut
  • Largest in Vermont: Community Lutheran Church, South Burlington, Vermont, 354
  • Largest in Maine: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gorham, Maine, 304

    • References

    New England District (LCMS) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA